The United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) has appointed the President and Managing Director of Special Olympics Europe Eurasia David S. Evangelista to the Advisory Board of its Division for Multilateral Diplomacy. The two-year term takes effect from January 2022 to December 2024.
UNITAR is a dedicated training and capacity development institute within the United Nations system, aiming to empower individuals, governments and organizations through knowledge and learning to effective overcome contemporary global challenges and support the creation of strong multilateral relations among nations and communities worldwide. Within the framework of the Institute, the Division for Multilateral Diplomacy supports the intergovernmental machinery and governing bodies of the United Nations by empowering delegates and diplomats.
The appointment of Mr. Evangelista aims to support the Institute’s work in forging stronger inclusive development for marginalized populations across the globe, and integrate this inclusive focus across all training and capacity building initiatives. Special Olympics is a global movement dedicated to empowering individuals with intellectual disabilities (ID) through the transformative power of sport and related inclusive programming. With over 6,000,000 participating athletes in 193 nations, Special Olympics is committed to highlighting the rights and abilities of one of the most marginalized population subsets globally in alignment with key international treaties such as the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UN-CRPD).
“It is an honor to join UNITAR’s Advisory Board in its Division for Multilateral Diplomacy. Together with the movement of Special Olympics, I stand committed to supporting UNITAR’s mission to provide critical guidance and leadership as the international community looks to address the most pressing issues affecting the world today. One of those key issues is the urgent need for inclusive development to be prioritized among national governments, and we are honored to be a part of this collective effort.”
In addition to his role in Special Olympics, Mr. Evangelista is a former member of the High-Level Group on Sport Diplomacy of the European Commission, a member of the Board of Directors for The Access Challenge, a member of the Advisory Committee of the Center for Sport and Human Rights and is a member of the Board of Directors of the Association of Human Resource Management in International Organizations (AHRMIO). He is also a long-standing member of Lions Clubs International and a Lions Clubs International Foundation Progressive Melvin Jones Fellow. Mr. Evangelista has served as a guest speaker for the United Nations, the European Union, national governments, and a number of civil society organizations on issues related to inclusive development, disability, and global affairs.
"We are delighted to welcome Mr. David Evangelista to the Division of Multilateral Diplomacy’s Advisory Board and are looking forward to jointly work on expanding the Division’s positive impact on its beneficiaries especially from marginalized populations in the field of multilateral diplomacy and international law in line with UNITAR's mandate and vision,” said Mr. Rabih El-Haddad, Director of the Division for Multilateral Diplomacy at UNITAR.
