It is with a sense of profound sadness that I have learnt of the passing of Angela King, a distinguished Jamaican, a standard-bearer for the Caribbean in the international arena, and a citizen of the world.
As an alumna of The University of the West Indies, we shared the honour of proudly claiming it as our Alma mater. As one of the first two women Foreign Service officers posted to the Permanent Mission of Jamaica, after Jamaica joined the United Nations Angela King appeared since then, destined to do the Caribbean Community proud. Inevitably, she joined the United Nations Secretariat, in 1966, and in a career which spanned almost four decades, continued to earn the respect of all with whom she came into contact.
We in, and of the Caribbean, felt a continual sense of pride of association over the years, as Angela by dint of dedication and show of excellence, went from strength to strength. Some notable landmarks include:
• Her role from 1992-1994 as Chief of the UN Observer Mission in South Africa (UNOMSA), focusing on preventive diplomacy through the resumption of constitutional negotiations between the parties, the reduction of violence and the peaceful holding of democratic, non-racial elections in 1994.
• Her leading the United Nations inter-agency mission on the situation of women to Afghanistan under the Taliban.
• Her diplomacy and advocacy with the United Nations Security Council, in collaboration with UN entities and with non-governmental organizations, which led to the adoption of the Council’s landmark Resolution 1325 (2000), Women, Peace and Security. This, marking the Council’s first acknowledgement of women’s essential role in peace building, peace making and peace negotiations.
With her appointment to the post of UN Assistant Secretary-General and Special Adviser on Gender Issues and Advancement of Women, by then United Nations Secretary-General, H.E. Kofi Annan in March 1997, Angela King became one of the highest ranking Caribbean women in an international organization. Later that year, she was made a Commander of the Order of Distinction of Jamaica.
With the passing of Angela King, The Caribbean has lost a distinguished daughter, and the world; a peerless advocate, adviser and champion on development issues, in particular those relating to the elimination of all forms of discrimination against women and gender equality.