African Renaissance and Diaspora Network
Earlier today, I had the pleasure of sharing an excellent working lunch with my dear friend and longtime colleague, Gillian Sorensen, at a restaurant just across from the United Nations Headquarters in New York.
Gillian Sorensen, a former United Nations Assistant Secretary-General for External Relations, has spent her career championing the causes of peace, justice, development, refugee protection, and human rights.
In 2018, she addressed the National Model United Nations (NMUN), inspiring students from over 130 countries.
She currently serves on the board of the International Rescue Committee and is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations.
Gillian and I have shared a close friendship since our time working together at the United Nations. Our lunch today was more than a moment of reconnection—it was an opportunity to discuss new avenues of collaboration between her and the African Renaissance and Diaspora Network (ARDN), especially our campaign to promote the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030.
A special highlight of our conversation was the Red Card Campaign—ARDN’s global call to end all forms of violence and discrimination against women and girls. Gillian’s support for this initiative is longstanding; she was present at the global launch of the Red Card Campaign in March 2020 at the United Nations Headquarters in New York. Today, she reaffirmed her commitment to amplifying its message and helping drive forward its objectives through her networks and advocacy.
Sitting just steps from the UN, where both of us spent formative years of our careers, we reflected on the urgency of collective action and the power of partnerships.
I left the lunch energized by our exchange and reminded of how vital it is to build on these enduring bonds in the quest for a more just and equal world.
