Leopoldo Benites (17 October 1905 – 1 January 1996) was an Ecuadorian diplomat who served as the 28th President of the United Nations General Assembly in 1973.

In 1965, Benites led the Ecuadorian delegation to a meeting for the Denuclearization of Latin America which was held in Mexico City.

He continued to work for denuclearization and in 1971 he became the first official Secretary-General of OPANAL[2] an international organization that promotes nuclear disarmament.

In his maiden speech as President, following his appointment, he had the honour of admitting the Bahamas and both East and West Germany into the United Nations.

[7] Benites was one of 11 General Assembly presidents who were summoned back to the United Nations in 1985 to advise on how the UN could increase its impact.