The video above on the life of Dag Hammarskjöld, copyright of the Swedish Institute, was shown during the prize giving ceremony by kind permission of the Swedish Permanent Mission
Dag Hammarskjöld (1905–1961) was the UN Secretary-General from 1953 to 1961.
After finishing his doctoral studies, Hammarskjöld began a successful career in Sweden. He was Governor of the Riksbank (the central bank of Sweden), State Secretary for Foreign Affairs, minister without portfolio and a member of the Swedish Academy.
As Secretary-General of the United Nations, Hammarskjöld played a very active diplomatic role in the conflicts that went on. His quiet diplomacy proved to be very effective and won great respect.
Dag Hammarskjöld died in unclear circumstances in a plane crash in 1961. He was posthumously awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.
United Nations Peace Essay Contest 2011 