TRASH: Ambassadors Awarded for Achievement in U.N. Global Goals

New York, N.Y. It’s definitely always a heady experience to be surrounded by world leaders, so it was a particular pleasure for me to attend a special celebration of the adoption of the new Global Goals by the 193 governments who are members of the United Nations.

The intimate and elegant event was held at the Friars Club on Friday evening last week attended by a very interesting group of 150 dignitaries and friends of Africa. My good friend Dr. Judy Kuriansky was the perfect host, as a member of the club, leader of civil society, and Chair of the Psychology Coalition of NGOs at the U.N. who was very active in advocacy during the negotiations.

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Ambassadors, awardees, attendees and co-hosts from left to right:

co-host U.N. Ambassador of Suriname Henry Macdonald;

U.N. Assistant Secretary-General Thomas Gass;

U.N. Ambassador of the Republic of Benin Jean-Francis Zinsou;

Chair of the Psychology Coalition and event host Dr. Judy Kuriansky;

U.N. Ambassador of the Republic of Kenya Macharia Kamau;

C.E.O. of AfricaConnectOnline Omon Dede;

Amb. Téte António, Permanent Observer of the African Union to the U.N.;

and U.N. Ambassador of Grenada Denis Antoine. Photo: XXX.

One of the purposes of the event was to give awards to ambassadors and high-level officials who played a major role in drafting the agenda and chairing the negotiations.

I stood in front of the stage as Dr. Judy introduced the awardees and described their impressive credentials. She noted, with humor appropriate to the spirit of the Friars Club, that the awardees were as worthy of Tony and Oscar awards for their performances on the international diplomacy stage as the celebrity Friars Club members whose pictures adorn the walls of the club, like Whoopi Goldberg, Barbara Walters, Billy Crystal and Frank Sinatra.

The first two awardees were the co-chairs of the intergovernmental negotiations for the Sustainable Development Goals, who facilitated the discussions and debates that led to the final document, the Ambassador of the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Kenya to the U.N., Macharia Kamau, and the Ambassador of the Permanent Mission of Ireland to the U.N., David Donoghue.

Dr. Judy regaled Ambassador Kamau’s diplomatic skills and his good humor - also appropriate to the Friars Club – telling how he called out delegates who were distracted during the World Cup, saying, “I know you are anxious about THAT outcome.” And he thanked U.N. Ambassador Caleb Otto of Palau for caring about his “mental health and well-being” – which H.E. Otto referred to so often in his interventions (and successfully got included in the agenda for the first time, in partnership with Dr. Judy as a civil society representative).

In his acceptance remarks at the event, H.E. Kamau predicted that the goals “are going to make this world a radically different place.”

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Host Dr. Judy Kuriansky giving the award to U.N. Ambassador Macharia Kamau of Kenya.

Photo: XXX.

It made such sense to me that Ambassador of the mission of Ireland to the U.N. David Donoghue was selected as co-co-chair of the negotiations – and then did such a good job – given his 17-year history working on the Northern Ireland problem and Anglo-Irish relations, and being so closely involved in the negotiation of both the Anglo-Irish Agreement and the Good Friday Agreement. He was also Ambassador to the Russian Federation.

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Ambassador David Donoghue of the mission of Ireland to the U.N.

holds up his award given by Dr Judy Kuriansky. Photo: XXX.

The First AfricaConnectOnline Global Achievement Awards statuette was impressively and perfectly designed for the spirit of the Global Goals – also called the Sustainable Development Goals – with its globe perched atop three pillars representing the three foundations of the goals: economic and social development, and environmental protection

The event also celebrated the launch of www.africaconnectonline.com , a new Internet-based information network aimed at telling positive stories about Africa and the Diaspora that other media do not cover, as well as events at the UN, fashion and profiles. I found it charming that to open her speech, CEO Omon Dede did a dance on stage. Then the energy shifted to deeply serious note as she described her journey to America and founding the site, growing up poor in Nigeria and suffering the trauma of being raped. Then, when coming to America, she was detained for months, driving her to feel so alone she was suicidal. Now, her site is intended to help other young girls not feel the same way.

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C.E.O. of AfricaConnectOnline Omon Dede dancing during her speech.

