WESTPORT–The public is invited to a talk later this month by the United Nations (UN) Under-Secretary-General Christian Saunders, the third-highest ranking official in the international body.
Saunders will speak on “The UN at 80: Current Challenges and Future Possibilities” in the Trefz Forum of the Westport Library on Oct. 23 at 7 p.m. The event falls on the eve of the UN’s anniversary, Oct. 24. The worldwide agency It was formed in 1945, in the aftermath of World War II, to promote peace and security around the world.
Saunders’s visit is part of the Ruth Steinkraus Cohen Memorial Lecture Series established by the United Nations Association of Southwestern Connecticut (UNASWCT.org) in cooperation with the Westport Library. Admission is free, but those interested are asked to register here.
In addition to under-secretary-general, Saunders is the special coordinator on improving the UN response to sexual exploitation and abuse. He brings more than 30 years of experience with non-governmental organizations and the United Nations in the humanitarian, peacekeeping and development sectors. His senior UN positions have included assistant secretary-general in the Department of Operational Support and Department of Management.
Saunders’ career began with the Save the Children Fund in Sudan and Mozambique and included key positions with the UN Relief and Works Agency in Gaza, the UN Refugee Agency in Rwanda, UN peacekeeping in Sarajevo, and the UN Population Fund.
He is a graduate of Royal Holloway College, University of London and the University of Wales in the United Kingdom. In addition to English, he speaks French and some Arabic and Portuguese.
The lecture series is named in honor of the late activist and founder of the UNASWCT, Ruth Steinkraus-Cohen, who worked to promote and build support for the work of the UN. The Post Road Bridge in Westport is also named for Steinkraus-Cohen, and flags of UN member countries fly annually on the span on UN Day, Oct. 24.
For further information about Saunders’s talk, please contact Bill Hass, President, UNASWCT, at 203-454-7685, or 203 434 6609.
Your decision to post this today of all days is tone-deaf, insensitive, and downright offensive. Today is October 7. It is the second anniversary of the worst atrocity to happen to the Jewish nation since the Holocaust. 1200 people were savagely murdered by terrorists educated in UNRWA schools. 250 people were taken hostage into the depths of hell that UNRWA paid for– 48 still remain. Thousands of people were wounded. Millions of people locked themselves in safe rooms for hours on end. The UN and Christian Saunders, the former Acting Commission of UNRWA and now a top UN official, have direct ties to UNRWA.
What is wrong with you? On behalf of MY people, the Jewish people of the state of CT, and everyone who stands on the right side of morality, I demand an apology for your ignorance. — Dori Zuravicky @strength4israel
Why in the world would you announce this today, on the anniversary of the deadliest massacre by Hamas on Israel? The UN has shown itself to be the most anti-Semitic, anti-Israel, and anti-humanity organization. It’s a shame that Westport supports this institution and feels the need to bring in a speaker of this nature to our library. Westport needs to do better.