Miguel Ángel Moratinos Cuyaubé the new United Nations Special Envoy to Combat Islamophobia. Photo courtesy of Miguel Ángel X account.
Moratinos will continue to serve in his current capacity as High Representative for the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC). The dual appointment is aimed at maximizing existing institutional capacities and resources while integrating the new mandate into an established role. Since 2019, Moratinos has led the UNAOC, reinforcing its position as a global platform for intercultural and interreligious dialogue.
Moratinos brings decades of diplomatic experience and longstanding engagement with the United Nations, particularly in the Middle East, Africa, and Europe. As Spain’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation from 2004 to 2010, he played a leading role in international diplomacy. During his tenure, Spain held the presidency of the UN Security Council and chaired key international bodies, including the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), the Council of Europe, and the Council of the European Union.
A staunch advocate for multilateralism, Moratinos championed the Alliance of Civilizations and the Group of Friends for the Reform of the United Nations. He also spearheaded the development of initiatives focusing on healthcare, women’s empowerment, and sustainable development, while significantly increasing Spain’s Official Development Assistance.
Following his ministerial role, Moratinos served as a Member of Parliament from 2010 to 2011, focusing on global efforts to combat hunger and poverty, promote food security, and uphold the right to food. In 2012, he joined the Global Dry Land Alliance in Qatar, where he supported the drafting of the International Food Security Treaty and the International Treaty for a Global Dry Land Alliance.
Earlier in his diplomatic career, Moratinos held several senior positions, including Deputy Director General for North Africa (1987–1991), Director of the Institute of Cooperation with the Arab World (1991–1993), and Director General of Foreign Policy for Africa and the Middle East (1993–1996).
In 1996, he was appointed Spain’s Ambassador to Israel and later served as the European Union’s Special Representative for the Middle East Peace Process (1996–2003), where he worked to advance peace efforts and facilitate Arab-Israeli dialogue on behalf of the EU.
Moratinos holds degrees in Law and Political Science from the Complutense University of Madrid and in Diplomatic Studies from the Spanish Diplomatic School. He is fluent in Spanish, English, and French.
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