Messages of condolence
We have all lost a good friend and great colleague. As one of the Founding members of IANSA and part of the original Management Committee, Sarah put a huge effort into setting up the IANSA Network in terms of ideas, policy, structure, management and fundraising. Her understanding of the arms trade, collaborative work and how networks operate made her an invaluable colleague. There was nothing glitzy or self promoting about Sarah’s interest in the arms trade, it was a genuine desire to change and develop policy to cut down numbers of people being unnecessarily killed.
As my Manager Sarah was patient, always encouraging, a good coach and a skilful problem solver. Sarah was so reliable, she did what she said she’d do and was up front if she couldn’t help. I always respected Sarah’s ability to remain uninvolved in gossip - if she couldn’t say it to your face, she didn’t say it. She was genuinely honest - never talking behind peoples’ backs. Her support for my work in IANSA was always there and continued long after she stood down from the Management Committee. With help from colleagues in ISS and IANSA, Sarah and I developed and organised a 5 day training course in Malawi in 2003 for arms researchers from African Countries. It would be good if something like this could continue in her memory.
Ever since hearing the news I have, no doubt like many others, had images of Sarah going through my mind and one of the enduring ones is her at the UN being hugely efficient, working incredibly hard but also being great fun in the in-between bits. I feel privileged having known Sarah as a friend and colleague. It’s tragic your life has been cut so short, Sarah. We are all going to miss you terribly. My thoughts go out to Mike and Sarah’s family.
Sally Joss
IANSA Coordinator 2000 - 2004
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It was with immense sadness that I learned of Sarah’s death. I had worked with her, and grown to know her well for more than 7 years. Wherever I saw her, London, Pretoria, New York, Geneva, etc. it was a joy to be around her and everyone learned so much from her experience.
Most recently I worked with her in New York where she was the consultant on the Group of Experts considering the UN Register of Conventional Arms. Her immense expertise, knowledge and warmth made her the perfect choice. Her work was impeccable, her energy, never ending and her commitment to all she did, unquestionable. We had a long-standing joke in many of these meetings about which of us had the right to provide the definitive view on the use of English and this was the last exchange we had in July as I left New York and Sarah went off to finalise the GGE report.
May her soul now have peace. She made a difference in this world and will be remembered fondly by so many. There is, in this, some comfort.
Thank you Sarah.
Andrew Wood
UK Ministry of Defence
London
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It is so sad that the South African government in particular continues to allow the mass murder and maiming of its citizens with legal and illegal guns. We need a total ban of guns in civilian hands as a start, to contribute to safety, security and economic development. You can never fight gun violence with more guns. Sarah Meek, like many activists, researchers and practitioners in the anti-gun lobby, did something about the scourge. In her various capacities, she provided the empirical evidence and highlighted the need for stricter control of guns. IANSA and all the organisations that she worked for are poorer without her.
May her soul rest in peace.
Gusha Xolani Ngantweni
former Superintendent, South African Police Service
Senior Lecturer in Policing
School of Criminal Justice
University of South Africa
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I will remember Sarah Meek as a righteous person and an autonomous thinker - a combination which rendered her a natural authority.
Daniel Prins
Deputy Head of Mission
The Netherlands' Permanent Representation to the Conference on Disarmament, Geneva
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I have just returned from Monterey, where I first met Sarah in 1995, and am still trying to process this terrible news. Sarah was my first boss in the small arms field, but quickly became much more. I was lucky enough to have had Sarah not only as a colleague, but as a friend, and I will always treasure her guidance and friendship. We had a moment of silence for Sarah on the MIIS campus Friday night in advance of an event on small arms and child soldiers, two issues Sarah worked on passionately. My thoughts and prayers go to Mike, her family, friends, and all of those who lost a true champion of their cause. Sarah, you will be missed.
Rachel J. Stohl
Center for Defense Information
US
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Please receive my condolences for the loss Sarah, it was very shocking.
Our heartfelt condolence goes to her family her partner and the larger ISS family.
We are grieving with you and will be thinking of you in the coming days as you learn to deal with the loose.
I just wanted to leave you with the following:
It is true the body is perishable, but within it dwells the imperishable Self.
This body is subject to pleasure and pain;
no one who identifies with the body can escape from pleasure and pain.
But those who know they are not the body pass beyond pleasure and pain to live in abiding joy.
-Chandogya Upanishad
I know that Sarah is beyond any pain now, May her soul rest in eternal peace.
Mereso Agina
Kenyan Coalition Against Landmines
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Nous très peinés d’apprendre le décès de Sarah Meek. J’avais eu l’occasion d’apprécier sa gentillesse et son professionnalisme lors des réunions du IANSA à différentes occasions et je suis très triste d’apprendre son décès accidentel.
