This past month, Ambassador Luis Gallegos Chiriboga, President of GIA Longevity, was received by United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres in a high-level meeting where his outstanding leadership and commitment were formally acknowledged. Ambassador Gallegos recently concluded his tenure as Chair of the Board of Trustees of UNITAR (United Nations Institute for Training and Research), a role he held from 2019 to 2025.
During the meeting, Ambassador Gallegos delivered his final report as Chair, highlighting significant institutional achievements: doubling UNITAR’s programmatic delivery, expanding the CIFAL Global Network from 19 to 33 centers, and reaching over 2.3 million beneficiaries worldwide during his six-year leadership. He also emphasized the role of GIA Longevity and the progress made in promoting the rights of older persons at the international level.
The meeting was also attended by global figures such as Marcie Roth (Chair of the Board at WID), Susan Mazrui (President Emeritus of G3ICT), Shawn Ferguson (Advisor to Special Olympics), and Fabiola Gallegos, his advisor and coordinator.
Ambassador Gallegos stated:
“Ageing is a global challenge that requires a global response. Through GIA Longevity and UNITAR, we have worked to ensure the voices of older persons are heard at every level of international policymaking. We remain committed to the process toward a Convention on the Rights of Older Persons.”
This event reinforces GIA Longevity’s institutional commitment to the UN Decade of Healthy Ageing and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
Download the Brief Report to the UN Secretary General from the Ambassador Luis Gallegos