On the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the Sovereign Order of Malta’s status as Permanent Observer to the United Nations, the Grand Master Fra‘ John Dunlap, accompanied by the Grand Chancellor Riccardo Paternò di Montecupo and the Grand Hospitaller Fra’ Alessandro de Franciscis, paid an official visit to the United Nations in Geneva on Thursday 3rd October 2024.
The Grand Master was welcomed by the Director General of the United Nations Geneva office and addressed the Human Rights Council for the first time. In his speech he highlighted the continuous violations of international humanitarian law occurring in the main war scenarios, to which the Order responds by intensifying its commitment in favour of the victims of conflicts and those who suffer. He also reaffirmed the participation and support of the Sovereign Order of Malta in the work of the Human Rights Council.
A ceremony to celebrate this 30th anniversary was held at the Palais des Nations during which the Grand Chancellor spoke together with the Director General, recalling the Order’s humanitarian actions over the past thirty years. The Director-General thanked the Order for its activities in the humanitarian and multilateral fields and described it as “the true essence of solidarity”.
The Grand Master also inaugurated the photographic exhibition entitled ‘The Order of Malta today’ that illustrates the Order of Malta’s commitment to assist the sick, the poor and the victims of conflicts and natural disasters. The photographs testify to the crucial role of humanitarian diplomacy, underlining the importance of the Order’s action in global crisis scenarios.
