UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres Monday announced the appointment of Sima Sami Bahous of Jordan as Executive Director of UN-Women.
The appointment decision came following consultations with Member States and the Executive Board of the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and Empowerment of Women (UN-Women).
A champion for women and girls, gender equality and youth empowerment, as well as a keen advocate for quality education, poverty alleviation and inclusive governance, Bahous brings to the position over 35 years of leadership experience at the grassroots, national, regional and international levels.
She is also an expert on advancing women empowerment and rights, addressing discrimination and violence, and promoting sustainable socio-economic development towards the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals.
Bahous had served as permanent representative of Jordan to the UN in New York. She also served as assistant administrator and director of the Regional Bureau for Arab States at the UN Development Programme from 2012-2016 and deputy SG and head of the Social Development Sector at the Arab League.
She served in two ministerial posts in Jordan as president of the Higher Media Council from 2005-2008 and as adviser to King Abdullah II from 2003 to 2005.
She was the media adviser and director of communications for the Royal Hashemite Court from 2001-2003, acting executive director for the King Hussein Foundation from 2000-2001 and executive director of the Noor Al Hussein Foundation from 1998-2001.
She worked for UNICEF and with a number of UN and civil society organizations and lectured on development and communication studies.
Bahous holds a PhD in mass communication and development from Indiana University, US, a Master of Arts in literature and drama from Essex University, UK and a BA in English literature from Jordan University.
Source: Jordan News Agency