On 3rd October 2025, Vanessa Frazier of Malta was appointed Under-Secretary-General and Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict.

Ms. Frazier, who recently served as Ambassador, Permanent Representative of Malta to the United Nations (UN) in New York, USA (2020-2025), brings multilateral diplomatic expertise, crisis management skills, consensus building and dedication to child protection, with ability to navigate complex global negotiations and broker agreements among diverse stakeholders, having played a pivotal role as Chair of the UN Security Council (UNSC) Working Group on Children and Armed Conflict. She presided over the UNSC in February 2023 and April 2024, and as UNSC Facilitator of the Iran/Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action agreement and Chair of the 1267 Sanctions Committee on Al Qaeda/Daesh, advanced human rights, child protection, and humanitarian language. As an advocate for the E10 group of elected UNSC members, she was instrumental in shaping international responses to pressing crises, ensuring that the voices of the most vulnerable, especially children, remained at the forefront with a focus on the protection of children affected by conflict. She also served as Vice President of the 74th UN General Assembly and Chair of the Second Committee (Economic and Financial), leading the first and only all-women bureau in UN history.

During her diplomatic career, Ms. Frazier served as Malta’s ambassador to NATO from 2011-2013, adding the role of ambassador to Belgium and Luxembourg in 2012; as Malta’s Ambassador to Rome, Italy (2013-2019); as Acting Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Malta (2012-2013); as Ambassador for Migration, Office of the Prime Minister, Malta (2012-2016); and as Ambassador of Malta to Brussels, Belgium (2012-2013).

Ms. Frazier holds a Doctorate Honoris Causa in Humane Letters, Luther College, Decorah, Iowa, USA (2018-2019); a Master’s in Diplomatic Studies with a major in International Law, University of Malta (1993-1995). She is fluent in Maltese, English, and Italian.