Anglican Communion News Service - Digest News

The Anglican Observer at the United Nations, Archdeacon Taimalelagi F. Tuatagaloa-Matalavea, was recently named a Member of the Order of Samoa, her native country.

"It is quite a privilege," the Archdeacon said, "to be acknowledged as a Samoan citizen contributing to international relations and development that benefits the world and Samoa."

For her part, Archdeacon Taimalelagi, who has been serving as the Anglican UN Observer for the past four and a half years, acknowledged the contribution that the Samoan government has made to her efforts on behalf of the international community.

Among other valuable acts of support, the Samoan government has granted her the use of a Samoan Diplomatic Passport for the duration of her UN assignment.

In her capacity as the Anglican UN Observer, Archdeacon Taimalelagi addresses many of the principle issues facing the world today: Human Rights - in particular those of women and children, the Stewardship of Creation, the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, and Global Peace and Security.

Her advocacy on issues related to Small Island Developing States and the Least Developed Countries is of special interest to Samoa, which is in both of these categories.