Gillian Sorensen
Encyclopedia
Gillian Martin Sorensen is a Senior Advisor at the United Nations Foundation
, and is a national advocate on matters related to the United Nations and the United States-United Nations relationship, addressing audiences as diverse as Rotary International
and the United States Air Force Academy
; university students; staff and Members of Congress; journalists and leaders of civil society. In the last few years, she has made over 554 appearances, speaking about the United Nations and related issues.
as Assistant Secretary-General for External Relations, from 1997 to 2003, on appointment by Secretary-General Kofi Annan
. She was responsible for outreach to non-governmental organizations and was the contact point for the Secretary-General with parliamentarians, the academic world, religious leaders and other groups committed to peace
, justice
, development
and human rights
.
From 1993-1996, Sorensen served as Special Adviser for Public Policy on appointment by Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali
where her duties included directing the UN’s global Fiftieth Anniversary observances in 1995. In that role Sorensen led the planning of conferences, debates, documentaries, concerts and exhibits; the preparation of books and curricular materials, and the coordination of the UN50 Summit at in which l80 Presidents and Prime Ministers participated. As a public speaker, she often represented the World Organization in this country and abroad.
Sorensen earlier served for over 12 years (1978–1990) on appointment by Mayor Edward I. Koch as New York City
Commissioner for the United Nations and Consular Corps, head of the City’s liaison with the world’s largest diplomatic community.< Her responsibilities included matters related to diplomatic security and immunity, housing and education, and other cultural and business contacts between the host city and over 30,000 diplomat
s. She secured Federal reimbursement to New York for the costs of diplomatic protection, which continues to this day.
, the daughter of parents active in politics and civic affairs. Her father, John B. Martin, was an attorney
and held public office. Her mother, Helen Martin, was a journalist
and lecturer
.
Sorensen is a graduate of Smith College
and she studied at the Sorbonne
. In the fall of 2002, on leave from the UN, she was a teaching Fellow at the Kennedy School of Government (Institute of Politics) at Harvard University
. She is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations and a Fellow at the University of Southern California
Center on Public Diplomacy. Previously, she served as a Board Member of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting
on appointment by the President of the United States. In addition to her public service, she has been active in politics and was a delegate to three national Presidential conventions.
She is the widow of Theodore C. Sorensen, an attorney and writer who served as President John F. Kennedy's
Special Counsel and speechwriter. They are the parents of a daughter, Juliet Sorensen
.
United Nations Foundation
The United Nations Foundation started up in 1998 with a $1 billion grant from Ted Turner in order to support the United Nations in executing its programs worldwide. The creation of the Foundation was intended to encourage other donors to also support the UN in its activities...
, and is a national advocate on matters related to the United Nations and the United States-United Nations relationship, addressing audiences as diverse as Rotary International
Rotary International
Rotary International is an organization of service clubs known as Rotary Clubs located all over the world. The stated purpose of the organization is to bring together business and professional leaders to provide humanitarian service, encourage high ethical standards in all vocations, and help...
and the United States Air Force Academy
United States Air Force Academy
The United States Air Force Academy is an accredited college for the undergraduate education of officer candidates for the United States Air Force. Its campus is located immediately north of Colorado Springs in El Paso County, Colorado, United States...
; university students; staff and Members of Congress; journalists and leaders of civil society. In the last few years, she has made over 554 appearances, speaking about the United Nations and related issues.
Career
Prior to this, Sorensen served in the United NationsUnited Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
as Assistant Secretary-General for External Relations, from 1997 to 2003, on appointment by Secretary-General Kofi Annan
Kofi Annan
Kofi Atta Annan is a Ghanaian diplomat who served as the seventh Secretary-General of the UN from 1 January 1997 to 31 December 2006...
. She was responsible for outreach to non-governmental organizations and was the contact point for the Secretary-General with parliamentarians, the academic world, religious leaders and other groups committed to peace
Peace
Peace is a state of harmony characterized by the lack of violent conflict. Commonly understood as the absence of hostility, peace also suggests the existence of healthy or newly healed interpersonal or international relationships, prosperity in matters of social or economic welfare, the...
