Message from Ms. Tamara Cummings-John
The past two years have been quite a whirlwind for UNPAD as an organization. We’ve had numerous wonderful opportunities to make meaningful changes and share our expertise but also some unexpected changes which has left us all somewhat unsettled. As our Founder, Ms. Lanla Kamara steps down as President, taking the reins as Interim President until we hold elections with our members is bittersweet for me. I am honoured to take on such a important role but also mindful of the enormity of UNPAD’s mandate and the expectations that have been placed on us.
A lot of work has been done but there is even more to be done. Racism in all its forms is still very much a part of our lives, our societies and our work environments and the UN, is no exception. We are excited to see the Secretary-General’s Strategic Action Plan come to life and are proud of the contribution we have made and look forward to continued engagement as the plan is operationalised.
For the remaining months of 2022, we look forward to recharging our batteries and reconnecting with all of you, our members.
We will continue our engagement with the UN administration as well as with other staff affiliation groups whose successes are intrinsically linked to ours. We will also share some important knowledge products with you, as we continue to push the envelope and work towards a better United Nations that embraces and celebrates diversity in all its forms.
We hope that we can count on your support and active engagement as we continue to strengthen UNPAD and do our part to support UN personnel of African descent.