BARBADOS – Director of the Barbados Museum and Historical Society Alissandra Cummins, has been honored by the United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) as one of 60 women worldwide who has made a significant contribution to that organization.
The Barbadian, who was also the first female president of the International Council of Museums (ICOM), was featured in a UNESCO publication entitled “60 Women Contributing to the 60 Years of UNESCO – Constructing the Foundations of Peace”. The book was issued to observe its 60th anniversary.
Alissandra Cummins
In his foreword, Director General of UNESCO, Koichiro Matsuura, lauded women worldwide for their participation in the social, cultural and economic development of their countries. He pointed out that “the vision of women, their intelligence, energy and experience are indispensable to the creation of a more just, equitable, prosperous and peaceful world.”
Mr. Matsuura also explained that the book “presents the voices of 60 eminent women, who – in different parts of the world, in different positions, and in different moments across the history of the Organization – have made, and in many cases are still making, significant contributions to UNESCO’s action”.
Ms. Cummins began her career as a Research Assistant at the Museum of Mankind in the United Kingdom. She was President of the Museums Association of the Caribbean from 1989 to 1996, the Vice Chairperson of the ICOM from 1992 to 1998 and the Chairperson of the ICOM from 1998 to 2004. The Museum Director is also the Special Envoy for Cultural Heritage in Barbados and the Chairperson of the Barbados National Commission for UNESCO.
