Sergio Vieira de Mello: A True International Hero

by Meredith Slater · 2010-05-01 06:48:00 UTC
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The ultimate humanitarian, model diplomat, star of the UN. Those are just a few of the ways one might describe Sergio Vieira de Mello.

A Brazilian diplomat, Vieira de Mello dedicated his life to the United Nations system, accepting field assignments in the most dangerous, conflict-ridden places on earth. He quickly became known as a brilliant mediator, intent on listening to and considering all sides of any argument. Assignments in Bangladesh, Cyprus, Mozambique, Peru, Lebanon, Kosovo and East Timor (to name just a few) gave Vieira de Mello the opportunity to demonstrate his skills, winning him widespread respect among fellow humanitarians, world leaders and the people he served.

An upcoming HBO documentary, Sergio (based on the biography by Samantha Power), gives us a peek into Vieira de Mello's life. Through interviews and powerful video footage, it also depicts his devastating death in Iraq, which followed the explosion of a truck bomb that caused the collapse of the UN headquarters in Baghdad where he was stationed.

I'm excited about the film, which will offer an unusual glimpse into the life of a man who left an impress on international politics from 1969 to 2003, nearly 35 years in which he was the UN's "go-to guy." As biographer Power, a former journalist who now serves on Barack Obama's National Security Council attests, the diplomat is truly missed in today's troubled times. "We needed Sergio in Darfur. We needed Sergio in Congo. We needed Sergio on Iran."

Though we can't bring him back, we can commemorate him and his fallen colleagues through biographies, documentaries and observances. In 2007, I had the privilege of attending the Geneva commemoration of the fourth anniversary of the Baghdad bombing, in which former Secretary-General Kofi Annan unveiled a bust (photo above) of Sergio Vieira de Mello. It was a ceremony that reminded those in attendance of the wonderful work Vieira de Mello and the other slain UN staff members carried out — a reminder that I hope will be shared with millions more through this upcoming film.

Photo Credit: Meredith Slater

Meredith Slater works as a grant writer for organizations such as Friends of the World Food Program and Henry Street Settlement.
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