In the presence of the Secretary-General, the United States and the Sweden Missions to the United Nations unveiled a sculpture in memory of Michael Sharp and Zaida Catal¨¢n, Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ experts abducted and murdered in March 2017 while investigating allegations of mass graves following fighting between government forces and a militia group in the Kasai region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
¡°Zaida and Michael devoted their lives to advancing human rights and humanitarian action, and to supporting?vulnerable people,¡± said Secretary-General Ant¨®nio Guterres. ¡°Their murder was a heinous crime.¡± ??
Ann Linde, Sweden¡¯s Foreign Minister, and Anna Karin Enestr?m, Permanent Representative of Sweden to the United Nations, were joined by United States Ambassador Jeffrey DeLaurentis to deliver remarks on the occasion.
¡°The recent attacks on Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ peacekeepers in the DRC remind us of the risk that Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ personnel take on a daily basis in their efforts to promote peace and stability in conflict areas,¡± said Ms. Linde.
¡°We hope that this artwork will serve to remember Zaida and Michael, and as an inspiration to others working for the Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ and beyond.¡±
The glass sculpture Abused Ammunition was created ¡°to honour the legacy of Michael and Zaida, who exemplified compassion and courage and a commitment to the ideals of the United Nations¡± said Mr. DeLaurentis.
¡°Mankind doesn¡¯t seem to care, but this bullet is crying because of all the killing it has to take part in,¡± said Swedish glass artist Thommy Bremberg, referring to his sculpture.
The sculpture is part of the permanent disarmament exhibit at United Nations Headquarters in New York.
