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Pacific Person Of The Year Pacific Person Of The Year

Mandated by UN Security Council resolution 2567, UN- anon in 1978 and then to the Sinai from 1982. The Republic
MISS was established to prevent a return to civil war, “build of Fiji Military Forces states that peacekeepers are currently
durable peace and support inclusive, accountable governance deployed in Syria, Sudan, Egypt/Sinai, Iraq, and Lebanon and
and free, fair and peaceful elections” in the world’s youngest Solomon Islands. Previously they’ve been deployed to Angola,
country. Once part of Sudan, South Sudan gained its indepen- Bosnia and Herzegovina, Cambodia, Croatia, Kosovo, Liberia,
dence after a prolonged civil war and following a referendum Namibia, Rwanda, Somalia and Timor-Leste. Since 1970, Fiji
in 2011. has contributed more personnel to UN Peacekeeping missions
UNMISS had a four-pronged strategy of protecting civilians than any other state on a per capita measure.
with a particular focus on women and children, creating con-
ditions conducive to the delivery of humanitarian assistance, “She is an inspiration”
supporting the implementation of the Revitalised Agreement Accolades for this highly decorated, yet very humble
and the peace process and monitoring, investigating and re- woman from the tiny island of Totoya, in the Lau Province of
porting on violations of humanitarian and human rights law. Fiji’s eastern sea borders, have been glowing.
By October this year, UNMISS boasted a total manpower of “She is an inspiration to many young boys and girls to be
more than 18,000 personnel from 123 UN member countries. the best version of themselves no matter what career options
Under Vuniwaqa’s administration, UNMISS has an annual they find themselves in,” wrote Fijian human rights lawyer
budget of USD$1.201 billion—which is the equivalent of 64% of Romulo Nayacalevu on news of her appointment.
Fiji’s national budget, or 28% of the nation’s GDP. “A bonus to her inspirational streak is how our island girl
from our dot in the world map, with a population of less
The next chapter than a million people took our Fijian veiwekani (family),
Her “better opportunity” didn’t end in South Sudan. veikauwaitaki (caring), veilomani (loving) and shared it with
Little more than a month after officially retiring as UNMISS those traumatised by conflict and violence.”
Commissioner, United Nations Secretary General, António “You make us proud peacekeepers.
Guterres announced Vuniwaqa’s appointment as the new “History will smile at this patriot of Fiji, a daughter of the
Assistant Secretary General of the UN Department for Safety Pacific, because she dared to dream.”
and Security. Reaction from the Fijian Government came a week after
She will be based at the UN headquarters in New York, sec- Vuniwaqa’s appointment in the form of a media statement
ond only to Under Secretary General Gilles Michaud of Canada released by the Permanent Secretary in the Prime Minister’s
in the management of the UNDSS. office, Yogesh Karan.
Vuniwaqa will be responsible for day-to-day management Fiji is incredibly proud of the appointment by UN Secretary
of the department, said SG Guterres when announcing the General of Ms Unaisi Lutu Vuniwaqa as the Assistant Secretary
appointment. General in the UN’s Department of Safety and Security, he
UN official sources say the department is responsible for said.
providing leadership, operational support and oversight of the “She is a fantastic role model for Fijians and Pacific Island-
security management system to enable the safest and most ers and her exemplary leadership is a great motivation for
efficient conduct of the programmes and activities of the Fijians and for youths that with dedication, hard work and
United Nations system. perseverance, we can achieve the best for our nation.”
It encompasses processes and security personnel aimed at In announcing her big promotion, UN SG Guterres made
managing security risks to the UN system globally. reference to Vuniwaqa’s leadership of UNMISS, implying that
By mid-2021, 238 million people needed UNDSS support her record there was a huge factor in her assumption of the
and assistance, USG Michaud said in the Department’s 2021 Assistant Secretary General’s job.
report. When she stepped down last October, UNMISS Police Chief
“That is one in 33 people worldwide. of Operations, Francis Yiribaare made some observations
“We will overcome any security challenge to ensure that about his former boss:
UN programmes reach them: over 7,000 UNDSS personnel are “She’s a woman of calibre who has touched all of us, police
committed to this mission,” he continued. officers and senior management, and had an overarching ef-
Few other Pacific Islanders have risen as high in the UN. The fect on the entire mission.”
late Ambassador Satya Nandan as Secretary-General of the For her remarkable leadership on the global stage, her
International Seabed Authority comes to mind. Cook Islands humility and resolve to stand and fight for what is right and
Elizabeth Iro as Head of Nursing at the World Health Organi- fair, and for her caring and empathy and practical support for
zation in Geneva is another who has made her mark in a UN women and children in harm’s way, Unaisi Bolatolu Vuniwaqa
agency. is our Pacific Person of the Year, sharing the honours with
But Vuniwaqa’s career has been historic, in that she has another woman breaking through barriers, Fiame Naomi
shattered a glass ceiling in a decidedly male arena, and in one Mata’afa, current Prime Minister of Samoa.
where Fiji has deep historical roots.
Fiji’s first contingent of peacekeepers was deployed to Leb- publisher@islandsbusiness.com

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