Yasushi Akashi

Yasushi Akashi (明石 康 Akashi Yasushi, born January 19, 1931) is a Japanese senior diplomat and United Nations administrator.

Yasushi Akashi
明石 康
Akashi in 2016
Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator
In office 1996–1998
Preceded by	Peter Hansen
Succeeded by	Sérgio Vieira de Mello
United Nations Special Representative of the Secretary-General in Cambodia
In office 1992–1993
Preceded by	Office established
Succeeded by	Office abolished Norodom Sihanouk as King of Cambodia
Personal details
Born	(1931-01-19) January 19, 1931 (age 94) Hinai, Akita, Japan
Alma mater	University of Tokyo Tufts University University of Virginia, (MA)

Overview

Akashi addressed the Commemorative Ceremony of the 60th Anniversary of Japan's Accession to the United Nations (at the United Nations University on December 19, 2016)

Akashi graduated with Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Tokyo in 1954, studied as a Fulbright Scholar at the University of Virginia, and later at The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University.^[1] As a politically appointed International Civil Servant at the Headquarters of the United Nations Secretariat in New York City, he held positions as Under-Secretary-General of Public Information, Under-Secretary-General for Disarmament Affairs and Undersecretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator.

Among many other additional assignments, he was the Secretary-General's Personal Representative for the war in the former Yugoslavia. He also supervised the Cambodian peace negotiations and subsequent elections in 1993. Despite his successes there, he was strongly criticized for his subsequent role in the Balkans, particularly for failing to enforce the safety of civilians in a number of safe zones,^[2] such as Goražde,^[3] and his inability to prevent the massacre in Srebrenica.^[4]

Akashi was expected to visit Sri Lanka in the last week of September 2006 to help facilitate negotiations between the Tamil Tigers and the Sri Lankan government.^[5] In the past, Akashi has met with JVP official Somawansa Amarasinghe.^[6]

He ran for Governor of Tokyo in the election of 1999 with the support of the Liberal Democratic Party and New Komeito coalition, but came in fourth place.^[7]

Criticism

Akashi has been criticised for his comments justifying UN sexual exploitation of women: in 1992, he told aid workers that "'Eighteen-year-old hot-blooded soldiers who come in from the field after working hard should be able to chase after young, beautiful beings of the opposite sex."^[8]

Honors

• Honorary citizen of Sochi, Russia (1989).^{[citation needed]}
• Eminent member of the Sergio Vieira de Mello Foundation.^[9]
• Sri Lanka Rathna award, Sri Lanka - August 19, 2019.^[10]