Angela King, advocate for women, dies

Angela King, 68, died this week from of complications from breast cancer. King, a Jamaican diplomat, was a leading advocate for women in the United Nations and was the first special advisor to the Secretary-General on women’s advancement.

In a statement, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon lauded King’s life and accomplishments, noting that she was a “champion of the equality of women and men, and women’s enjoyment of their human rights” and that “she will be mourned with profound affection and respect by many friends and allies around the world.”

King enjoyed a 38-year career at the UN, with a focus on ending discrimination against women. In 1997, former SG Kofi Annan appointed her to a new post as a special advisor on gender issues to help ensure to implementation of the Beijing Platform for Action.

For more, go to the International Herald Tribune and the Jamaica Gleaner News.