Jan Egeland facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jan Egeland
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| Born | 12 September 1957 Stavanger, Rogaland, Norway
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| Alma mater | University of Oslo (Mg) University of California, Berkeley |
| Occupation | Secretary General of the Norwegian Refugee Council |
| Known for | Humanitarian work |
| Political party | Labour Party |
| Spouse(s) | Anne Kristin Sydnes |
| Children | 2 |
Jan Egeland (born 12 September 1957) is a famous Norwegian diplomat and humanitarian leader. He has worked to help people around the world for many years. Since 2013, he has been the Secretary General of the Norwegian Refugee Council.
Before this, he worked for the United Nations as the Undersecretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs from 2003 to 2006. He also served as a State Secretary in Norway's Ministry of Foreign Affairs from 1990 to 1997. Egeland has held important roles at organizations like Human Rights Watch and the Norwegian Red Cross. He also used to be the head of Amnesty International in Norway.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Jan Egeland was born in Stavanger, Norway. His father, Kjølv Egeland, was also a politician. Jan went to Stavanger Cathedral School. He studied Political Science at the University of Oslo. He also studied in the United States at the University of California, Berkeley.
Career Highlights
Starting Out in Humanitarian Work
Egeland began helping people when he was still in high school. He worked with Amnesty International to support people who had disappeared in Chile in the 1970s. When he was 19, he spent a month working with a Catholic relief group in Colombia.
Later, he became the head of Amnesty International in Norway. He was also the youngest person ever elected to the International Executive Committee of Amnesty International at age 23. He worked for the Norwegian Red Cross and as a news reporter.
Egeland became well-known for fighting against the spread of small weapons. He also joined the global effort to ban landmines. When war started in Iraq in 2003, he warned the world about the difficult conditions for civilians.
Working for the Norwegian Government
From 1990 to 1997, Egeland worked for the Norwegian government as a State Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In this role, he created systems to send experts and aid workers to international organizations.
During his time in government, Egeland helped with several peace talks. He was involved in the secret talks between Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) in 1992. These talks led to the Oslo Accord in 1993. He also helped with peace talks in Guatemala in 1996. In 1997, he led the meeting in Oslo where the Ottawa Treaty to ban landmines was agreed upon.
Helping People at the United Nations
In 2003, Jan Egeland became the Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs at the United Nations. This meant he was in charge of the UN's efforts to help people in emergencies. He led the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).
During his time at the UN, he started important humanitarian reforms. These led to the creation of the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) in 2005. This fund helps the UN quickly send aid to people in need during crises.
Egeland focused on helping people in difficult situations. This included places like northern Uganda, Darfur in Sudan, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Millions of people had been forced to leave their homes in these areas. He also advised the UN on humanitarian aid during the Syrian civil war.
Other Important Work
Jan Egeland is involved with many other groups that work for peace and humanitarian aid. He is a member of the board for the International Crisis Group. He also works with the Overseas Development Institute on how to give cash help to people in need.
Views on Global Issues
Tsunami Relief Efforts
After the huge 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami in 2004, Egeland spoke about how rich countries were giving aid. He said that some countries were being "stingy" with their donations. This comment was meant to encourage more giving. It actually helped increase the amount of money donated to help tsunami victims. Egeland later said that the donations were so large, they had to double-check the numbers! He also praised the help from countries like the United States and Australia, whose military helicopters were "worth their weight in gold" in delivering aid.
Aid for Lebanon
In 2006, Egeland asked for US$150 million in aid for Lebanon. This was after parts of Lebanon were damaged and many people became refugees. He also called for a 72-hour ceasefire to allow aid to reach injured people and deliver food and medical supplies.
Syrian Civil War Aid
Egeland has been a key figure in getting humanitarian aid to people affected by the long war in Syria. He has pushed for aid convoys and medical evacuations to help those trapped in conflict zones.
Recognition and Awards
Awards Received
- 2005 – Peer Gynt Prize
- 2005 – Roger E. Joseph Prize
- 2008 – Four Freedoms Award
Other Honors
In 2006, Time magazine named Jan Egeland one of the 100 "people who shape our world."
In 2012, a Norwegian comedy group called Ylvis made a funny parody song about Jan Egeland. The song called him "the United Nations superhero man" and "a peacekeeping machine." Egeland thought the song was "hilarious." The video has been watched over 20 million times!
Personal Life
Jan Egeland was married to Anne Kristin Sydnes, who was also a Norwegian politician. She passed away in 2017. They had two daughters.
See also
In Spanish: Jan Egeland para niños
