Robert Van Lierop facts for kids

Robert F. Van Lierop (born 1939) is an amazing person who has done many things! He is a United States and ni-Vanuatu lawyer, a diplomat, a political activist, a filmmaker, a writer, and a photojournalist. He has worked to make the world a better place.

Early Life and Education

Robert Van Lierop was born in 1939 in Harlem, a neighborhood in New York City. His father came from Suriname, and his mother was from the Virgin Islands. His grandfather was from The Netherlands.

He went to Stuyvesant High School. Later, he studied at Hofstra University, graduating in 1964. He then went to New York University Law School and became a lawyer in 1967. As a lawyer, he joined the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). This group works for equal rights for all people.

Filmmaker and Storyteller

Robert Van Lierop also used films to tell important stories. He directed two movies: A Luta Continua (1972) and O Povo Organizado (1975). These films were made in the United States. They were in Portuguese, with English subtitles.

The movies were filmed in Mozambique, a country in Africa. They showed how people fought for their freedom against Portuguese colonial rule. They also showed how the new nation built schools and other important places after gaining independence. These films are seen as very important. They shared ideas about human freedom and made a big impact on Black independent cinema.

In 1981, Van Lierop also helped show Mozambican films in the United States. The money raised from these showings helped build a hospital in Mozambique.

A Diplomat for Vanuatu

In 1980, a new country called Vanuatu became independent and joined the United Nations. The Prime Minister of Vanuatu, Walter Lini, asked Robert Van Lierop to be their ambassador. An ambassador is a country's official representative in another country or organization.

Van Lierop accepted this important job. He became Vanuatu's Permanent Representative at the United Nations. He represented Vanuatu for more than ten years, from 1981 to 1994. During this time, he was Vanuatu's only diplomat living in New York City. He visited Vanuatu about twice a year.

Fighting for Freedom and Rights

As Vanuatu's ambassador, Van Lierop worked hard on important global issues. He followed instructions from Vanuatu's government. He spoke out against apartheid in South Africa. Apartheid was a system of racial separation and discrimination.

He also supported decolonisation. This means helping countries that were ruled by other nations to become independent. He spoke up for places like East Timor, Western Sahara, West Papua, and New Caledonia. In 1990, he said that Vanuatu was respected for its strong support of independence for these places.

Leading Global Efforts

Robert Van Lierop held several important leadership roles at the United Nations:

• In 1988, he was the vice-president of the 43rd meeting of the United Nations General Assembly.
• In 1990, he became the first chairman of the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS). This group helps small island nations work together. He led AOSIS until 1994. He stressed how important it was to fight climate change. Small island nations are especially at risk from rising sea levels and extreme weather.
• He was also the chairman of the United Nations' Special Committee on Decolonization. This showed Vanuatu's ongoing commitment to helping nations gain independence.
• In 1998, he helped lead a United Nations meeting about human rights and different cultures.
• In 2012, he was elected vice-chair of an important body for the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. He represented Saint Kitts and Nevis in this role.

Robert Van Lierop's career shows how one person can make a big difference in the world, working for justice, freedom, and a healthier planet.