José Ayala Lasso was the first United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. He became a career officer in the diplomatic service of Ecuador, serving as foreign minister on three occasions and as ambassador to Belgium, France, Luxembourg, Peru, the Vatican, and the European Economic Community.
Education
Mr. Ayala-Lasso holds degrees in law and economics, international law, political and social sciences from la Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador, la Universidad Central del Ecuador, and l'Université Catholique de Louvain , Belgium. He has taught at el Instituto de Derecho Internacional of la Universidad Central del Ecuador.
Career
José Ayala-Lasso became the first United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights on 5 April 1994. He was appointed for a four-year term by the Secretary-General of the United Nations, with the unanimous approval of the General Assembly. Mr. Ayala-Lasso held the post as High Commissioner until he resigned on 15 March 1997 after he was appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs of his native country, Ecuador.
He was Ecuador's permanent representative to the United Nations (UN) (1989–1994) and Ecuador's representative on the UN Security Council (1991–1992), serving as its president in August 1991 and again in September 1992.