Labour Party. Public perception During his political life, Pronk was known as principled politician. Prime Minister Kok called him the "Minister for the national conscience". Because he was minister for over 17 years, he came to be known as "minister by profession". Other positions Pronk is a member of the Governing Council of Interpeace, an international peacebuilding organization. He is also a supporter of the Campaign for the Establishment of a United Nations Parliamentary Assembly, an organisation which campaigns for democratic reform in the United Nations, and the creation of a more accountable international political system. Private life Pronk is married to Tineke Zuurmond. They have two grown children, a daughter Carin and a son Rochus. In 1984 Pronk gave up alcohol in one day and became an avid runner. Decorations Honorary doctorates Jan Pronk has two honorary degrees and he is member of five chivalric orders. A full list of all his honorary decorations: Doctor honoris causa (1974), San Marcos University, Peru Doctor honoris causa (2002), Institute of Social Studies, Netherlands The International Institute of Social Studies (ISS) awarded its Honorary Doctorate to Jan Pronk in 2002. References External links Official Prof.Dr. J.P. (Jan) Pronk Parlement & Politiek 1940 births Living people Cold War diplomats Dutch development economists Dutch anti–nuclear weapons activists Dutch anti-war activists Dutch democracy activists Dutch expatriates in Belgium Dutch expatriates in France Dutch expatriates in the United States Dutch expatriates in Switzerland Dutch human rights activists Dutch humanitarians Dutch lobbyists Dutch nonprofit directors Dutch nonprofit executives Dutch officials of the United Nations Dutch social justice activists Erasmus University Rotterdam alumni Academic staff of Erasmus University Rotterdam Knights of the Order of the Netherlands Lion Labour Party (Netherlands) politicians Members of the House of Representatives (Netherlands) Ministers for Development Cooperation of the Netherlands Ministers of Defence of the Netherlands Ministers of Housing and Spatial Planning of the Netherlands MEPs for the Netherlands 1958–1979 Independent politicians in the Netherlands International relations scholars Inter-Governmental Group on Indonesia Peace and conflict scholars Protestant Church Christians from the Netherlands Academic staff of the University of Amsterdam Officers of the Order of Orange-Nassau Officiers of the Légion d'honneur Special Representatives of the Secretary-General of the United Nations Diplomats from The Hague 20th-century Dutch diplomats 20th-century Dutch economists 20th-century Dutch educators 20th-century Dutch male writers 20th-century Dutch politicians 21st-century Dutch diplomats 21st-century Dutch economists 21st-century Dutch male writers 21st-century Dutch politicians