150+ Canadians Day 110: Rosemary McCarney

Image: Rosemary speaking at the 2016 Geneva Summit. (Youtube)

Rosemary McCarney contributed to peace through international development initiatives to end gender inequality and children out of poverty.

Founded in 1937, Plan International is one of the world’s oldest and largest international development agencies, working in partnership with millions of people around the world to end global poverty. Not for profit, independent and inclusive of all faiths and cultures, it has only one agenda: to improve the lives of children.

McCarney has had an extensive international career in law, business and the not-for-profit sector, having worked in more than 100 countries. Prior to joining Plan Canada, she was the Executive Director of Street Kids International.

An author of children’s books, she wrote “Every Day is Malala Day,” a book for middle grade readers.  Rosemary helped craft  the global campaign “Because I am a Girl” and worked to declare October 11th the International Day of the Girl. – a day each year to recognize and advocate for girls’ rights globally.

Today McCarney is the Canadian Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations and the Conference on Disarmament in Geneva.

“This is an opportunity to work with other like-minded nation states on the biggest issues of our day,” said McCarney, adding she feels she’ll be able to effect even more change as most major unilateral organizations are headquartered in Geneva.

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