Secretary-General Praises Ann Veneman’s Immense Dedication, Energy, Determination,

 

after Learning She Will Not Seek Second Term as Head of UN Children’s Fund

 

The following statement by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon was issued today:

It is with great regret that I learned that Ann M. Veneman does not plan to pursue a second term as the Executive Director of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).  She has fulfilled her mandate with immense dedication, and I have been impressed by her extraordinary energy and determination to improve children’s health, education and well-being around the world.  Under her leadership, UNICEF has become a catalyst for global action to help children reach their full potential, promoting collaborations that deliver the best possible results for children based on expert knowledge, sound evidence and data.  She has been a champion of United Nations coherence and a strong voice for children as well as Millennium Development Goal implementation.  Her legacy is an organization that is financially and intellectually strong and well-equipped to meet the challenges children face in the twenty-first century.

On behalf of the United Nations, and personally too, I thank her for her outstanding service and wish all the best in her future endeavours.

* *** *

For information media • not an official record