New UNICEF Representative to Timor-Leste, presents credentials

Dili, TIMOR-LESTE, Thursday, 27 June 2024 – Newly appointed Representative for the United Nations Children’s Fund, (UNICEF), Ms. Patrizia DiGiovanni, yesterday presented her credentials to the Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs, Her Excellency, Ms. Milena Maria da Costa Rangel. 

Ms. DiGiovanni arrived in Timor-Leste this week and will oversee the implementation of the UNICEF Country Programme of Cooperation (2021-2025) in partnership with the Government of Timor-Leste. She takes over from the previous Representative, Mr. Bilal Aurang Zeb Durrani. 

Accepting Ms. DiGiovanni’s credentials, Her Excellency Ms. Milena Maria da Costa Rangel said the Government of Timor-Leste looks forward to continuing the strong partnership with UNICEF to help improve the lives of children and women across the country. 

“Since day one of Timor-Leste’s independence, UNICEF has supported the Government of Timor-Leste to implement country led and country owned development programmes. The IX Government of Timor-Leste looks forward to this spirit of co-operation to continue during Ms. DiGiovanni’s tenure,” said H.E Excellency Ms. Milena Maria da Costa Rangel.

In her response, Ms. DiGiovanni expressed appreciation to the Government of Timor-Leste for receiving her accreditation. She underscored her commitment to support Government’s development priorities through leading UNICEF’s current programmes in education, child protection, maternal and child health, nutrition, water and sanitation and social policy.

“I appreciate the extensive work that UNICEF Representatives before me have done in supporting Government’s prioritisation of children and their families. I commit to building on to these successes and to lead UNICEF’s role of contributing new ideas and new innovations which will drive the country’s development agenda further,” said Ms. DiGiovanni.

Ms. DiGiovanni has over 28 years of experience with UNICEF. Prior to her appointment in Timor-Leste, she was the UNICEF Representative in North Macedonia and has also served in different capacities with UNICEF Offices in Kenya, Ethiopia, Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan, India and Philippines.

She is an Australian national, who holds a master’s degree in legal studies (International Law and Human Rights), from the University of New South Wales, a bachelor’s degree in social science from the University of Western Sydney and an Associate Diploma in Community Studies (Youth Work) from the Milperra College of Advanced Education, Sydney.

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Tetun:

Reprezentativa UNICEF ba Timor-Leste aprezenta ona kredensial

Dili, TIMOR-LESTE, Kuarta, 27 Juñu 2024 – Reprezentativa foun Fundus Nasoins Unidas ba Labarik (UNICEF), Sra. Patrizia DiGiovanni aprezenta ona karta kredensial ba Ministra Interina Ministeriu Negosius Estranjeiro no Koperasaun Sua Exelensia Sra. Milena Maria da Costa Rangel.

Sra. DiGiovanne too iha Tior-Leste semana ne’e no sei Haree hela UNICEF-nia Programa País Koperasaun ba tinan 2021 – 2025 parseria ho Governu Timor-Leste. Nia substitui Reprezentativu tuan Sr. Bilal Aurang Zeb Durrani.

Simu tia Sra. DiGiovanni-nia Karta Kredensia, Sua Exelensia Sra. Milena da Costa Rangel hateten katak Governu Timor-Leste dezeja atu kontinua sai parseiru forte ho UNICEF hodi ajuda hadiak labarik no inan-feton sira nia moris iha país ne. 

"Hahú husi loron dahuluk Timor-Leste nia independénsia kedas, UNICEF fó ona apoiu ba Governu Timor-Leste hodi implementa programa dezenvolvimentu lideradu no pertense ba nasaun nian. IX Governu Timor-Leste hein katak espíritu kooperasaun ida-ne'e sei kontinua durante nia mandatu," dehan S.E. Milena Maria da Costa Rangel.

Iha nia resposta, Sra. DiGiovanni hato'o nia apresiasaun ba Governu Timor-Leste tanba simu nia akreditasaun. Nia subliña nia kompromisu atu apoia prioridade dezenvolvimentu Governu-nian liu husi UNICEF nia programa atuál iha edukasaun, protesaun labarik, saúde maternal no labarik, nutrisaun, bee no saneamentu no polítika sosiál sira.

"Hau apresia tebes servisu ne'ebé maka reprezentante UNICEF antes sira halo ona hodi apoia prioridade Governu-nian ba labarik sira no sira-nia família. Ha'u kompromete atu kontribui ba susesu hirak-ne'e no lidera UNICEF nia papél hodi kontribui ideia foun no inovasaun foun sira ne'ebé sei dudu tan ajenda dezenvolvimentu nasaun nian," dehan Sra. DiGiovanni.

Sra. DiGiovanni molok nia hetan nomeasaun mai Timor-Leste, nia nu'udar Reprezentativa UNICEF iha Masedonia Norte no mós servisu ho kapasidade oioin ho Gabinete UNICEF iha Keñia, Etiopia, Iran, Iraq, Afeganistaun, India no Filipina.

Nia nu'udar sidadaun Austráliana ida, ne'ebé iha mestradu iha estudu legál (Lei Internasional no Direitus Umanus), husi Universidade New South Wales, lisensiatura iha área siénsia sosiál husi Universidade Western Sydney no Diploma Asosiadu iha Estudu Komunidade (Youth Work) husi Milperra College of Advanced Education, Sydney.

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