Bahrainian Woman Elected President of UN General Assembly
26 June 2006

On June 8, 2006, the UN General Assembly elected its 61st President, Haya Rashed Al Khalifa, a Bahrainian woman who held the position of Bahrain’s ambassador to France and delegate to UNESCO. She will become the third female President of the Assembly.

In a speech following her election, Al Khalifa said she would continue the progress made by previous UN Presidents, especially by the current President, Jan Eliasson. She attributed her inspiration to “…a deep feeling of pain caused by the tragedies all over the world, on both the human and environmental levels.” Al Khalifa also called for UN reforms in addition to those already in place, including the new Peacebuilding Commission and the Human Rights Council.

Among Al Khalifa’s recommendations for UN reform is increased use of information technology to promote understanding as well as improved humanitarianism and education. She stated her astonishment at “…how information technology has advanced to such an incredible degree, yet we still find communicating amongst each other so difficult.” In combating terrorism, she questioned whether it would be “…possible without addressing the problems of poverty, unemployment, illiteracy, and extremism in all its forms”. Thus, she recommended supporting future generations with an education curriculum promoting openness and critical thinking. Overall, she promised to collaborate with all the state members in the 61st session to accomplish the UN Charter’s objectives.

Al Khalifa’s professional background is in law, where she’s held positions at both the national and international level. She was one of the first two women in Bahrain to practice law in the country’s Islamic courts. Besides being an ambassador to France and a delegate to UNESCO, her other senior posts were at the International Bar Association and the Royal Court in Bahrain. Her advocacy for women’s rights in Bahrain has been a persistent element throughout her career.

Sources:

http://www.unis.unvienna.org/unis/pressrels/2006/ga10478.html
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/5060710.stm