Jean-Sélim Kanaan
Encyclopedia
Jean-Sélim Kanaan was a United Nations
(UN) diplomat
, Egypt
ian, Italian
and French
national, who was killed in the Canal Hotel bombing
in Baghdad
, Iraq
, along with Sérgio Vieira de Mello
and other members of his staff. Born in Rome
, Italy
, he was the son of an Egyptian UN diplomat, and he spoke seven languages.
. Before that, he served in Mogadishu
, Somalia
, in 1992, and the following year, as a relief coordinator for Médecins du Monde
in central Bosnia
. In his first assignment with the UN from 1996 to 1998, he was employed by the UNOPS and served with the UN’s director of peacekeeping operations in Bosnia as the Assistant Programme Coordinator, and, from 1999 to 2000, in the UN Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo as an assistant to Bernard Kouchner
, the UN's special representative to Kosovo
. Following Kosovo, and until his mission in Iraq (2003), Kanaan worked with UNOSAT
at the UN Headquarters in New York
where he was managing policy questions promoting the use of GIS and other novel technologies for peacekeeping operations. In 2002 he published his book Ma guerre à L’indifference, (English: My war against indifference), with a preface by Christine Ockrent
. As an active individual he climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro and was an aviator
.
Jean-Sélim Kanaan left behind his wife, Laura Dolci-Kanaan, and his three week old baby, Mattia-Sélim Kanaan.
He was buried in a Roman Catholic cemetery in Cairo
, Egypt: "Jean Sélim, martire della pace e dell'umanesimo".
Kanaan was awarded the French Legion of Honour posthumously for his work in 'helping the world's weak and oppressed'.
pays tribute
} Tribute
} Photo album
} French mission to the UN
} Ma guerre à l'indifférence http://fr.news.yahoo.com/01122005/326/ma-guerre-l-indifference.html
} La mia guerra all'indifferenza
} Génération ONU Starring Kanaan
} Yle.fi review
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
(UN) diplomat
Diplomat
A diplomat is a person appointed by a state to conduct diplomacy with another state or international organization. The main functions of diplomats revolve around the representation and protection of the interests and nationals of the sending state, as well as the promotion of information and...
, Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
ian, Italian
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
and French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
national, who was killed in the Canal Hotel bombing
Canal Hotel Bombing
The Canal Hotel Bombing in Baghdad, Iraq, in the afternoon of August 19, 2003, killed at least 22 people, including the United Nations' Special Representative in Iraq Sérgio Vieira de Mello, and wounded over 100. The blast targeted the United Nations Assistance Mission in Iraq created just 5 days...
in Baghdad
Baghdad
Baghdad is the capital of Iraq, as well as the coterminous Baghdad Governorate. The population of Baghdad in 2011 is approximately 7,216,040...
, Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
, along with Sérgio Vieira de Mello
Sérgio Vieira de Mello
Sérgio Vieira de Mello was a Brazilian United Nations employee who worked for the UN for more than 34 years, earning respect and praise around the world for his efforts in the humanitarian and political programs of the UN...
and other members of his staff. Born in Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, he was the son of an Egyptian UN diplomat, and he spoke seven languages.
Biography
Jean-Sélim Kanaan devoted his life to humanitarian relief operations from the age of 23 until his death. In 1996 he graduated from the Kennedy School of Government with a Master of Public PolicyMaster of Public Policy
The Master of Public Policy , one of several public policy degrees, is a master's level professional degree that provides training in policy analysis and program evaluation at public policy schools. The MPP program places a focus on the systematic analysis of issues related to public policy and the...
. Before that, he served in Mogadishu
Mogadishu
Mogadishu , popularly known as Xamar, is the largest city in Somalia and the nation's capital. Located in the coastal Benadir region on the Indian Ocean, the city has served as an important port for centuries....
, Somalia
Somalia
Somalia , officially the Somali Republic and formerly known as the Somali Democratic Republic under Socialist rule, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. Since the outbreak of the Somali Civil War in 1991 there has been no central government control over most of the country's territory...
, in 1992, and the following year, as a relief coordinator for Médecins du Monde
Médecins du Monde
Médecins du Monde or Doctors of the World, is a non-governmental humanitarian aid organisation created in March 1980 by 15 French doctors, including Bernard Kouchner after he had left Médecins Sans Frontières , the aid society which he had co-founded earlier in 1971...
in central Bosnia
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnia and Herzegovina , sometimes called Bosnia-Herzegovina or simply Bosnia, is a country in Southern Europe, on the Balkan Peninsula. Bordered by Croatia to the north, west and south, Serbia to the east, and Montenegro to the southeast, Bosnia and Herzegovina is almost landlocked, except for the...
. In his first assignment with the UN from 1996 to 1998, he was employed by the UNOPS and served with the UN’s director of peacekeeping operations in Bosnia as the Assistant Programme Coordinator, and, from 1999 to 2000, in the UN Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo as an assistant to Bernard Kouchner
Bernard Kouchner
Bernard Kouchner is a French politician, diplomat, and doctor. He is co-founder of Médecins Sans Frontières and Médecins du Monde...
, the UN's special representative to Kosovo
Kosovo
Kosovo is a region in southeastern Europe. Part of the Ottoman Empire for more than five centuries, later the Autonomous Province of Kosovo and Metohija within Serbia...
. Following Kosovo, and until his mission in Iraq (2003), Kanaan worked with UNOSAT
UNOSAT
UNOSAT is the United Nations Institute for Training and Research Operational Satellite Applications Programme, implemented in co-operation with the European Organization for Nuclear Research...
at the UN Headquarters in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
where he was managing policy questions promoting the use of GIS and other novel technologies for peacekeeping operations. In 2002 he published his book Ma guerre à L’indifference, (English: My war against indifference), with a preface by Christine Ockrent
Christine Ockrent
Christine Ockrent is a Belgian journalist whose career has principally centered on French television.Daughter of Belgian diplomat Charles Ockrent, she was born in Brussels, Belgium. She graduated from Institut d'Études Politiques de Paris in 1965. She worked for American television and...
. As an active individual he climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro and was an aviator
Aviator
An aviator is a person who flies an aircraft. The first recorded use of the term was in 1887, as a variation of 'aviation', from the Latin avis , coined in 1863 by G. de la Landelle in Aviation Ou Navigation Aérienne...
.
Jean-Sélim Kanaan left behind his wife, Laura Dolci-Kanaan, and his three week old baby, Mattia-Sélim Kanaan.
He was buried in a Roman Catholic cemetery in Cairo
Cairo
Cairo , is the capital of Egypt and the largest city in the Arab world and Africa, and the 16th largest metropolitan area in the world. Nicknamed "The City of a Thousand Minarets" for its preponderance of Islamic architecture, Cairo has long been a centre of the region's political and cultural life...
, Egypt: "Jean Sélim, martire della pace e dell'umanesimo".
Kanaan was awarded the French Legion of Honour posthumously for his work in 'helping the world's weak and oppressed'.
External links
UN Press Release Kofi AnnanKofi Annan
Kofi Atta Annan is a Ghanaian diplomat who served as the seventh Secretary-General of the UN from 1 January 1997 to 31 December 2006...
pays tribute
- Kennedy School of Government
} Tribute
} Photo album
- Awarded the legion of honour
} French mission to the UN
- Book
} Ma guerre à l'indifférence http://fr.news.yahoo.com/01122005/326/ma-guerre-l-indifference.html
} La mia guerra all'indifferenza
- Film
} Génération ONU Starring Kanaan
} Yle.fi review