Ambassador Allan Rock

Statements and Speeches

Photos

Allan Rock was Canada's Ambassador to the United Nations from January 2004 to June 2006. During his term he worked with diplomats from around the world to strengthen and renew the United Nations.

Ambassador Rock led Canada’s successful efforts during the negotiations for the September 2005 World Summit at the United Nations, at which leaders acknowledged for the first time that the international community has a responsibility to protect populations from ethnic cleansing, genocide and crimes against humanity, and agreed to act “in a timely and decisive manner” to stop such mass atrocities.

The World Summit also produced a declaration of new initiatives to promote development, security, human rights, and the rule of law, and to reform the UN. Mr. Rock made implementing those proposals his top priority. UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan called him “one of the change agents at the UN today” and “a champion of UN reform.”

Ambassador Rock co-chaired, with Ambassador Munir Akram of Pakistan, the General Assembly’s effort to bring about Secretariat and Management reform. In that process, Canada worked to make the United Nations more accountable, effective and transparent, so that the organization can better perform its essential global duties in the 21st century.

The Ambassador led Canada’s efforts to establish a UN Human Rights Council to promote greater respect and protection for human rights, and a UN Peacebuilding Commission that will help fragile post-conflict states make the transition toward stable development. As part of Canada’s continuing work to improve the United Nations, in February 2006 Ambassador Rock released a set of Canadian proposals for reforming the process of selecting candidates for UN Secretary-General.

Ambassador Rock also promoted other Canadian foreign policy priorities at the United Nations, including the Millennium Development Goals and measures to improve human security and the protection of civilians. He consistently called for greater UN engagement in resolving humanitarian crises, and urged the Security Council to address the situation in Northern Uganda and respond more effectively to the conflicts in Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

As chair of a UN Working Group on Haiti, Mr. Rock helped to design a long-term programme of support and sustainable development for that country. In support of Canada’s efforts to promote peace and stability in Afghanistan, he worked to ensure that the UN remains actively involved in building state capacity there.

The Ambassador is a board member of the Security Council Report, a monthly publication and web-based service devoted to providing information about the Security Council’s work and improving its transparency and accountability. He also served on the board of the International Peace Academy, a research institution dedicated to preventing conflict between states.

Prior to his diplomatic appointment Ambassador Rock was a member of Canada's Parliament and held a number of senior portfolios in the federal cabinet. First elected in 1993 following a successful legal career, Mr. Rock was Minister of Justice and Attorney General from 1993 to 1997. He subsequently served as Minister of Health from 1997-2002 and Minister of Industry from 2002-2003.

Mr. Rock was born on August 30, 1947, and is married to Deborah Hanscom. They have a daughter, Lauren, and three sons, Jason and twins Andrew and Stephen. Mr. Rock graduated from the University of Ottawa and holds Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Laws degrees.

The Ambassador submitted his resignation on Feb. 3, 2006, following the 2006 Canadian general election. At the request of Prime Minister Stephen Harper, he agreed to remain in his post until the end of June 2006 to complete work on one phase of UN reform.