Au nom du Centre de documentation et de recherches sur la paix et les conflits (Observatoire des transferts d’armements), je tiens à présenter à sa famille et à ses amis nos plus sincères condoléances et à leur dire combien elle va manquer à nos luttes communes.
Avec nos plus sincères amitiés,
Patrick Teil
France
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I heard of Sarah's premature passing after a week disconnected from e-mails in South America. It still has not set in fully.
My links to Sarah go back to working with Ed Laurance at the Monterey Institute, International Alert and the beginnings of what eventually became IANSA. I always will remember her as a person with a unique sense of dignity and modesty. Her ability to take the high road in complicated situations is something I strive to emulate in my own life though not to her degree of perfection.
On a lighter note, despite my and many of her other friends and colleagues who have posted here in this forum professional depiction of Sarah I can remember her on several occasions catching me off guard with either a sarcastic remark sitting next to me at a workshop or very blunt, but on the mark critical, comment when I said something stupid or that she disagreed with.
Despite her leaving this world behind, the rock of a person she was is evidenced in the many solid foundations for institutions and people to carry on the work she initiated.
Bill Godnick
International Alert
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This small arms road goes a long way back for me. All along that road, Sarah has been there. I still remember her at the very first Facilitation Meeting for IANSA in Durban in 1999, as this fledgling movement sought to find its feet. Her focused commitment in those early days helped to keep us on the rails, when there were plenty of chances for failure. She was there as we struggled to put in place a civil society voice and establish our right to a place at the table prior to the 2001 meeting.
To us in Geneva, she has returned time and again, as we have sought her advice and wise counsel. Her big warm heart and her capacity for tough love characterized her personality. How I remember that warm smile and big hug as she entered a room, ready for work, no matter how long the journey had been.
Dear Sarah, how we shall miss you. Finding reasons for such a loss is impossible. Your dedicated work will go on through the lives and spirits of others, but we are all left impoverished by your loss. May you rest in peace and may the words, thoughts, and prayers of your many friends be of some comfort to your husband, your family, and your closest colleagues and friends, whose heartbreak at this time must seem unbearable.
David C. Atwood
Quaker United Nations Office
Geneva
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We were deeply dismayed to learn of the loss of Sarah Meek. We have relied on her dedication and intelligence over the years since the formation of IANSA. I have many fond memories of events together over the years and around the world. Sarah was intensely dedicated to her vision to make the world a better place for all. Her countenance and counsel will be sorely missed. Our deepest condolences to her family and friends.
Mike Beard
President, Coalition To Stop Gun Violence (US)
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I am deeply shocked and saddened at the news of Sarah’s death.
I have known Sarah for more than 10 years, having worked with her in South Africa and in Geneva.
She was a friend and colleague, and I will always remember her for her kindness, loyalty, dedication and for being the ultimate professional.
You will be sorely missed.
Hamba Gahle
Peter Batchelor
UNDP Geneva
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Dear IANSA members
With the greatest regret we received the tragic news of Sarah Meek and we are really feeling sorry for losing such an intellecual lady who devoted her life to the achievement of human security and peace regionally and internationally. She introduced our organisation to IANSA.
Me and my colleagues send our condolences to IANSA members and friends .
Osman Hassan
Human Security Initiative Organisation
Sudan
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Sarah's tragic death is a huge loss for the global community working to tackle gun violence. We have lost a respectful and reliable colleague. I clearly remember when I first met Sarah and in the years since, I was always struck by her consummate professionalism, extensive knowledge and astute instincts. My thoughts are with her partner, family and friends at this time and in the future.
Cate Buchanan
Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue, Geneva
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This morning we heard the news of the tragic death of Sarah Meek in a traffic accident a few hours ago. SaferAfrica –as well as ISS- was paralyzed by the news. SaferAfrica and Saferworld are sending condolences as appropriate but personally I must say something about Sarah to all of you today.
When I arrived in South Africa ten years ago, a good friend Ed Laurence suggested that I hire a very bright student of his, who had an internship in the UN under her belt. The day Sarah Meek arrived in Africa and I met her at the airport, the months she lived in my house, and the strong intellectual and emotional bond that we forged at the time are enough for me to be devastated by the news of her tragic death this morning.
But, it would be remiss of me not to reinforce the fact that from that first year when she worked with me to the present day, I saw a vibrant, intensely committed and extremely intelligent young woman flowering to become an international intellectual force in support of peace, security, safety and development for all.
Sarah Meek did not need anybody, but everybody needed her. She was a force in her own right – she helped all those that came to her door across three continents. She deeply felt the unfairness of conflict and the tragedy of war and violence. She used her brain, her contacts and her heart towards one single target: to assist in reducing pain, violence and war.
It is not just her family, her friends and her colleagues that will miss her, the global community of good committed people will be impoverished by her death. I am deeply sorry and I want to honor her today.
