Ref: 2024/PR/98
Dr. Salma Rasheed, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, has officially presented her Letter of Credence to the Director General of the United Nations Office at Geneva, Tatiana Valovaya, in a formal ceremony held at the Palais des Nations today.
During the ceremony, Ambassador Dr. Salma extended her gratitude to Director General Valovaya for the warm reception and relayed greetings from President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu, the Government, and the people of Maldives to the UN Secretary-General, H.E. Mr. António Guterres.
She also expressed the President's appreciation for his leadership and the impactful work of the UN in these challenging times. Ambassador Dr. Salma reaffirmed the dedication and commitment of the Government of Maldives to promote and protect human rights and fundamental freedoms, as well as making significant contributions toward achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and the 2030 Agenda.
Ambassador Dr. Salma also thanked the Director General for emphasizing gender parity, climate change, and international economic integration as her priorities, and for her continued advocacy for geographical representation in the United Nations Office in Geneva. She further shared President Muizzu’s foreign policy priorities on climate change, democracy, good governance, rule of law, human rights, and gender equality, and reassured the commitment of the Maldives to remain a leading voice for Small Island Developing States.
President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu appointed Dr. Salma Rasheed as the new Permanent Representative of the Maldives to the United Nations in Geneva on 7th May 2024. Dr. Salma brings a wealth of experience from over 40 years in the health sector, notably for her roles in developing the first National Health Plan and the national childhood immunization program in the Maldives. She holds a PhD in Evaluation from London South Bank University, with further academic credentials from Leeds University and the American University of Beirut.
In her 17-year extensive career with the United Nations, including roles with UNFPA and WHO, Dr. Salma served in various leadership positions such as Deputy Representative and Regional Advisor, contributing to health system advancements in several countries across Asia and Africa.
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