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Ambassador Giorgio Giacomelli
Chairman of Hydroaid
Born in Milan, Italy, on January
25th 1930, Mr. Giacomelli holds a master’s degree in law from
the University of Padua. He also studied at Cambridge University in the
United Kingdom and at the Geneva's Institute of Higher International Studies.
Mr. Giacomelli joined the Italian diplomatic corps in 1956 and served in Madrid, Paris, Leopoldville (now Kinshasa) and New Delhi as Chargé d’Affaires from January 1964 till October 1966, before returning to the Ministry in Rome. In 1972, he was interim Director of the Ministry’s Technical Cooperation Service for developing countries. He served as Italy’s Ambassador to Somalia from 1973 to 1976 and as Ambassador to Syria from 1976 to 1980.
In 1981, Mr. Giacomelli was appointed Director – General for Emigration and Social Affairs in Italy’s Foreign Ministry and subsequently, Director – General of the Department of Cooperation and Development, in charge of all Italy's bilateral and multilateral assistance programs to developing countries. Mr. Giacomelli held that office until October 1985.
In 1985, Mr. Giacomelli was appointed Under – Secretary – General, Commissioner – General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East ( UNRWA ), an office he held until 1991.
In February 1991, he was appointed Executive Director – General of the United Nations International Drug Control Programme ( UNDCP ) at the rank of Under – Secretary – General. In addition to this post, he was also appointed in 1992 Director – General of the United Nations Office at Vienna. He held these responsibilities until September 1997.
From December 1999 until March 2001, Mr. Giacomelli was appointed Special Rapporteur for human rights in the Palestinian occupied territories by the Commission of the United Nations for Human Rights.
In July 2002 Ambassador Giacomelli took the chairmanship of HYDROAID, a non-profit association whose main mission is organizing training courses on the global implementation and management of hydraulic infrastructures and services, funded by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Local Authorities of Piemonte, banking and local institutions of the region.
In February 2006, Secretary General Kofi Annan appointed Ambassador Giacomelli as Member of the UN Advisory Board on Water and Sanitation.
Mr. Giacomelli has received several awards and decorations, including the Silver Medal for Civil Bravery of Italy, the Légion d’ Honneur of France and the Knight in the Order of Merit of Italy.
He is fluent in English, French, Spanish and Italian.
Mr. Giacomelli joined the Italian diplomatic corps in 1956 and served in Madrid, Paris, Leopoldville (now Kinshasa) and New Delhi as Chargé d’Affaires from January 1964 till October 1966, before returning to the Ministry in Rome. In 1972, he was interim Director of the Ministry’s Technical Cooperation Service for developing countries. He served as Italy’s Ambassador to Somalia from 1973 to 1976 and as Ambassador to Syria from 1976 to 1980.
In 1981, Mr. Giacomelli was appointed Director – General for Emigration and Social Affairs in Italy’s Foreign Ministry and subsequently, Director – General of the Department of Cooperation and Development, in charge of all Italy's bilateral and multilateral assistance programs to developing countries. Mr. Giacomelli held that office until October 1985.
In 1985, Mr. Giacomelli was appointed Under – Secretary – General, Commissioner – General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East ( UNRWA ), an office he held until 1991.
In February 1991, he was appointed Executive Director – General of the United Nations International Drug Control Programme ( UNDCP ) at the rank of Under – Secretary – General. In addition to this post, he was also appointed in 1992 Director – General of the United Nations Office at Vienna. He held these responsibilities until September 1997.
From December 1999 until March 2001, Mr. Giacomelli was appointed Special Rapporteur for human rights in the Palestinian occupied territories by the Commission of the United Nations for Human Rights.
In July 2002 Ambassador Giacomelli took the chairmanship of HYDROAID, a non-profit association whose main mission is organizing training courses on the global implementation and management of hydraulic infrastructures and services, funded by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Local Authorities of Piemonte, banking and local institutions of the region.
In February 2006, Secretary General Kofi Annan appointed Ambassador Giacomelli as Member of the UN Advisory Board on Water and Sanitation.
Mr. Giacomelli has received several awards and decorations, including the Silver Medal for Civil Bravery of Italy, the Légion d’ Honneur of France and the Knight in the Order of Merit of Italy.
He is fluent in English, French, Spanish and Italian.
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