First Emirati woman appointed to UN position in New York
Hind selected for the post of senior adviser in the world body
New York: Hind Abdul Aziz Al Owais has become the first Emirati woman to be posted at the United Nations Headquarters in New York as a senior adviser since the UAE became a member of the United Nations in 1971.
Hind was selected for the post of senior adviser in the office of the Deputy Executive Director, Lakshmi Puri, Assistant Secretary-General for Intergovernmental Support and Strategic Partnerships, at the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women).
This appointment comes shortly after the UAE declared August 28 as Emirati Women’s Day, and coincides with the 40th anniversary of the establishment of the UAE General Women’s Union (GWU). It also represents an opportunity for recognising and celebrating the achievements of UAE women since the establishment of the GWU.
In this position, Hind will work to ensure the integration of a gender perspective in the implementation of the sustainable development goals. Hind will assist Puri in building advocacy and substantive support on intergovernmental, non-governmental, and strategic partnerships.
Ambassador Lana Nusseibeh, Permanent Representative of the UAE to the United Nations, commented on this appointment: “Having an Emirati woman in this position is a reflection of the international recognition that the UAE has achieved, not only on gender equality, but also as an active and serious player in this international organisation”.
Hind has served as a career diplomat since 2000. During her work with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, she served as Special Assistant to the Foreign Minister. Most recently, Hind served as a Counsellor and acting Deputy Permanent Representative of the UAE Mission to the United Nations in New York. In this role, she led and managed a number of initiatives, the most recent of which was a series of panel discussions on Women, Peace and Security, as part of the UAE Mission’s leading activities at the UN aimed at promoting the Women, Peace and Security agenda.
