Kofi Annan was the seventh secretary-general of the United Nations and the first secretary-general to be elected from the ranks of the United Nations staff. He began his first term in 1997, and in 2001 was appointed by acclamation to a second term of office. Annan’s priorities as secretary-general were to revitalize the UN through a comprehensive reform program; to strenghten the organization’s traditional work in the areas of development and the maintenance of international peace and security; to encourage and advocate human rights, the rule of law and the universal values of equality, tolerance and human dignity found in the UN charter; and to restore public confidence in the organization by reaching out to new partners.