Bader Al-Dafa
Encyclopedia
Bader Al-Dafa served from 2007 to 2010 as the United Nations
Executive Secretary of the Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA). He was appointed to the position by United Nations Secretary-General
Ban Ki-moon
in July 2007.
A seasoned diplomat, Al-Dafa has acquired extensive experience in foreign affairs. He was the recent Ambassador of Qatar to the United States and Permanent Observer to the Organization of American States
(OAS). In addition, he has served as Qatar's Ambassador to the Russian Federation, France
, Egypt
and Spain
, and as non-resident Ambassador to Finland
, Greece
, Latvia
, Lithuania
, Estonia
, Switzerland
and Mexico
.
His official ESCWA online biography added, “Besides his diplomatic experiences, he has also served in a variety of capacities in international non-governmental organizations. He supervised programmes of building housing for families with limited income in Africa and participated in landmine removal programmes in the Balkans. He also played an active role in fund-raising programmes with children's hospitals in Asia and North America and in supporting the empowerment of women in North Africa and Central Asia. He also organized conferences on free trade, democracy and inter-religious dialogue.
Al-Dafa holds a master's degree in international public policy from Johns Hopkins University
and a bachelor's degree in political science and economics from Western Michigan University
. He obtained the award the Ordre du Merite from France. He is fluent in Arabic, English and Spanish."
Despite the overwhelmingly positive slant of this official biography, Mr. Al-Dafa was also the losing participant in a sexual discrimination case brought by a former employee in 2008. Ms. Olga Suheir El-Azzouni, who served as the Chief of the Centre for Women at ESCWA from 2006 to 2008, and reported to Mr. Al-Dafa following his appointment in 2007, brought 23 witnesses to support her claims that he had engaged in systematic gender-based harassment and discrimination.
Mr. Al-Dafa's purported commitment to ‘the empowerment of women’ and ‘inter-religious dialogue’ notwithstanding, the United Nations Appeals Tribunal (UNAT) eventually awarded Ms. El-Azzouni two years' back pay in recognition of Mr. Al-Dafa’s violations. Equality Now, the international women’s human rights NGO which followed the case closely for two years, reported that, “Among other things, the Executive Secretary [Mr. Al-Dafa] allegedly prevented the Centre for Women from publishing a handbook on the use of progressive interpretations of Islamic law; made comments indicating a pride in “honor crimes” as part of Arab culture; remarked that it was improper for Ms. El-Azzouni, as a Christian, to engage in gender issues in the Muslim world; and reprimanded her for forwarding him an open letter pertaining to a gang rape case in Saudi Arabia because it was too sensitive an issue for the Centre for Women. In April 2008, despite a stellar professional record, Ms. El-Azzouni was told that her contract would not be renewed. While requesting review of this decision, she was laterally transferred to a non-supervisory position without consultation.” (Equality Now Position Statement: Challenging the UN on Sex Discrimination, http://equalitynow.org/partner/ms_suheir_el_azzouni, accessed 9 July 2011)
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
Executive Secretary of the Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA). He was appointed to the position by United Nations Secretary-General
United Nations Secretary-General
The Secretary-General of the United Nations is the head of the Secretariat of the United Nations, one of the principal organs of the United Nations. The Secretary-General also acts as the de facto spokesperson and leader of the United Nations....
Ban Ki-moon
Ban Ki-moon
Ban Ki-moon is the eighth and current Secretary-General of the United Nations, after succeeding Kofi Annan in 2007. Before going on to be Secretary-General, Ban was a career diplomat in South Korea's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and in the United Nations. He entered diplomatic service the year he...
in July 2007.
A seasoned diplomat, Al-Dafa has acquired extensive experience in foreign affairs. He was the recent Ambassador of Qatar to the United States and Permanent Observer to the Organization of American States
Organization of American States
The Organization of American States is a regional international organization, headquartered in Washington, D.C., United States...
