A fervent humanist, unwavering defender of the Geneva Conventions, and participant in significant  episodes of the conflicts in the Middle East, Marcel Boisard held roles ranging from diplomat  and International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) delegate to Executive Director of the United  Nations Institute for Training and Research, before serving as Under-Secretary-General of the  United Nations in 2001. His professional path was characterised by his emphasis on diplomatic  solutions over military interventions, as well as his advocacy for internal conflict resolution.