mr. Christa Meindersma

Christa Meindersma has set up schools in Tibet for the Red Cross. As Kofi Annan's adviser, she was involved in peace negotiations in East Timor and West Africa. Now the situation in Darfur asks for immediate action. Reaching out to people in need, Christa has seen it all. She tells how it is for a white woman to negotiate African borders and Timorese independence.

Being a United Nations top adviser on peace operations and cooperating with all kinds of soldiers and doing research in the East Congo jungle. Until the end of 2005 Christa was a senior political adviser to the UN and a negotiator during peace talks. She worked closely together with former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan. Back in The Netherlands the ministry of Foreign Affairs asked her to negotiate peace with Darfur rebels, in an effort to reach a peace agreement. Privately Christa Meindersma is fighting for human rights for the Tibetans.

During the late eighties she travelled over land to Tibet, passing Turkey, Iran, Pakistan and India. This journey was an eye-opener to her and inspired her unique international career. As a volunteer she taught English to Tibetans and helped the Swiss Red Cross to set up a medical training program for barefoot doctors. On December 8, 1988, the 40th anniversary of the Declaration of Human Rights, Christa was shot by special Chinese units who opened fire at peaceful protesters. A week later Christa flew to India to meet the Dalai Lama. She addressed the UN Committee on Human Rights in Geneva. Her speech put Tibet back on the international agenda again. Christa is a member of the board of the International Campaign for Tibet Europe and meets the Dalai Lama on a regular basis.