XUNICEF News and Views

Dear Participants  With just about 5 weeks more to go before our reunion, we are sending the below reminder on malaria prevention.  

I would appreciate hearing from readers on whether News Links should continue.  Daily readers of recent News Links posts have ranged from 10 to 15 people.  This number of readers may not justify the work of compiling the articles on either a daily or weekly basis. 

Trump says he can solve UN financial problem 'very easily' Sophia Cai Politico February 1, 2026 Click here for the article **Summary** President Trump claimed he could resolve the United Nations' financial crisis but declined to say whether the United States would pay the billions of dollars it owes the international body. 

Mukesh Kapila Click here for the Linkedin post Unfortunately much of my professional career has been about exposure to actual or possible #genocide . And I have said many times that the careless, casual, and crafty ways in which partisan politicians, thoughtless activists, and for-hire lawyers use the label by dropping it here, there, and everywhere means that it's original meaning and purpose - to punish, deter, and prevent egregious crimes against humanity - has been lost. No wonder that no genocides have ever been prevented and the related area of international criminal law and justice is held in such contempt by perpetrators. The irony in this is that the punishment for acts of genocide or equally cruel constituent acts not classified as genocide - is exactly the same: long imprisonment in civilised law-abiding national and international jurisdictions. But the inadvertent effect of shouting genocide at the drop of a hat - admittedly in frustration by pained victims and the...

Title: "Graceful Leadership" by Dr. Will Parks - An unapologetic message of hope and optimism Author: Arthur van Diesen (LinkedIn post about book by Dr. Will Parks) Publication: LinkedIn Date: January 30, 2026 Click here for the article Amazon link Summary:  Arthur van Diesen reviews "Graceful Leadership" by fellow UNICEF senior leader Will Parks, describing it as more than a professional memoir—a manifesto on leadership shaped by kindness, empathy, and principled belief in human capabilities. Van Diesen argues that traditional command-and-control leadership structures are failing in an increasingly fragmented world. Parks advocates for a leadership style prioritizing radical empathy, quiet courage, and principled resilience, tested through decades of humanitarian work in crisis zones. Van Diesen emphasizes that Parks' commitment to leading from the heart emerges not despite the brutality witnessed in humanitarian settings, but because of it, demonstrating that ...

 

A small reunion of UNICEF retirees in Amman took place on Tuesday, January 27th.  First from left are: * Marlen Helal executive assistant to many Jordan representatives,  * Reem Najjar who worked at both Regional and Jordan office,  * Mary Khoury who retired and lived in the USA for many years but decided to settle in Jordan,  * Amal Zaboura worked at Regional office,  * Muna-Christine Said whose last post was in Egypt,  *  Lamia Shaban who worked with many Deputy Regional Directors,  * Lori Issa who worked at the Regional office before moving to other international posts and is living in the USA. Lori was visiting and we had this reunion to see her after over 20 years. * Sulafa Hamdan who worked at the Regional office and retired from Yemen Office.  * Finally Mary Sidawi who was the executive assistant of 7 Regional Directors. 

Unbelievable cruelty against women & girls as Taliban plunges Afghanistan into a new nadir in the name of Islam, justifying enslavement of women. Yet little outrage from the leaders of @OIC_OCI & others professing respect for human rights.  Yet little outrage from the leaders of Islamic countries and others professing respect for human rights.  Hard to believe this is happening in the 21 st  century.  Kul