NEW YORK, USA — Jamaica is set to mark 50 years as a member of the United Nations (UN) with a symbolic flag-raising ceremony at the UN headquarters here next Tuesday September 18, the exact date in 1962 when the young, independent nation was admitted to the world body.

As part of Tuesday's ceremony, representatives from the 14 countries that sponsored UN Resolution 1750, which admitted Jamaica to membership of the United Nations, will be in attendance. They are: Australia, Canada, Celon (now the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka), Cyprus, Ethiopia, Malaya (now Malaysia), Ghana, India, Nigeria, New Zealand, Sierra Leone,Tanganyika (now the United Republic of Tanzania), Pakistan, and the United Kingdom.

In a release, Jamaica's Ambassador to the UN Raymond Wolf said that in the 50 years as a member of the world body, Jamaica — along with other countries of the global community — "has sought to bring renewed attention to the most pressing challenges facing the world".

He said the challenges include the impact of the global financial crisis, climate change, human rights, and sustainable development. In its 50 years as a member, Jamaica has served on several influential bodies within the UN, including the powerful Security Council.

The country has also spearheaded debate on critical issues of international concerns such as the empowerment of women, human rights, non-communicable disease, race discrimination, and the abolition of slavery.

On the issue of slavery, the country has joined with a number of African and Caribbean countries in leading an international effort to have a permanent memorial in honour of the victims of slavery and the slave trade, erected at the UN headquarters.

Tuesday's flag-raising ceremony will also see state and city officials with a Jamaican connection by birth or descent as well as the president of the UN General Assembly in attendance.