José Rui Velez Caroço
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, NORTH-SOUTH CENTRE OF THE COUNCIL OF EUROPE
José Rui Velez Caroço is the Executive Director of the North-South Centre of the Council of Europe. Created in 1989, the North-South Centre of the Council of Europe was set up in Lisbon with the purpose to spread the universal values upheld by the Council of Europe – human rights democracy and the rule of law – beyond the European Continent. The mission of the North-South Centre is to empower civil society, in particular youth and women, through intercultural dialogue and global citizenship education, to play an active role in Council of Europe member states and neighboring regions. Previously, he served as the Consul general of Portugal in Boston for five years, and served as a Portuguese diplomat for over 27 years, working in Europe, Africa and the Americas acquiring a vast experience both in bilateral and multilateral international affairs.