Samoa's first ever Permanent Representative to the United Nations Office in Geneva (U.N.O.G.), Toleafoa Nella Pepe Tavita-Levy, has presented her credentials to the U.N.O.G. Director General.

Toleafoa was among a list of diplomats and officials whose appointments and reappointments as heads of mission and diplomatic staff was announced by the Samoa Government early this year.

She has been appointed the Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Samoa to the U.N.O.G. based in Geneva.

The Samoa Government sent out a media release on Saturday to advise of Toleafoa presenting her credentials to the U.N.O.G. Director General Tatiana Valovaya.

Prior to her taking up her appointment, she was the Assistant C.E.O. for the Trade Division at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade since April 2016. Prior to that, she served as Counsellor at the Embassy of Samoa in Brussels from 2012 to 2016.  

The Permanent Representative now formally establishes the first Permanent Mission of Samoa in Geneva, according to the Samoa Government media release.

"This is a milestone achievement for the Government of Samoa, signifying the importance of strengthening relations with the United Nations and other international organisations in Geneva; and bilateral relations with the Swiss Government," reads the Samoa Government's media release. 

"Samoa’s presence in Geneva will provide the direct opportunity to contribute to the discussions shaping global responses to areas of importance to Samoa including sustainable development, human rights, health and COVID-19 response, trade, connectivity and climate change etc."

The Samoa Government's media release further emphasised that the establishment of the Permanent Mission of Samoa in Geneva will strengthen Pacific and SIDS voices in Geneva and joins Pacific Forum permanent missions in Geneva comprising Australia, Fiji, Marshall Islands, Nauru, New Zealand and Vanuatu.

Toleafoa was one of four new heads of mission appointments announced by the Samoa Government on February this year. Besides being the Ambassador designate to Switzerland, she is also accredited to the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (F.A.O.) and the UNESCO in Paris, France. The tenure for Samoan heads of mission is 6 years.