Ambassador Gallegos is a distinguished Ecuadorian diplomat who has served as the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ecuador and as Chair of the Board of Trustees of UNITAR. With over five decades of service in international relations, human rights, and multilateral diplomacy. He has been Ecuador’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations in both New York and Geneva across three separate terms, playing a key role in advancing global human rights frameworks.

Ambassador Gallegos has also held ambassadorial posts in El Salvador, Australia, and Bulgaria, as well as leadership roles at the Organization of American States and the UN Committee against Torture.

Ambassador Gallegos chaired the United Nations Ad Hoc Committee responsible for drafting the landmark Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), one of the most significant international human rights treaties of the 21st century. His longstanding commitment to disability rights has earned him global recognition, including leadership positions with the Global Initiative for Inclusive ICTs (G3ict) and the Institute of Public Policy and Disability. He is also a board member of the Special Olympics.

In addition, Ambassador Gallegos has held vice-presidential positions within several UN bodies, including the Human Rights Commission, the UN General Assembly, and ECOSOC, contributing extensively to international governance and multilateral dialogue.

Ambassador Gallegos holds a Doctor of Law (JD) from the Central University of Ecuador and a Master of Arts in International Relations from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University.