Moushira Khatab -Courtesy of the State Information Service
CAIRO – 8 July 2017: On July 19 2016 Egypt nominated, Moushira Khatab, for the post of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Director-General at the elections to be held in 2017. She is also the official candidate of Africa to UNESCO. Khatab is one of nine candidates running for the position which could make her the second woman and first Egyptian citizen to win that post.
Khatab was selected as Egypt’s candidate through a consultation process that was set by the Foreign Ministry which formed a working group to solicit the opinions of intellectuals and cultural figures concerned with the matter such as the late novelist Gamal Al-Ghitani, Sherif Al-Shobashy, as well as Ismail Serageldin, Mustafa Al-Fiji and Gaber Asfour.
Moushira Khatab was ranked third among five leading female human rights activists advocating the rights of children and women in the Middle East and North Africa region by Your Middle East website in 2013.
She holds a doctorate in International Human Rights Law from Cairo University in Egypt, a Master’s Degree in Political Science from the University of North Carolina in the United States of America (USA), and Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Cairo University in Egypt.
Since 2011, Khattab has been an active speaker and panelist in key events related to women's rights, children's rights and development, in addition to other international events. She led the amendment of the Egyptian penal system against human trafficking, the sale of children, sexual abuse and exploitation in pornography, as well as prohibiting and criminalizing Female Genital Mutilation (FGM). She also coordinated the legal reforms to increase the minimum marriage age to 18 years.
Furthermore, she mobilized society for girls’ education through a five-year national action plan where over 2,200 girl-friendly schools were established providing quality active learning for the most marginalized girls in governorates with the highest gender gaps. She also coordinated the legal reform that put the state under legal obligation to guarantee the right to education for everyone. Khattab prioritized education for refugee children as a pivot to ensure their human rights, and pioneered a program that provides educational, cultural and recreational activities to refugee children, in cooperation with the high commissioner for refugees.
As the official candidate of Africa, Khattab pledges a more focused, transparent and effective UNESCO that delivers by remaining closer to the people and closer to the mission.
Professional Positions:
Khattab’s credibility and expertise on international diplomacy, both in multilateral and bilateral forums led to her appointment in serving her country through several events of historical significance.
1968-1970: Khattab’s public career in diplomacy started when she served as a diplomatic attaché in Egypt’s permanent mission to the United Nations (UN) in New York. She was assigned to a committee on economic and social affairs and humanitarian and cultural issues.
1971-1973 and 1977-1979: She served as an advisor at the cabinet of Minister of State for Foreign Affairs.
1973 – 1977: She moved to Vienna to work at the Egyptian embassy in Vienna and the Permanent Mission of Egypt to the UN Industrial Development Organization’s (UNIDO) headquarters.
1979 – 1981: She served at the Egyptian Embassy in Budapest, Hungary.
1982 – 1985: Counselor at the Department of Economic Affairs in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
1985 – 1989: Consul of Egypt in Melbourne, Australia
1989 – 1992: Director of Department of Maghreb Countries - Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
1992 – 1994: Ambassador of Egypt to the Czech Republic and Slovakia.
1994 – 1999: First Egypt ambassador to South Africa during Nelson Mandela’s presidency
1999: Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs for International Cultural Relations
2000 – 2009: Board of Trustees of the Egyptian Radio and Television Union and chairperson of the sub-committee on Family and children.
2000 – 2009: Board Member of the Egyptian Federation of Non-Governmental Organizations NGOs.
2004 – 2005: Chairperson and intergovernmental expert for the group mandated to prepare UN Guidelines on Justice Matters for Children Witnesses and Victims of Crimes.
2008: Women Leadership Council to Combat Trafficking in Persons – Vienna.
2002 – 2010: Expert, Rapporteur and Vice Chair of the UN Committee on Rights of the Child.
2003 – 2009: Board member of Child Help International, Amsterdam.
2004: Board Member at the Higher Council for Pre-University Education in Egypt.
1999 – 2009: Elected by the UN General Assembly to serve as an expert on the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child in Geneva. She was assigned to a file on civilizations and religions dialogue.
Current and recent Activities:
From 2011 to 2017, Khattab served as:
Visiting Professor on Human Rights and Gender Issues at the University of Perugia for Foreigners, Italy.
Visiting lecturer on Egyptian Foreign Policy, International Relations, Human Rights and Gender Issues at Misr University for Science and Technology.
Vice President of Aflatoun International for Child Social and Financial Education, Amsterdam.
Board Member of “Women in Diplomacy”, Italian Foreign Ministry.
Vice-President of the International Bureau for Children’s Rights, Montreal.
Member at the Board of Trustees of the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization.
Mentor and faculty member of the Women in Public Service Project (established by the US State Department).
Member of the Advisory Committee of Defense for Children International.
Advisor at the Africa Child Policy Forum.
Honors:
Ambassador Khattab is the recipient of various international awards in recognition of her work in both international diplomacy and social and human development.
Knight of the Grand Cross of the Italian Republic
Commendatore della Repubblica by the President of Italian Republic
Order of Good Hope by the President of South Africa
International Women of Courage Award by the US Secretary of State
Khattab was born in Egypt on 16 July , 1944 and has two children. Her mother tongue is Arabic; she also speaks English and French. To learn more about Ms. Khattab visit her blog: http://moushirakhattab.com/
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