Maria Luiza Ribeiro Viotti
Encyclopedia
Maria Luiza Ribeiro Viotti (born on in Belo Horizonte
, Brazil
) is the Permanent Representative
of Brazil
to the United Nations
, as of 25 July 2007. Viotti was the President of the United Nations Security Council
for the month of February 2011. She is married to Eduardo Baumgratz Viotti and has a son.
from the University of Brasilia
, which she received in 1979. She has a post-graduate degree in the same subject, which she completed in 1981, from the same university. She attended the Rio Branco Institute
, the Brazilian diplomatic academy.
, including:
, Bolivia
, from 1993 to 1995.
In 1999, Viotti returned to the Brazilian Mission to the United Nations as a Minister-Counselor. She was the Vice-Chairperson of the Preparatory Committee for the Johannesburg World Summit on Sustainable Development
and led Brazil's delegation to the negotiations in preparation for the International Conference on Financing for Development. Viotti was also a member of the Economic and Social Council
’s Ad Hoc Group on Guinea-Bissau
.
In 2005, she assumed the post of Chargé d'affaires
of Brazil to the United Nations. Viotti was appointed Permanent Representative of Brazil to the United Nations by President
Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva
on 5 January 2007. Viotti presented her credentials to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon
on 25 July 2007. Viotti was the President of the United Nations Security Council
for the month of February 2011, when Brazil held the rotating presidency of the Council.
Belo Horizonte
Belo Horizonte is the capital of and largest city in the state of Minas Gerais, located in the southeastern region of Brazil. It is the third largest metropolitan area in the country...
, Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
) is the Permanent Representative
Permanent Representative
A Permanent Representative is the head of a diplomatic mission to one of various international organisations. The best known of the organisations to which states send Permanent Representatives is the United Nations; of these, the most high-profile ones are those assigned to headquarters in New...
of Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
to the United Nations
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...
, as of 25 July 2007. Viotti was the President of the United Nations Security Council
President of the United Nations Security Council
The President of the United Nations Security Council is the presiding officer of that body. The president is the head of the delegation from the Security Council member state that holds the rotating presidency.-Selection:...
for the month of February 2011. She is married to Eduardo Baumgratz Viotti and has a son.
Education
Viotti has a bachelor’s degree in economicsEconomics
Economics is the social science that analyzes the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services. The term economics comes from the Ancient Greek from + , hence "rules of the house"...
from the University of Brasilia
University of Brasília
The University of Brasília , is one of the largest and most prestigious Brazilian public universities funded by the Brazilian federal government...
, which she received in 1979. She has a post-graduate degree in the same subject, which she completed in 1981, from the same university. She attended the Rio Branco Institute
Rio Branco Institute
The Rio Branco Institute is a graduate school of International Relations and diplomatic academy located in Brasília, Brazil. The institute was created on April 18, 1945, as part of the centennial celebration of the birth of the Baron of Rio Branco...
, the Brazilian diplomatic academy.
Career
Viotti joined the Brazilian Foreign Service in 1976. She held several positions within the Ministry of External RelationsMinistry of External Relations (Brazil)
The Ministry of External Relations conducts Brazil's foreign relations with other countries. It is commonly referred to in Brazilian media and diplomatic jargon as the Itamaraty, after the palace which hosts the ministry...
, including:
- Director-General of the Department of International Organizations;
- Director-General of the Department of Human Rights and Social Affairs;
- Secretary-General of the South America Division;
- Executive Coordinator in the cabinet of the Minister of External Relations.
Overseas assignments
Viotti served as Counselor at the Brazilian Embassy in La PazLa Paz
Nuestra Señora de La Paz is the administrative capital of Bolivia, as well as the departmental capital of the La Paz Department, and the second largest city in the country after Santa Cruz de la Sierra...
, Bolivia
Bolivia
Bolivia officially known as Plurinational State of Bolivia , is a landlocked country in central South America. It is the poorest country in South America...
, from 1993 to 1995.
United Nations
From 1985 to 1989, Viotti served as a First Secretary at the Brazilian Mission to the United Nations.In 1999, Viotti returned to the Brazilian Mission to the United Nations as a Minister-Counselor. She was the Vice-Chairperson of the Preparatory Committee for the Johannesburg World Summit on Sustainable Development
Earth Summit 2002
The World Summit on Sustainable Development, WSSD or Earth Summit 2002 took place in Johannesburg, South Africa, from 26 August to 4 September 2002. It was convened to discuss sustainable development by the United Nations. WSSD gathered a number of leaders from business and non-governmental...
and led Brazil's delegation to the negotiations in preparation for the International Conference on Financing for Development. Viotti was also a member of the Economic and Social Council
United Nations Economic and Social Council
The Economic and Social Council of the United Nations constitutes one of the six principal organs of the United Nations and it is responsible for the coordination of the economic, social and related work of 14 UN specialized agencies, its functional commissions and five regional commissions...
’s Ad Hoc Group on Guinea-Bissau
Guinea-Bissau
The Republic of Guinea-Bissau is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Senegal to the north, and Guinea to the south and east, with the Atlantic Ocean to its west....
.
In 2005, she assumed the post of Chargé d'affaires
Chargé d'affaires
In diplomacy, chargé d’affaires , often shortened to simply chargé, is the title of two classes of diplomatic agents who head a diplomatic mission, either on a temporary basis or when no more senior diplomat has been accredited.-Chargés d’affaires:Chargés d’affaires , who were...
of Brazil to the United Nations. Viotti was appointed Permanent Representative of Brazil to the United Nations by President
President of Brazil
The president of Brazil is both the head of state and head of government of the Federative Republic of Brazil. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the Brazilian Armed Forces...
Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva
Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva
Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva , known popularly as Lula, served as the 35th President of Brazil from 2003 to 2010.A founding member of the Workers' Party , he ran for President three times unsuccessfully, first in the 1989 election. Lula achieved victory in the 2002 election, and was inaugurated as...
on 5 January 2007. Viotti presented her credentials to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon
Ban Ki-moon
Ban Ki-moon is the eighth and current Secretary-General of the United Nations, after succeeding Kofi Annan in 2007. Before going on to be Secretary-General, Ban was a career diplomat in South Korea's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and in the United Nations. He entered diplomatic service the year he...
on 25 July 2007. Viotti was the President of the United Nations Security Council
President of the United Nations Security Council
The President of the United Nations Security Council is the presiding officer of that body. The president is the head of the delegation from the Security Council member state that holds the rotating presidency.-Selection:...
for the month of February 2011, when Brazil held the rotating presidency of the Council.