Jurek Owsiak is the Ambassador for UN Sustainable Development Goals, source: KręciołaTV

Jurek Owisak is the UN Ambassador

25 October 2021

On the 76th anniversary of the United Nations (on 24th October 2021) during the UN Day Gala, Jerzy Owsiak was appointed as the Ambassador of the UN Sustainable Development and received the UN Sustainable Development Architect Award.

17 Sustainable Development Goals and 169 related tasks were announced by the United Nations in 2015. They are to promote respecting human rights for every person, end poverty and take immediate action to combat climate change. The 17 Goals ensure the balance between the three areas of sustainable development: economy, society, and environment. On the 24th of October 2022, during UN Day, Jurek Owsiak was appointed as the Goodwill Ambassador for the UN Sustainable Development Goals. His main task will be to promote the 17th goal - strengthen the partnerships for implementation and revitalization for Sustainable Development.

The Architect Award

The new role offered to Jurek Owsiak was not the only pleasant news for the GOCC Foundation unveiled on UN Day. The Chairman of the GOCC Foundation was also awarded as the UN Sustainable Development Architect. Professor Mieczysław Wyrzykowski - the Polish lawyer, holding the PhD in Law, a retired judge at the Constitutional Tribunal - delivered the laudation. The speech summarized all the Jurek Owsiak's and Foundation's accomplishments.

Strong institutions - next to peace and justice are the 16th goal of Sustainable Development. The Great Orchestra of Christmas Charity Foundation was a founding organisation at first. The objective of the Foundation is "to take action for health protection, to save lives of people who suffer from diseases, especially children, and to promote health and preventive healthcare". Later on, the "Orchestra" became the institution itself, a permanent institution in Polish public life. Timothy Snyder on the meaning of institutions said: strong institutions are necessary for the democratic order and peace in society. You are fulfilling - together with a brilliant team of colleagues and volunteers - tasks not only in terms of the basic statutory activities. You are creating an institution that far exceeds the minimum standard. What is more, you create the ideals of ethical standards. Each goal of Sustainable Development has its icon. And the GOCC Foundation became such an icon too. Restless, but after all (fortunately, only to a certain extent) well balanced Jerzy Owsiak and his Orchestra hold a unique title which will allow them to match their iconic image with the icon for Sustainable Development. And the UN institution may be proud to have Jerzy Owsiak as the ambassador of this unique project.

Mirosław Wyrzykowski - Polish lawyer, holding the PhD in Law, retired judge at the Constitutional Tribunal, extraordinary professor at the University of Warsaw, former dean of the Law and Administration Faculty at the University of Warsaw, in the years 2011-2015 the chairman of the Law Unit at PAN (Polish Academy of Sciences)

Yesterday's announcement marked the beginning of the GOCC Foundation's engagement with the UN projects. The 17th Goal of Sustainable Development is key to achieving the remaining aims. Agreement across boundaries and cooperation is crucial in fulfilling the UN objectives. Therefore, the role of the GOCC Foundation and its 30 years of experience in acting across boundaries is very important.