Sima Sami Bahous

Influential Women in Leadership

Sima Sami Bahous. A strong women and champion of women and girls, gender equality and youth empowerment, and an advocate for quality education, poverty alleviation and inclusive governance. Ms Bahous was appointed as Executive Director of UN-Women on 30 September 2021. She is indeed worthy of recognition and is truly the embodiment of an influential woman in leadership in the United Nations.

Born in 26 June 1956, she is married to

Ziad Rifai and has one daughter. Ms Bahous obtained a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature from the University of Jordan, a Master of Arts in Literature and Drama from the University of Essex, and a PhD in communications and development from Indiana University (1988).

This education provided the pathway launching her in communications and she served as Head of Communications at UNICEF from 1994 to 1995 before moving to the World Health Organisation in 1996. Following her apparent communication for compassion, Ms Bahous on returning to Jordan in 1997 served as the Executive Director of the King Hussein and Noor Al Hussein Foundations until 2001, when we became head of media and information at the Royal Hashemite Court and an advisor to King Abdullah. In 2005, she served as Head of the Higher Media Council in Jordan and then in 2008 became Assistant Secretary General at the League of Arab States in Cairo. Ms Bahous has been Jordan’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations since August 2016.

On 30 September, Ms Bahous became the UN Women’s third Executive Director. Her 35 years of leadership experience, gained across all levels from grassroots to national, and international, underpins her expertise. As champion of women and girls, her expertise will shine through as she works to advance women’s empowerment and rights, alleviate poverty and address discrimination.

“We must also actively promote and protect the rights of women environmental human rights defenders against threats, violence and murder, improving the monitoring of these abuses and bringing to justice those responsible.”

In her statement to the Commission on the Status of Women 66th session, Ms Bahous, considered the three critical interlocking aspects that represent the nexus between climate change and gender equality and that underpin the structural barriers to sustainable development.

On 29 November each year, the United Nations celebrates International Women Human Rights Defenders Day. In her speech at the UN Security Council Open Debate on Women, Peace and Security, Ms Bahous spoke of the reversal of generational gains in women’s rights that is taking place against surging threats to security. She called for the protection and support for women human rights defenders, guarantee of a seat at the table for women when peace is made, and a financial reflection of the priorities of women, peace and security.

“…three interlocking aspects that are critical to address the nexus between climate change and gender equality. They are crises, the economy, and violence against women and girls...”

Her statement highlighted investing in women’s leadership, women’s civil society organizations, and supporting women human rights defenders in conflict contexts is more urgent, more needed and makes more sense than ever.

“There will be no progress for one, without progress for all. The climate emergency and gender inequality are two of the most pervasive challenges we face. We must rise to them together. It is what we owe all future generations.”

Following her exit from political life, she established the consulting firm Julie Bishop and Partners. She also accepted the position to become the first female Chancellor of Australian National University. She has also held positions in the G7 Gender

Equity Advisory Council and the Trilateral Commission’s Task Force on Global Capitalism in Transition.

She has travelled to Columbia, the United Arab Emirates, and Tanzania to meet with government officials, civil action groups, and UN Women’s Partners to deliver speeches, to ignite public discourse, to affirm the action for women’s leadership and gender equality, and to continue the fight for the fundamental right of education for girls and female empowerment through education. Recognising gender equality will not be achieved for another 300 years, she has launched Generation Equality, an call to action plan for global gender equality.

“When we transform education, we also transform the global trajectory of gender equality. The cause is urgent. We must seize the opportunity together.”

With her strong voice, armed with knowledge and expertise we look forward to seeing progress under the leadership of Sima Sami Bahous