KUALA LUMPUR – Noeleen Heyzer, widow of prominent Malaysian rights activist Fan Yew Teng, has been appointed as UN secretary-general Antonio Guterres’ special envoy on Myanmar. She succeeds Christine Schraner Burgener of Switzerland.
Considered to be one of the highest-ranking Singaporeans in the United Nations, Heyzer has undertaken extensive missions to conflict-affected countries around the world, engaging women and a wide range of stakeholders, including civil society, youth and faith-based organisations.
She was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize in 2005 for her work to improve the lives of women, and promoting peace and justice.
Her latest appointment as envoy was announced by Guterres yesterday.
Her late husband Fan had in his lifetime served as acting secretary-general of DAP, and also been MP twice – for Kampar and Menglembu. He had also served as Petaling Jaya assemblyman.
Fan, who passed away in 2010, had written several books on human rights and politics in Malaysia, and had also for some time been an editor for DAP journal The Rocket.
In a statement, the UN acknowledged Heyzer as the first woman to serve as executive secretary of its Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific between 2007 and 2014.
“Ms Heyzer focused on regional cooperation for a more resilient Asia-Pacific, founded on shared prosperity, social equity and sustainable development,” said a statement issued by the UN yesterday.
“In the period 2008-2009, she worked closely with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean), the government of Myanmar and the United Nations in the recovery efforts following Cyclone Nargis and led a dialogue with Myanmar’s leaders on development and poverty reduction.”
From 2013 to 2015, Heyzer was made then UN secretary-general Ban Ki-Moon’s special adviser for Timor Leste, working to support peacebuilding, state-building and sustainable development there.
“As executive director of Unifem (UN Development Fund for Women)(1994-2007), she played a critical role in the security council’s formulation and implementation of the landmark resolution 1325 (2000) on women, peace and security,” the statement added.
She also sits on the governing board of the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy at the National University of Singapore, and is a distinguished fellow of Singapore Management University and S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies. – The Vibes, October 26, 2021
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