Kavita Desai

Ms. Kavita Desai was Adviser to the Permanent Mission of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste to the United Nations, from September 2010 to August 2016.  Her duties at the Mission covered a range of topics including climate change, human rights, and legal issues, with a particular focus sustainable development.  She participated as an expert level negotiator during the Open Working Group for the Sustainable Development Goals and during the process to develop the 2030 Agenda, advocating for the inclusion of SDG 16 on peaceful societies.  She also represented the Group of 77 and China during negotiations on 'Women in Development' between 2012 and 2016. Ms. Desai is a native of New Jersey, and a graduate of Rutgers University College where she double majored in political science and art history.  She received her Jurist Doctorate from Pace University Law School with certificates in both environmental and international law.