Sima Sami Bahous

Sima Sami Bahous (Arabic: سيما سامي بحوث ; born 26 June 1956) is a Jordanian diplomat and women’s rights advocate, currently serving as Executive Director of UN Women.[1] She has previously served as Permanent Representative of Jordan to the United Nations since August 2016 until assuming her present role as head of UN Women in September 2021.[2]

Sima Sami Bahous in 2023.

Early life and education

Bahous was born in June 1956.[3] She has a bachelor's degree in English literature from the University of Jordan, a master's degree in literature and drama from the University of Essex and a PhD in communications and development from Indiana University.[4][5] Her dissertation was entitled "Communication Policy and Planning for Development: The Jordan Television Corporation: A Case Study (1988)."

Career

Bahous was head of communications at UNICEF in Amman from 1994 to 1995 and a development advisor at the World Health Organization in Sanaa from 1996 to 1997.[4] She returned to Jordan in 1997 to serve as Executive Director of the King Hussein and Noor Al Hussein Foundations until 2001, before becoming head of media and information at the Royal Hashemite Court and an advisor to King Abdullah.[4][6]

Bahous also served as head of the Higher Media Council in Jordan from 2005 to 2008. From 2008 to 2012 she was Assistant Secretary General at the Arab League in Cairo.

From 2012, Bahous served as Assistant Secretary-General for the United Nations Development Programme and Administrator and Director of the UNDP's Regional Bureau for Arab states.[7] In August 2016, she was appointed as Jordan's Permanent Ambassador to the United Nations in New York,[4] replacing Dina Kawar who was appointed as Jordan's ambassador to the United States.[6]

In 2021, His Majesty King Abdullah II bestowed upon her the Order of The State Centennial in appreciation of her services to the advancement and progress of Jordan.


Publications
  • Bahous, Sima (1 April 2014). "Creating Opportunities for Youth — The Way Forward for the Arab World". Huffington Post.
  • Bahous, Sima (31 March 2015). "New momentum in response to the Syria crisis: We must seize the moment". Ahram.
  • Bahous, Sima (5 November 2015). "Saving lives, preserving dignity, and securing the future in Syria". UNDP.
  • Bahous, Sima. "Water More Important Than Oil for the Future of the Arab World". Huffington Post.

Personal life

Bahous is married to Ziad Rifai and has one daughter, Jahan.[8]

References
  1. "Gender equality champion Sima Sami Bahous to lead UN Women". Modern Diplomacy. Archived from the original on 16 September 2021. Retrieved 16 March 2023.
  2. "Gender equality 'champion' Sima Sami Bahous to lead UN Women". UN News. 2021-09-13. Retrieved 2021-09-17.
  3. "Sima Bahous". Huffington Post.
  4. "New Permanent Representative of Jordan Presents Credentials". United Nations. 22 August 2016. Retrieved 18 August 2017.
  5. "Secretary-General Appoints Sima Sami Bahous of Jordan Director of Regional Bureau for Arab States, United Nations Development Programme". United Nations. 22 February 2012. Retrieved 18 August 2017.
  6. "Sima Bahous appointed Jordan's permanent representative to UN". Jordan Times. 18 August 2016. Retrieved 18 August 2017.
  7. "Bahous: Politics Necessary for Achieving SDGs". International Peace Institute. 30 June 2016. Retrieved 18 August 2017.
  8. "Ambassador". The Permanent Mission of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan to the United Nations.
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