Since I am such an avid advocate of men’s and women’s rights, I was impressed with the speech of the Ambassador of the Republic of Suriname to the U.N., Henry MacDonald, co-convener the event and advisor to AfricaConnectOnline, who is a spokesperson for the UNWomen’s HeforShe UN Ambassadors campaign. His described his recent “Barbershop Conference” at the U.N., explaining how the barber shop is a place where men talk about 3 topics: sports, politics and women. The message is that men have to change their negative stereotypes about women- and also about themselves.

“We have to invest in the brain power of Africa, in its boys and men but also girls and women,” he said.

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U.N. Ambassador Henry MacDonald, co-convener of the event,

speaking about women’s and men’s rights. Photo: XXX.

Reference to the brain was a perfect lead-in to the joke Dr. Judy told - in the spirit of the Friars Club - about the different cost of men’s and women’s brains. Everyone laughed. It was nice that my dear friend Dr. Judy is funny, but also so serious and diplomatic in her role at the U.N. I was particularly happy that her advocacy was successful in that mental health and well-being was included in the agenda for the first time, due in large part to her efforts partnering with the Ambassador of Palau to the U.N. Caleb Otto, who is a public health physician.

The club was also a perfect setting for the occasion, given that one of the goals insures “gender equality and empowerment of women and girls,” and the club was a men’s club but buckled under pressure years ago to admit women. I like that.

Other goals are to eliminate poverty, ensure education, peace, and combat climate change.

Everyone loved the allusion made by special invited opening speaker, Ambassador Téte António, Permanent Observer of the African Union to the U.N., when he acknowledged AfricaConnectOnline for “changing the mindset” of stories about Africa, and said how finally the stories of the lions in Africa will not be told only by the hunters, but by the lions themselves.

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Ambassador Téte António, Permanent Observer of the African Union to the U.N.

Photo: XXX.

Given that I know a little Latin, I loved the comment of Hungary’s Deputy Permanent Representative, Ambassador Zsolt Hetesy, accepting on behalf of the U.N. Ambassador of Hungary, Csaba Kőrösi, who co-chaired the 2014 UN sessions. He pointed to the on-stage Friars Club logo, explaining its Latin slogan “Prae Omnia Fraternitas”  translates to “before all brotherhood,” as symbolic of “the partnership we are putting together for all mankind.”

Hungary’s Deputy Permanent Representative to the U.N. Zsolt Hetesy

accepting the award for H.E. Csaba Kőrösi. Photo: XXX.

The U.N. Secretary-General's Special Adviser on Post-2015 Development Planning.

Amina J. Mohammed, to the left of her mother holding her daughter’s award,

with Dr. Judy to her left and surrounded by three of her daughters. Photo: XXX.

Amina J.Mohammed, Special Advisor to the U.N. Secretary-General on Post-2015 Development, was the sole female awardee. Dr. Judy, being a psychologist, invited Ms. Mohammed’s five female relatives onstage - her mother and three daughters (of 6 children). Because Dr. Judy has vast experience as a talk show host, to the delight of the crowd, she put the microphone in front of each to say what they thought of their daughter and mother. The answers: “truly amazing” “inspirational” and “the best…she thinks about everyone.”

“How’s this for girl power,” said Ms. Mohammed proudly.

Well-known for his high energy and passion - jumping on the podium during a panel at the U.N. with the Secretary General, making a point about seizing the day like Robin Williams did in the film “Dead Poet’s Society - Thomas Gass, Assistant Secretary-General for Policy Coordination and Inter-Agency Affairs in the Department of Social and Economic Affairs, urged everyone to read the 169 targets and choose ones that are personally meaningful.

He also acknowledged those who fought so hard for the inclusion of various targets, like mental health (dear to Dr. Judy’s heart), and human rights.

But more needs to be done.  I was moved when he asked, “Can you imagine 40 million people still do not have a legal identity?” he asked, "so they can’t have a driver’s license, travel, inherit anything, or pass on anything to their children."

The humor that characterizes the club inspired the speeches, including by Nihkil Chandavakar, Chief of Communication and Outreach in the Division of Sustainable Development in the U.N. Department of Economic and Social Affairs, when accepting for the Secretariat of the Global Goals proceedings, Nikhil Seth. Pointing out how they have the same first name, maybe he would keep the award!

