Monday, 14 October 2013 00:00
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Una McCauley has assumed office as the new Representative for UNICEF in Sri Lanka. McCauley presented her credentials to the Minister of External Affairs, Prof. G. L. Peiris on 11 October.
“It is a great privilege to be able to serve the children of this nation through UNICEF’s Child Rights mandate” McCauley said.
“Sri Lanka has made great strides in realising the rights of children and continues to build on its successes to reach the most vulnerable. UNICEF remains committed to Sri Lanka, to help ensure that the needs of children and, especially those who are most disadvantaged and excluded, are not forgotten,” she added.
For the past decade and more, UNICEF’s assistance in Sri Lanka has been focused on emergency humanitarian relief, but with the country transitioning from a post-conflict humanitarian environment to one of recovery and development, UNICEF’s focus too has shifted to ensure a more equitable approach to advancing the rights of children across the country.
McCauley has been with UNICEF since 2002 serving in Angola, Kenya, Sudan, Togo and Panama. In her role as UNICEF Representative in Togo and Panama, she was responsible for the overall leadership in developing, implementing, monitoring and evaluating the country program.
Prior to this she has served in various capacities in child protection programming and providing expertise on child welfare strategies.
She is a national of the United Kingdom. She holds a Masters Degree in International Development from the University of London and a Bachelors Degree in Social Sciences and Social Research from the University of East London.
McCauley succeeds Reza Hossaini, who was reassigned to the UNICEF Zimbabwe office.