Secretary-General António Guterres described Sima Sami Bahous of Jordan, as “a champion for women and girls”, announcing connected Monday her assignment to lead the UN’s gender equality and empowerment entity, UN Women.
The UN main said she would besides champion gender equality and younker empowerment, arsenic good as being a “keen advocator for prime education, poorness alleviation and inclusive governance”.
Ms. Bahous brings to the occupation much than 35 years of enactment acquisition astatine the grassroots, national, determination and planetary level.
She has expertise successful advancing women’s empowerment and rights, addressing favoritism and violence, and promoting sustainable socio-economic development, successful enactment with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) the UN chief said successful a statement.
The quality came following consultations with Member States and the Executive Board of UN Women.
Rich experience
Most recently, Ms. Bahous served as Jordan’s UN ambassador in New York.
Prior to that, she was the Assistant Administrator and Director of the Regional Bureau for Arab States astatine the UN Development Programme (UNDP) from 2012 to 2016 and Assistant Secretary-General and Head of the Social Development Sector astatine the League of Arab States, from 2008 to 2012.
The caller UN Women chief has besides served successful 2 ministerial posts successful Jordan arsenic President of the Higher Media Council from 2005 to 2008 and arsenic Adviser to King Abdullah II from 2003 to 2005.
She has also worked for UN Children’s Fund UNICEF, and with a fig of UN and civilian nine organizations, as good as teaching development and connection studies astatine antithetic universities in her native Jordan.
She is fluent successful Arabic and English, and proficient successful French.
Tribute to outgoing head
The UN chief said helium was “deeply grateful” to outgoing Executive Director Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka of South Africa, for the “commitment and dedicated service” she exhibited as caput of UN Women.
He also extended his appreciation to the UN Special Representative connected Sexual Violence successful Conflict, Pramila Patten, who volition proceed to service arsenic Acting Executive Director until Ms. Bahous is successful post.
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