All the awardees had impressive world experience. For example, President of the 69 th session of the General Assembly, Sam Kutesa, Ugandan lawyer, businessman and politician, has played a role in stabilization and peace processes in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Sudan, South Sudan, and Somalia.

Given all my experience in the arts all over the world, for humanitarian projects, I enjoyed meeting Ambassador Angelo Toriello, Deputy Permanent Representative of the mission of Sao Tome and Principe to the U.N. Through his Humanicy project that promotes humanity in diplomacy, he has hosted many events at the U.N., including an Ebola Relief Concert in March to encourage ongoing attention to the epidemic.

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Ambassador of Sao Tome and Principe to the U.N. Angelo Toriello with Dr. Judy Kuriansky.

Photo: XXX.

I have worked all over the world doing humanitarian projects, and have spent many years in Japan. Yet, there are a few small developing countries I would like to know more about, especially after meeting U.N. Ambassadors from those places, like Jean-Francis Zinsou, from Benin, who represents the Least Developed Countries at the U.N. He said, “The event was inspiring to honor heroes who devoted so much energy and brains to define the future we want for all humanity.”

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U.N. Ambassador of Benin Jean-Francis Zinsou with his wife Collette

I work so much with young people that I was glad to see that his son, Joel, is Dr. Judy’s assistant, a senior at Hunter College who was her “right arm” during the negotiations. It is youth like him, as the new generation, who are going to greatly benefit from the 15 years of the new Global Goals.

I know how important music is to heal problems in the world, so it was appropriate that the event opened with a musical performance, and that the song was relevant a global goal of maternal and child health – called “Every Woman Every Child.” It was also special that it was written by Dr. Judy with her song-writing partner, my good friend, Russell Daisey, who is an internationally known composer, pianist and music producer who co-facilitates disaster workshops with her around the world.

They have performed at events I have co-hosted about recovery from the Japan tsunami-earthquake. The song celebrates the U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon’s campaign about the same topic, and debuted in a church in Arusha, Tanzania, before a workshop Diasey and Dr. Judy did in a local school (just before she climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro).

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Sheimyrah Mighty singing with all the awardees standing around her. Photo: XXX.

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Co-lyricists Russell Daisey and Dr. Judy listening to Sheimyrah Mighty sing

their original song, “Every Woman Every Child." Photo: XXX.

The song was sung by 17-year old Sheimyrah Mighty who brought the house down with her powerful voice. I love that she has performed at events for both President Obama and Presidential hopeful Donald Trump.

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All the awardees with Dr. Judy, Omon Dede and Sheimyrah

Sheimyrah brought gasps again in closing the ceremony by singing “The Impossible Dream” since it evoked the theme of the evening of reaching for the dream of a better world.

Africa, African Diaspora, African Union, Amb. Angelo Toriello, Amb. Caleb Otto, Amb. Csaba Kőrösi, Amb. David Donoghue, Amb. Denis Antoine, Amb. Henry Macdonald, Amb. Jean-Francis Zinsou, Amb. Téte António,  Amb. Macharia Kamau, AfricaConnectOnline, Amb. Téte António, Amb. Zsolt Hetesy, Ambassadors, Amina J. Mohammed, Anglo-Irish Agreement, Anglo-Irish relations, Arusha, Ban Ki-moon, Benin, Climate change., Dem. Rep. of Congo, Dr. Judy Kuriansky, Ebola Relief Concert, economic development, Education, Empowerment of women and girls, environmental protection, Every Woman Every Child, First AfricaConnectOnline, Friars Club, Gender equality, Global Achievement Award, Good Friday Agreement, Grenada, HeforShe Campaign, Humanicy Project, humanity in diplomacy, Hungary, Ireland, Japan, Kenya, Least Developed Countries at U.N., Men’s club, New York City, Nigeria, Nihkil Chandavakar, Nikhil Seth, Northern Ireland, Omon Dede, Palau, Peace, Poverty, Psychology Coalition of NGOs at U.N., Republic of Benin,Republic of Kenya, Russell Daisey, Russian Federation, Sam Kutesa, Sao Tome and Principe, Sheimyrah Mighty, social development, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Suriname, Sustainable Development Goals, Tanzania, U.N. Assist. Sec.-Gen. Thomas Gass, U.N. Dept. of Economic Social Affairs, U.N. Global Goals, Uganda, United Nations, UNWomen, Women’s Rights, World leaders

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