Dr. Asha-Rose Migiro, United Nations Deputy-Secretary-General was the keynote speaker at the Mayor's UN Day Dinner, Tuesday, Nov. 1

Dr. Asha-Rose Migiro took office as U.N. Deputy Secretary-General on Feb. 1, 2007. She is the third Deputy Secretary-General to be appointed since the post was established in 1997.

Dr. Migiro served as Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the United Republic of Tanzania from 2006-2007, the first woman to hold that position since the nation became independent in 1961. Before taking the helm at the foreign ministry, Dr. Migiro was Minister for Community Development, Gender and Children for five years.

As foreign minister, Dr. Migiro spearheaded Tanzania's engagement in the pursuit of peace, security and development in the Great Lakes Region. She served as chair of the Council of Ministers' meetings of the International Conference of the Great Lakes Region, a process the culminated in a Pact on Security, Stability and Development.

Dr. Migiro also was chair of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Ministerial Committee of the Organ on Politics, Defense and Security Cooperation and president of the UN Security Council during its open debate on peace, security and development in the Great Lakes Region.

Dr. Migiro coordinated SADC assistance to the democratic process, including elections, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, as well as support for national elections in Zambia and Madagascar. At the time she was appointed Deputy Secretary-General, Dr. Migiro was chair of an important SADC Ministerial Troika Meeting ahead of the national elections in the Kingdom of Lesotho. 

 

New Zealand’s UN Representative
Discussed U.N. Peacekeeping at Kansas City Event  May 18

International officers from Fort Leavenworth will join roundtable discussion  

The Honourable Jim McLay, CNZM, QSO, New Zealand's permanent representative to the United Nations, was coming to Kansas City for a special event May 18 honoring UN peacekeeping forces and discussing their role in international affairs.
 
Ambassador McLay spoke on the emerging doctrine of “the responsibility to protect,” a principle that holds in the event genocide or mass killings break out and the government of the nation involved is unable or unwilling to halt the violence, the international community has the responsibility to intervene to protect the population under assault.
 
His remarks were followed by a panel discussion about UN peacekeeping efforts, featuring international military officers with experience in UN peacekeeping operations. The officers were enrolled in the international student division of the U.S. Army Command & General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth.
 
The event took place at the Harry S. Truman Presidential Library and Museum in Independence. The event was sponsored by the Truman Library, the Truman Center for Governmental Affairs (UMKC), the Kansas City Chapter of the United Nations Association and Greater Kansas City People to People, in cooperation with the Command & General Staff College.
 
The event at the Truman Library was be preceded by a wreath-laying at the UN Peace Plaza, the only permanent memorial in the United States outside UN Headquarters dedicated to UN peacekeepers who have lost their lives in the line of duty. The Peace Plaza is on the grounds of the Community of Christ Church in Independence at the corner of West Walnut Street and West Lexington Street.
 
McLay served in the New Zealand Parliament from 1975 to 1987 and held, at various times, the positions of Deputy Prime Minister, Leader of the Opposition, Attorney General and Minister of Justice. He received the Queen’s Service Order (QSO) for public services (1987) and was made a Companion of the Order of New Zealand (CNZM) for services to conservation (2003). He has represented New Zealand at the United Nations since June 2009.