Kofi Annan Speeches - Kofi Annan Foundation

20 Great Speeches by Kofi Annan

As United Nations (UN) Secretary-General and later Chair of his Foundation, Kofi Annan was called upon to deliver many speeches at major events worldwide.

We have selected twenty of Kofi Annan’s speeches for this page, which, taken together, provide a broad understanding of his views on peace, development and human rights. Many of his recommendations for action are as valid and important today as they were when he spoke these words.

The list is not exhaustive, and any selection is somewhat arbitrary. You can find more Kofi Annan speeches on our website and in UN online archives.

The UN Library & Archives in Geneva has published a series of videos to remember Kofi Annan, his legacy, what has been accomplished since 2001 – when he and the United Nations were awarded the Nobel Peace Prize – and what still needs to be achieved.

Nobel Lecture

The speech by Kofi Annan upon reception of the Nobel Peace Prize.

Oslo, December 10, 2001

20 Great Speeches by Kofi Annan

Nobel Lecture

The Crisis of Democracy

Leadership & Governance

Religion, Pluralism & Democracy,

The New World Disorder: Challenges for the UN in the 21st Century

Food Security is a Global Challenge

Sovereignty – The State and the Individual

Multilateralism – Today’s Imperative

Climate change – the leadership challenge of our time

Africa in the 21st Century: Challenges and Opportunities

An appeal to our common humanity

The battle is never finally won

10 years after – A farewell statement to the General Assembly

Nuclear weapons, the greatest danger of all

We stand or fall together

Putting care and treatment within everyone's reach

Building a partnership for girls' education

Global Compact with Business

On Intervention

Our Enemy Is Indifference

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