Khattab rallies Asian support for her UNESCO nomination

CAIRO – 14 July 2017: Egypt and African countries nominee for the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Secretary General post, former Minister of Population Moushira Khattab started on Thursday an Asian tour to rally support for her nomination to UNESCO. Khattab’s tour includes Malaysia and Bangladesh and other Asian countries among the UNESCO Executive Council.

Fifty eight members of the UNESCO Executive Office will vote in the elections for the UNESCO Director-General post in October. UNESCO’s Executive Office includes seven Arab countries: Egypt, Lebanon, Sudan, Morocco, Algeria, Qatar and Oman. The elected candidate will proceed with the new position starting November 15.

Egypt nominated, Khatab, for the post of the UNESCO Director-General in July, 2016 while she received the African countries support at the African Summit in Addis Ababa in July 2017. 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. She pledges a more focused, transparent and effective UNESCO that delivers by remaining closer to the people.

UNESCO is the United Nations organization responsible for coordinating international cooperation in education, science, culture and communication. It strengthens the ties between nations and societies, and mobilizes the wider public so that each child and citizen has access to quality education; may grow and live in a cultural environment rich in diversity and dialogue; and can enjoy full freedom of expression; the basis of democracy, development and human dignity.