Ambassador Vanessa Frazier was appointed as Permanent Representative of Malta to the United Nations on 6 January 2020. After many diplomatic roles, she now leads the Maltese efforts in New York with an emphasis on international rights, climate change and migration.
Can you walk us through your career and how you became an ambassador?
I’ve been in diplomacy for over 30 years, but my journey started in an unexpected way— through sports. I was a competitive judo athlete, representing Malta internationally. The experience of speaking about my country on the global stage gave me a passion for international affairs.
My grandmother always encouraged me to become a diplomat, and I was fortunate to grow up in a household where I was never made to feel that my gender limited my opportunities. I studied abroad on a scholarship and, after returning to Malta, joined the foreign ministry.
Since then, I’ve served in Washington, Rome, London, and Brussels, and I was also Malta’s National Security Advisor. In 2020, I was appointed Ambassador to the UN in New York, specifically to prepare for and lead Malta’s tenure on the UN Security Council.
What are the main priorities of the Maltese mission to the UN in New York?
Malta has a long history of championing key global issues at the UN. Traditionally, we have been very active in oceans and climate policy.
More recently, we have expanded our focus to women and children’s rights, particularly in conflict situations. We have worked on initiatives related to women and girls in STEM, conflict-related sexual violence, and children in armed conflict.
Another priority is counter-terrorism and non-proliferation, where we ensure a gender perspective is included in discussions. For example, Malta has been appointed gender focal point on the gender provisions of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW).
How does Malta ensure that small states have a voice in global decision-making?
Small states, including Malta, are often strong defenders of international law and multilateralism because we rely on a rules-based international system to ensure fairness.
We lead by example. Malta was one of the smallest countries ever to serve on the UN Security Council, and we demonstrated that small states could have a big voice.
We also stick to our priorities; we don’t try to cover everything but instead focus on key issues like climate, women’s rights, and security. We bring these topics into every discussion, whether it’s about terrorism, disarmament, or development.
As a small island nation, what role does Malta play in global climate negotiations?
Malta has been a leader in climate action at the UN for decades. In 1988, we introduced the first resolution recognizing climate change as a common concern for future generations, which paved the way for international climate negotiations.
Every year, we continue to push for climate action at the UN General Assembly and advocate for policies that support small island developing states (SIDS), which are the most vulnerable to climate change.
During our time on the UN Security Council, we focused on climate security, highlighting how issues like sea level rise and extreme weather threaten global stability. We also helped launch a process to recognize sea level rise as a security issue, ensuring that climate-related threats are taken seriously at the highest levels.
Larger countries have bigger teams and more funding to dedicate to UN negotiations. However, we maximize our impact by focusing on a few key priorities and consistently championing them across different discussions. We need to ensure that the voices of small island states are heard, especially when dealing with global issues like climate change, where larger economies play a dominant role.
What role does Malta play in UN initiatives for gender equality and education?
I was fortunate to grow up in an environment without gender barriers, but I know that’s not the case for everyone.
Malta has been at the forefront of initiatives related to women and girls in STEM. One of these resolutions is the International Day of Women in Diplomacy, celebrated on 24 June, which is not about congratulating women scientists or ambassadors who are already established, but rather about inspiring young girls to pursue these careers. It encourages them to see themselves in these roles by looking at us as role models and understanding that we are paving the way for them.
The Woman, Peace and Security agenda (WPS) was one of the cornerstones of our Security Council mandates during our tenure. We coordinated joint pledges on WPS, and we ensured that every Security Council resolution we reviewed included language emphasizing the full and meaningful participation of women.
We work closely with UN Women, providing financial and advocacy support. We actively contribute to the Commission on the Status of Women and push for stronger international frameworks to address gender-based violence and increase women’s participation in decision-making.
On a national level, we implement the Istanbul Convention and report to the UN on our commitments to eliminate gender disparities. We also track and report progress on SDG 5 (Gender Equality) and are currently drafting our second WPS national program.
Internationally, we champion the rights of women in Ukraine, Myanmar, and Afghanistan- populations that require a spotlight to ensure the international community does not forget them.
How does Malta support global efforts on migration and refugee rights?
As a frontline Mediterranean state, Malta has always been at the center of migratory flows. Our approach to migration governance balances humanitarian responsibilities with long-term policy solutions. We recognize that forced displacement often results from conflict, economic disparity, or climate change, so we focus on tackling root causes.
We oppose illegal human trafficking and actively work with countries of origin and transit to dismantle trafficking networks. A great example of our approach is a project where we provided Ugandan migrants in Malta with aquaculture training. Through our overseas development assistance, we established a fish farm in Uganda for them where the migrants returned voluntarily, formed a cooperative, and now run the fish farm, which provides employment and sustains their community.
Malta has several UNESCO World Heritage sites and a rich cultural history. What aspect is the country particularly proud of?
While Malta is known for its sun and sea, it has an incredibly rich cultural heritage spanning thousands of years.
We have Neolithic temples, which are the oldest free-standing monuments in the world, older than Stonehenge and the Egyptian pyramids. These temples were part of a matriarchal society that worshipped a fertility goddess.
Our capital, Valletta, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site—a stunning Baroque city built in the 1500s, featuring fortifications, grand architecture, and historical sites.
One of our greatest artistic treasures is Caravaggio’s The Beheading of St. John the Baptist, housed in St. John’s Co-Cathedral. It’s the only painting he ever signed, created while he was in exile in Malta seeking a pardon for murder. The painting is massive and breathtaking, playing with light and shadow in a way that integrates with the chapel’s architecture.
Our history is one of resilience, diversity, and cultural richness. Whether through diplomacy, migration policy, or cultural heritage, Malta remains deeply engaged in global affairs while staying proud of its unique identity.