Virginia Gamba
SaferAfrica
South Africa
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Dear All,
We extend WAANSA's condolences to Sara's family and pray that Eternity grants her a perfect rest.
Baffour Amoa
West Africa Action Network on Small Arms (WAANSA)
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Dear Family, Friends and Colleagues of Sarah Meek,
It was with shock and sorrow that I read in my email news from IANSA this morning of Sarah Meek's untimely death . I first met Sarah back in 1994 when I was still Canada's Ambassador for Disarmament to the UN. Since then I have had the privilege and pleasure of periodically meeting her again as her career progressed forward, always in interesting and productive ways.
What a a terrible loss for us all, personally and in terms of the tremendous contribution that she was making to development and security issues in Africa and globally. My deepest condolences to her partner, family and friends.
In sorrow,
Peggy Mason,
The Group of 78
Canada
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Chers Collègues,
Nous avons apris la nouvelle inquiètante de l'incident de notre collègue SARAH, Femme activiste de la paix et de la Sécurité en Afrique!
La Colonie des Pionniers de Développemnt et tous les membres du RAFAL au Burundi qui sommes touchés par cet Incident, présentons ses proches colaborateurs et sa famille, nos condoléances!
Que son âme se repose en paix!
Jacques NTIBARIKURE
Colonie des Pionniers de Développement (CPD asbl)
Burundi
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What shocking news and what a loss to our community of practice!
We at Oxfam would like to extend our condolences to her family and friends.
May her soul rest in peace.
Hiroute Guebre Sellassie
Oxfam - Horn, East and Central Africa
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I hear this with shock and sadness, I can not even believe this. Why Sarah of all people. I will always remember her. It is a very big loss.
May her soul rest in eternal peace.
Undule Mwakasungara
Centre for Human Rights and Reconciliation
Malawi
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I was very saddened to learn of Sarah’s passing. In a cruel irony, the news comes at the end of same day that started so well with notice of the ATT resolution [at the UN General Assembly]. I first met Sarah on a visit to ISS in 1997 and had the pleasure to work with her in the early days of IANSA when her knowledge, patience and commitment was evident and needed. It is a great loss. My condolences to her family, friends, and colleagues.
Kenneth Epps
Project Ploughshares
Canada
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It was my pleasure meet Sarah on many occasions. She was a committed person. We are deeply grieved her untimely death.
We all members of IIPDEP share the grief with her family and friends and pray God that she should rest in peace,
Dr. Balkrishna Kurvey
Indian Institute for Peace, Disarmament & Environmental Protection (IIPDEP)
India
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Sarah came to Africa some 10 or so years ago, she saw, she heard, she felt;
Meek and lowly she put her hand to the plough, to pull and to push with might and mane:
Sarah was not just a name, she was an icon, a human being that remembered her humanity well:
Chilling hand of death, why have you taken Sarah?
Why did it have to be her to go first?
Boisterous grave, when will your insatiable appetite be whetted enough?
Sarah, in life as in death meek to the end,
Did you have to succumb to death so untimely;
How will we carry on the fight without you:
Terse at work, clear in your vision and a smile at your lips evermore;
You did your turn in the cause of peace with meekness and dedication;
O Sarah, go well dear friend go well, to yonder shore, beyond that swelling tide where the happy ones meekly meet to part no more;
Bob Mtonga
Zambian Health Workers for Social Responsibility (IPPNW - Zambia)
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Dear Colleagues,
The global human rights community has suffered yet another terrific blow in the tragic loss of Sarah Meek of ISS. The usefulness of Sarah spread beyond S/Africa. I can remember Sarah telling me in the UN building New York “ Isaac, it will not be easy stop the production of arms now, but I believe that a strict regulation of their flow will seriously undermine their production and set a new peace agenda for world. An arms trade convention is what we want.” Today, Sarah is not alive to share the happy news of her dream for the world. She was brutally removed from our midst less than 48 hours to the UNGA adoption of the ATT. Death is so cruel and insane. May Sarah share the blessings of all the lives that will be protected by the ATT she was determined to see happen. On behalf of AI South Africa, I send heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family. May her soul rest in perfect peace.
Isaac
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How deeply shocking and saddening, for Sarah’s family and friends and for all of us who work for peace and justice. We've lost one of our brightest minds and most talented advocates.
Greg Puley
Oxfam International
US
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We have lost a lovely friend and an excellent colleague. A sharp intellect with a warm personality, Sarah Meek was one of the people I always looked forward to meeting at conferences. My heart goes out to her family.
Sami Faltas
Netherlands
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I am very sorry to hear of the death of Sarah Meek. My condolences to her partner, family and colleagues in the IANSA campaign.
Robin Collins
Canada
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