Deborah Lyons is a Canadian diplomat. She served as Special Representative of the Secretary-General of the United Nations for Afghanistan and Head of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) during 2020 to 2022. Prior to her United Nations posting, she was Canada's ambassador to Israel (2016–2020) and to the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan (2013–2016). In October 2023, she was appointed by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to replace Irwin Cotler as Canada's Special Envoy on Holocaust Remembrance and Combating Antisemitism.
Deborah Lyons | |
|---|---|
 Lyons in Kandahar in 2014 | |
| Special Representative for Afghanistan | |
| In office 24 March 2020 – 16 June 2022 | |
| Secretary-General | António Guterres |
| Preceded by | Tadamichi Yamamoto |
| Succeeded by | Roza Otunbayeva |
| Canadian Ambassador to Israel | |
| In office 19 July 2016 – 2020 | |
| Monarch | Elizabeth II |
| Prime Minister | Justin Trudeau |
| Preceded by | Vivian Bercovici |
| Succeeded by | Lisa Stadelbauer |
| Canadian Ambassador to Afghanistan | |
| In office 10 July 2013 – August 2016 | |
| Monarch | Elizabeth II |
| Prime Minister | Stephen Harper Justin Trudeau |
| Preceded by | Glenn V. Davidson |
| Succeeded by | Kenneth Neufeld |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Miramichi, New Brunswick, Canada |
| Education | BA University of New Brunswick, 1971 |
Early life and education
editLyons grew up in the Chatham neighborhood of Miramichi, New Brunswick, Canada as one of nine siblings.[1][2] She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of New Brunswick in 1971, graduating as the first female valedictorian in the university's history, and earned certification from the International Studies Program at the Canadian National Defence College in 1993.[3][4][5][6]
Lyons owned and managed a hunting and fishing lodge on the Miramichi River and an energy and environment consulting firm prior to becoming involved in government.[6][7]
Despite her roles as Canada's Special Envoy on Holocaust Remembrance and Combating Antisemitism and Canadian Ambassador to Israel, Lyons is not Jewish. Lyons has stated that “at first, as a non-Jew, I was concerned if I was the right person. Then, it became very clear to me it’s not Jews who created antisemitism, which is enacted by non-Jews. How ridiculous to think it’s only Jews who should lead the fight against antisemitism. It’s the non-Jews who have to stand up for this battle.”[8]
Career
editLyons was appointed Canada's ambassador to Afghanistan by Prime Minister Stephen Harper on 10 July 2013. She was the only female ambassador in Kabul during her first two years in role, until being joined by ambassador of the United Kingdom to Afghanistan, Dame Karen Pierce, in 2015.[9] During Lyons' tenure, the Canadian Embassy in Kabul moved to the forefront of women's issues in Afghanistan. In regards to her role as the highest ranking female diplomat in Kabul and the impact of her position, Lyons said in 2015, "One thing I know it has done is it has helped the Afghan women’s groups — it has helped validate them, and it has helped them believe that they have got a strong champion for their issues and for their work."[7]
On 19 July 2016, she was appointed ambassador to Israel by Stéphane Dion, Foreign Affairs Minister of the Trudeau Cabinet. She replaced Vivian Bercovici, a controversial appointee. [10] Lyons' appointment was welcomed by the Canadian diplomatic corps and Ferry de Kerckhove, a former Canadian envoy to Indonesia and Egypt, noted that the selection of an experienced and intelligent diplomat "underscores the importance that Canada attaches to Israel."[11]
She helped unveil a monument for guards at her embassy who were killed during the Kabul attack on Canadian Embassy guards.[citation needed]
In October of 2023, she was appointed by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau as Special Envoy on Holocaust Remembrance and Combatting Antisemitism. As part of that role she serves as Canada's representative to the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA). In a statement in response to the appointment, Lyons wrote, "I am proud to accept this role and responsibility and I am committed to working with all levels of government, institutions and stakeholders to promote Holocaust awareness and combat antisemitism here in Canada and abroad."[12]
Awards and achievements
edit- Honorary Doctor of Letters, University of New Brunswick, 2015
- Order of New Brunswick, 2016[13][14]
References
edit- ^ Lyons, Deborah (26 August 2022). "S5-Episode 12: Leading in Tragic Times". Awake at Night (Interview). Interviewed by Melissa Fleming. United Nations. Retrieved 14 February 2023.
- ^ Ryhno, Darcy (2016). "Canada's ambassador to Israel". Saltscapes Magazine. Retrieved 14 February 2023.
- ^ "Biographical notes: Deborah Lyons (BSc Hons [Biology], University of New Brunswick; certificate, National Defence College)". Global Affairs Canada. 19 July 2016. Retrieved 14 February 2023.
- ^ "Secretary-General Appoints Deborah Lyons of Canada Special Representative, Head of United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan". United Nations (Press release). Retrieved 14 April 2020.
- ^ "Leadership - UNAMA". United Nations.
- ^ a b "UNB alumni invested into the Order of New Brunswick". University of New Brunswick. November 2016. Retrieved 14 February 2023.
- ^ a b Fung, Mellissa (14 August 2015). "Canada's envoy to Afghanistan a boon to women". Toronto Star. Retrieved 14 February 2023.
- ^ Sarner, Robert. "Canada's antisemitism envoy says Jew-hatred is at a high — and may get even worse". The Times of Israel. Retrieved 8 July 2024.
- ^ Armstrong, Sally (16 January 2015). "The Interview: Canadian ambassador to Afghanistan Deborah Lyons". Maclean's. Retrieved 14 February 2023.
- ^ Fife, Robert (19 July 2016). "Dion shuffles diplomatic ranks, replaces controversial Tory appointees". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved 14 February 2023.
- ^ Proudfoot, Shannon (19 July 2016). "Why Justin Trudeau shook up Canada's diplomatic corps". Maclean's. Retrieved 14 February 2023.
- ^ Zimonjic, Peter (16 October 2023). "Trudeau appoints former ambassador to Israel as special envoy on antisemitism". CBC News. Retrieved 12 September 2024.
- ^ "2016 Order of New Brunswick recipients". Government of New Brunswick. 18 August 2016. Retrieved 14 February 2023.
- ^ Hantiuk, Dan (1 August 2016). "10 names added to Order of New Brunswick". CBC News. Retrieved 14 February 2023.