Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka sworn in as UN Women Executive Director

On 19 August 2013, South African national, Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, was sworn in as the new Executive Director of UN Women at a ceremony at UN Headquarters in New York.

Ms Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka is the second Executive Director of the organisation created in 2010 to lead the UN’s work on advancing gender equality and women’s empowerment. Ms Mlambo-Ngcuka’s appointment was announced by the Secretary-General on 10 July 2013.

Ms Mlambo-Ngcuka brings to her new position a wealth of experience. She was the first woman to hold the position of Deputy President of South Africa from 2005 to 2008. She became a Member of Parliament in 1994, chairing the Public Service Portfolio Committee. She was Deputy Minister in the Department of Trade and Industry (1996-1999), Minister of Minerals and Energy (1999-2005) and briefly served as acting Minister of Arts, Culture, Science and Technology in 2004.

Ms Mlambo-Ngcuka was Young Women’s Coordinator for the World Young Women’s Christian Organization in Geneva (1984 – 1986) and served as the first President of the Natal Organization of Women, an affiliate of the United Democratic Front, when it was formed in December 1983. She established the Umlambo Foundation in 2008 to provide support to schools in impoverished areas in South Africa through mentorship and coaching for teachers and in Malawi through school improvements with local partners. She holds a Master’s degree in Philosophy in Educational Planning and Policy from the University of Cape Town (2003) and a BA in Education from the University of Lesotho (1980).

For more information about UN Women visit the website: www.unwomen.org

Photo: Ms. Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka was sworn in as Executive Director of UN Women by United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon at 8:45 am on 19 August 2013. Photo credit: UN Photo/Evan Schneider.