New executive director for UN Women is announced

Promoting equality for girls through awareness campaigns, skills-training and child-led groups is a big part of what we do at Children Believe. That’s why we were heartened to hear Jordan’s Sima Sami Bahous will now be championing their rights as the new executive director of UN Women, the United Nations (UN) entity focused on empowering women through gender equality.

António Guterres, the United Nations secretary-general, heralded Bahous as “a champion for women and girls” as well as a “keen advocate for quality education, poverty alleviation and inclusive governance.”

Formerly Jordan’s UN ambassador in New York, the new executive director brings 35 years of experience leading nationally, regionally and internationally, having also held positions at UN agencies, in ministerial posts in Jordan and civil-society organizations among others.

She succeeds Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka whom Children Believe had the honour to work with earlier this year.

Learn more about how you can help advance gender equality today.

About Children Believe

Children Believe works globally to empower children to dream fearlessly, stand up for what they believe in — and be heard. For 60+ years, we’ve brought together brave young dreamers, caring supporters and partners, and unabashed idealists. Together, we’re driven by a common belief: creating access to education — inside and outside of classrooms — is the most powerful tool children can use to change their world.

About Childfund Alliance

A member of ChildFund Alliance, Children Believe is part of a global network of child-focused development organizations working to create opportunities for children and youth, their families and communities. ChildFund helps nearly 23-million children and their families in 70 countries overcome poverty and underlying conditions that prevent children from achieving their full potential. We work to end violence against children; provide expertise in emergencies and disasters to ease the harmful impact on children and their communities; and engage children and youth to create lasting change and elevate their voices in decisions that affect their lives.