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UAE Ambassador Becomes First Arab Female President of UN Women's Executive Board

UAE ambassador, Lana Zaki Nusseibeh, has been named UN Women Executive Board President, becoming the first Arab woman to ever hold the position.

Staff Writer

UAE Ambassador Becomes First Arab Female President of UN Women's Executive Board

Last week, it was announced that UAE Ambassador to the UN, Lana Zaki Nusseibeh, will be replacing Tunisia’s Mohamad Khaled Khiari, becoming the first female Arab president of the UN Women's Executive Board, according to the UN website. 

After filling a variety of roles in the Emirati government, including three years as the director of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ Policy Planning, Nusseibeh was named the UAE’s permanent representative to the UN in New York in 2013, becoming the country's first female UN delegate. During her tenure, she focused on promoting regional peace, women’s empowerment, human rights, sustainable development, and humanitarian assistance. The ambassador has garnered the reputation of championing women’s empowerment making her a fit candidate to become the new president of the UN Women's Executive Board.

In her new role, Nusseibeh will be acting on behalf of the Asia-Pacific Group at the UN concerning women’s rights. Established in 2010, the UN Women - formally known as the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women, seeks to promote gender equality and eliminate discrimination against women and girls around the world. During her acceptance speech, Nusseibeh said: "Gender equality is of paramount importance to the UAE." She added that "the constitution of the UAE guarantees equal rights for both women and men and underpins the fundamental belief that women and men are equal partners in society."

As it stands, women comprise 17.5% of Emirates’ Federal National Council and 28% of the cabinet. Taking the time to commend the efforts in her country, Nusseibeh singled out the speaker of the UAE Federal National Council, Dr. Amal Abdullah Al Qubaisi, acknowledging her as the first woman to lead a national assembly in the Arab world.

Wasting no time, Nusseibeh announced that 2017 will be a crucial year for the UN Women's Executive Board, as the organisation will be presenting and implementing a new strategic plan for 2018-2021, but is yet to release any specific details.