29515: O'Brien (news) Claudette Werleigh named Secretary General of Pax Christi International (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: Martha O'Brien <mmcpeob@earthlink.net>

A friend of mine who is active in Pax Christi just sent me this press release:

Claudette Antoine Werleigh is Designated
New Secretary General of Pax Christi International


Claudette Antoine Werleigh of Haiti will become the next Secretary General of Pax Christi International, taking office in November 2007. The decision was made at a recent Executive Committee meeting, which took place on 13 and 14 November 2006. Claudette will succeed to Etienne De Jonghe, who will be retiring at the end of 2007.

Claudette Werleigh can boast extensive international experience in the fields of peace, justice and reconciliation using non-violent means. She was Vice President and a Member of the Executive Committee of Pax Christi International, from 1992 to 2001. She has been the head of Pax Christi International delegations attending the United Nations World Conference on Human Rights in Vienna (1993) and visiting Brazil (1994) and Central America (1997) on Pax Christi fact-finding missions.

Claudette has a university degree in Law and Economics, as well as a Post Graduate Specialisation in Adult Non-Formal Education. She has previously held a number of different governmental and non-governmental positions. From 1975, as Secretary General of Caritas Haiti, Caribbean Regional Coordinator with Caritas and Member of the Executive Committee of Caritas Internationalis, she has gained extensive experience working within the Catholic Church.

> From August 1990 onwards Mrs. Werleigh became active in public administration and politics in Haiti, as a Minister for Social Affairs and Foreign Affairs (1990 to 1995). Notably, she also served as Prime Minister of the Republic of Haiti in 1995 and 1996.

Since 1999, Claudette has been the Conflict Transformation Programmes Director of the Life and Peace Institute in Uppsala, Sweden.1 As such, she leads field activities aimed at facilitating and strengthening local peace building initiatives in war-torn societies such as in the Horn of Africa, Democratic Republic of Congo and Congo Brazzaville. Claudetteâs work has taken her all over Latin America, to several countries in Asia and Africa, to most countries in Western Europe, especially to conflict areas.

Years of teaching and lobbying experience have made her a confident and effective public speaker, building on excellent communication skills. She is bilingual in French and Haitian Creole, fluent in English and Spanish, and has a good understanding of Portuguese.

Claudette Werleigh is widely recognized for being a dedicated person. She is inspired by Christian values and spirituality, and has experience in cooperating with people of other faiths. She is also accustomed to working with an international staff with diverse backgrounds, facilitating collaborative action in order to reach common goals.




Brussels, 16 November 2006
IS.95.E.06