As an invited and official member of the traveling UN delegation in 2016, photographer Giles Clarke was given unprecedented access on almost all official trips during UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-Moon's final year in office. Ranging 30+ countries over 2016, this series presents an insider perspective and rare glimpse into the world’s most senior diplomat at work on some of the most critical issues facing our planet today.
Playing chess before meeting UN European heads in Vienna, Austria.
Stepping off a plane in Goma in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. February 2016.
Walking through one of the largest IDP settlements in North Kivu in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Meeting IDPs in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
WIth UN Peacekeepers in North Kivu in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. February 2016.
Leaving North Kivu in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
In the Presidential Palace in Bujumbura, Burundi. February 2016.
Leaving Goma in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Addressing the press outside the Presidential Palace in Bujumbura, Burundi. February 2016.
Meeting President Salva Kiir in Juba, South Sudan.
Addressing the Austrian Parliament in Vienna, Austria.
With Austrian President Heinz Fischer in Vienna.
UNSG, Mr Ban in his office in UNHQ in New York.
On the No.4 train heading downtown on the NY subway.
At a UN Heads of Agency retreat in Long Island, NY.
At the World Humanitarian Summit in Istanbul, Turkey. September 2016.
At the World Humanitarian Summit in Istanbul, Turkey. September 2016.
Mr.Ban meets Mr. Bond. Actor Daniel Craig backstage at the World Humanitarian Summit in Istanbul, Turkey. September 2016.
Preparing notes in Nagoya, Japan before the 2016 G-20 summit.
Straightening the tie in Colombo, Sri Lanka.
Meeting Solar Impulse pilot and engineer, Betrand Piccard and Andre Borschberg at JFK airport in NYC. In 2016, Borschberg and Piccard piloted the Solar Impulse 2, completing the first-ever solar-powered flight around the world.
Waiting for a train in Seoul, South Korea.
Crossing from Israel into the West Bank in June 2016.
Meeting Netanyahu in Jerusalem, June 2016.
Meeting Palestinian President Mr.
Mahmoud Abbas in the West Bank, June 2016.
With Palestinian President Mr.Mahmoud Abbas in the West Bank, June 2016.
Testing out Virtual Reality at the UNHQ. September 2016.
With German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Istanbul, Turkey.
With Syrian refugees in the Bekaa Valley, Lebanon. May 2016.
With First Nations Leaders in Calgary, Canada. October 2016.
With a young admirer in Calgary, Canada.
Yoga in Colombo, Sri Lanka.
Training for the 2016 Olympic Torch run in Long Island, NY.
Taking photographs from a helicopter over South Korea in June 2016.
Arriving in Gyeongju, South Korea's oldest city in June 2016
Lunch in Gyeongju in South Korea.
Visiting the grave of a loved one in Long Island, NY.
Meeting civic leaders in Galle, Sri Lanka.
In Colombo, Sri Lanka.
Flying from Galle to Colombo in Sri Lanka.
Arriving in Tamil-held northern Sri Lanka.
In Jaffna, northern Sri Lanka.
Working on a speech while flying to Myanmar. September 2016
Arriving in Naypyitaw, Myanmar in September 2016
With Aung San Suu Kyi in Naypyitaw,Myanmar. September 2016
At the Myanmar Peace Conference in September 2016.
At a gala concert in Mr. Ban's honor during his final visit to Geneva as UNSG.
In Paris on his way to meet President Francois Hollande.
Arriving in Haiti following Hurricane Matthew
Meeting survivors of Hurricane Matthew in October 2016 in Haiti.
At UNHQ in New York City.
The day before the UN General Assembly in 2016
Preparing his final speech at the UN General Assembly in September 2016.
Backstage with President Obama shortly before his last speech to the UN.
Lunch with world leaders at the HQ during the 2016 UN General Assembly in NYC.
With British Prime Minister Therese May
With Iranian President Hassan Rouhani at the 2016 UN General Assembly.
With actor Leonardo DiCaprio at the UNHQ.
With former US President Bill Clinton at the UNHQ.
With UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric and UN Deputy Secretary General Jan Eliasson in the SG's office at UNHQ.
Sunday morning calligraphy painting at home in NYC, November 2016.
On a beach in Southern Iceland in November 2016.
Times Square - on the last day of his ten-year tenure as Secretary General of the United Nations.
The last day at his official residence in NYC. January 6th 2017