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The ceremony to present the Medal of Honour, the highest award granted by the UC3M to either individuals or institutions, took place in the Aula Magna on the Getafe campus on 28th October. In a speech delivered by Leandro Prados de la Escosura, Professor of Economic History at the Department of Social Sciences, the work of Ban Ki-Moon as the eighth Secretary General of the United Nations, an institution focused on the most important challenges of the 21st century, was highly praised. Professor Prados de la Escosura especially highlighted his role in "leading the most ambitious campaign ever carried out to reduce poverty", an initiative known as the Millennium Development Goals.

Last month, the United Nations General Assembly endorsed a new set of global economic, social and environmental objectives for the next fifteen years: the new Objectives of Sustainable Development (ODS). This increases the number of general objectives from eight to seventeen and the number of specific objectives from eighteen to 169, "In order to eradicate poverty in all its forms along with hunger and malnutrition; to achieve full and productive employment; to ensure inclusive, equitable and quality education for all; to achieve gender equality; to ensure a healthy life; to combat climate change and the deterioration of the environment", explained Leandro Prado de la Escosura.

After the UC3M University Medal of Honour had been presented, Ban Ki-moon commented that it was "a privilege to receive the medal" and "an indication of the high esteem in which the United Nations is held". He continued, "I accept it on behalf of the officials of the United Nations who have provided their services all over the world". He went on to encourage students to stay true to the values they have learned and which can help them to create a better future for all, "I look to the students of Universidad Carlos III and all of Spanish youth to help make way for a new future".

Finally, the UC3M rector, Juan Romo, highlighted Ban Ki-moon’s "serene execution of leadership" that has allowed the United Nations to advance in all its activities. Their missions include maintaining peace and international security, promoting sustainable development, protecting human rights, defending international law and providing humanitarian aid.

“We know that education is the basis of peace. Without it, humanity has no chance of development, we cannot defend our rights and we do not feel part of the same world, of the same people,” explained Juan Romo. In this sense, "the University favours peace through education and contributes to the objectives of the United Nations through the generation of knowledge. The fight against global warming, research into the causes of poverty and inequality or the defence and expansion of human rights, among other areas, are part of the research agenda and constitute our contribution to the welfare of society", the rector continued.

Ban Ki-moon (1944, The Republic of Korea) became the eighth Secretary-General of the United Nations on 1st January 2007, after 37 years in the service of the government of his country, playing a leading role on the world stage. Extended biography available at: http://www.un.org/es/sg/biography.shtml