, justice
Justice
Justice is a concept of moral rightness based on ethics, rationality, law, natural law, religion, or equity, along with the punishment of the breach of said ethics; justice is the act of being just and/or fair.-Concept of justice:...
, development
Regional development
Regional development is the provision of aid and other assistance to regions which are less economically developed. Regional development may be domestic or international in nature...
and human rights
Human rights
Human rights are "commonly understood as inalienable fundamental rights to which a person is inherently entitled simply because she or he is a human being." Human rights are thus conceived as universal and egalitarian . These rights may exist as natural rights or as legal rights, in both national...
.
From 1993-1996, Sorensen served as Special Adviser for Public Policy on appointment by Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali
Boutros Boutros-Ghali
Boutros Boutros-Ghali is an Egyptian politician and diplomat who was the sixth Secretary-General of the United Nations from January 1992 to December 1996...
where her duties included directing the UN’s global Fiftieth Anniversary observances in 1995. In that role Sorensen led the planning of conferences, debates, documentaries, concerts and exhibits; the preparation of books and curricular materials, and the coordination of the UN50 Summit at in which l80 Presidents and Prime Ministers participated. As a public speaker, she often represented the World Organization in this country and abroad.
Sorensen earlier served for over 12 years (1978–1990) on appointment by Mayor Edward I. Koch as New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
Commissioner for the United Nations and Consular Corps, head of the City’s liaison with the world’s largest diplomatic community.< Her responsibilities included matters related to diplomatic security and immunity, housing and education, and other cultural and business contacts between the host city and over 30,000 diplomat
Diplomat
A diplomat is a person appointed by a state to conduct diplomacy with another state or international organization. The main functions of diplomats revolve around the representation and protection of the interests and nationals of the sending state, as well as the promotion of information and...
s. She secured Federal reimbursement to New York for the costs of diplomatic protection, which continues to this day.
Personal life
Sorensen grew up in Grand Rapids, MichiganGrand Rapids, Michigan
Grand Rapids is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. The city is located on the Grand River about 40 miles east of Lake Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 188,040. In 2010, the Grand Rapids metropolitan area had a population of 774,160 and a combined statistical area, Grand...
, the daughter of parents active in politics and civic affairs. Her father, John B. Martin, was an attorney
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
and held public office. Her mother, Helen Martin, was a journalist
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
and lecturer
Lecturer
Lecturer is an academic rank. In the United Kingdom, lecturer is a position at a university or similar institution, often held by academics in their early career stages, who lead research groups and supervise research students, as well as teach...
.
Sorensen is a graduate of Smith College
Smith College
Smith College is a private, independent women's liberal arts college located in Northampton, Massachusetts. It is the largest member of the Seven Sisters...
and she studied at the Sorbonne
Sorbonne
The Sorbonne is an edifice of the Latin Quarter, in Paris, France, which has been the historical house of the former University of Paris...
. In the fall of 2002, on leave from the UN, she was a teaching Fellow at the Kennedy School of Government (Institute of Politics) at Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
. She is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations and a Fellow at the University of Southern California
University of Southern California
The University of Southern California is a private, not-for-profit, nonsectarian, research university located in Los Angeles, California, United States. USC was founded in 1880, making it California's oldest private research university...
Center on Public Diplomacy. Previously, she served as a Board Member of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting
Corporation for Public Broadcasting
The Corporation for Public Broadcasting is a non-profit corporation created by an act of the United States Congress, funded by the United States’ federal government to promote public broadcasting...
on appointment by the President of the United States. In addition to her public service, she has been active in politics and was a delegate to three national Presidential conventions.
She is the widow of Theodore C. Sorensen, an attorney and writer who served as President John F. Kennedy's
John F. Kennedy
John Fitzgerald "Jack" Kennedy , often referred to by his initials JFK, was the 35th President of the United States, serving from 1961 until his assassination in 1963....
Special Counsel and speechwriter. They are the parents of a daughter, Juliet Sorensen
Juliet Sorensen
Juliet Sorensen is an Assistant U.S. Attorney in Chicago. She has prosecuted City of Chicago inspectors as part of Operation Crooked Code, a bribery investigation into Chicago’s Building and Zoning departments....
.