(OAS). In addition, he has served as Qatar's Ambassador to the Russian Federation, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
and Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
, and as non-resident Ambassador to Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
, Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
, Latvia
Latvia
Latvia , officially the Republic of Latvia , is a country in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by Estonia , to the south by Lithuania , to the east by the Russian Federation , to the southeast by Belarus and shares maritime borders to the west with Sweden...
, Lithuania
Lithuania
Lithuania , officially the Republic of Lithuania is a country in Northern Europe, the biggest of the three Baltic states. It is situated along the southeastern shore of the Baltic Sea, whereby to the west lie Sweden and Denmark...
, Estonia
Estonia
Estonia , officially the Republic of Estonia , is a state in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by the Gulf of Finland, to the west by the Baltic Sea, to the south by Latvia , and to the east by Lake Peipsi and the Russian Federation . Across the Baltic Sea lies...
, Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
and Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
.
His official ESCWA online biography added, “Besides his diplomatic experiences, he has also served in a variety of capacities in international non-governmental organizations. He supervised programmes of building housing for families with limited income in Africa and participated in landmine removal programmes in the Balkans. He also played an active role in fund-raising programmes with children's hospitals in Asia and North America and in supporting the empowerment of women in North Africa and Central Asia. He also organized conferences on free trade, democracy and inter-religious dialogue.
Al-Dafa holds a master's degree in international public policy from Johns Hopkins University
Johns Hopkins University
The Johns Hopkins University, commonly referred to as Johns Hopkins, JHU, or simply Hopkins, is a private research university based in Baltimore, Maryland, United States...
and a bachelor's degree in political science and economics from Western Michigan University
Western Michigan University
Western Michigan University is a public university located in Kalamazoo, Michigan, United States. The university was established in 1903 by Dwight B. Waldo, and as of the Fall 2010 semester, its enrollment is 25,045....
. He obtained the award the Ordre du Merite from France. He is fluent in Arabic, English and Spanish."
Despite the overwhelmingly positive slant of this official biography, Mr. Al-Dafa was also the losing participant in a sexual discrimination case brought by a former employee in 2008. Ms. Olga Suheir El-Azzouni, who served as the Chief of the Centre for Women at ESCWA from 2006 to 2008, and reported to Mr. Al-Dafa following his appointment in 2007, brought 23 witnesses to support her claims that he had engaged in systematic gender-based harassment and discrimination.
Mr. Al-Dafa's purported commitment to ‘the empowerment of women’ and ‘inter-religious dialogue’ notwithstanding, the United Nations Appeals Tribunal (UNAT) eventually awarded Ms. El-Azzouni two years' back pay in recognition of Mr. Al-Dafa’s violations. Equality Now, the international women’s human rights NGO which followed the case closely for two years, reported that, “Among other things, the Executive Secretary [Mr. Al-Dafa] allegedly prevented the Centre for Women from publishing a handbook on the use of progressive interpretations of Islamic law; made comments indicating a pride in “honor crimes” as part of Arab culture; remarked that it was improper for Ms. El-Azzouni, as a Christian, to engage in gender issues in the Muslim world; and reprimanded her for forwarding him an open letter pertaining to a gang rape case in Saudi Arabia because it was too sensitive an issue for the Centre for Women. In April 2008, despite a stellar professional record, Ms. El-Azzouni was told that her contract would not be renewed. While requesting review of this decision, she was laterally transferred to a non-supervisory position without consultation.” (Equality Now Position Statement: Challenging the UN on Sex Discrimination, http://equalitynow.org/partner/ms_suheir_el_azzouni, accessed 9 July 2011)
External links
- United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia
- United Nations Appeals Tribunal To Announce Judgment in Sex Discrimination Case, Equality Now Media Advisory, 27 October 2010, http://www.equalitynow.org/es/united-nations-appeals-tribunal-announce-judgment-sex-discrimination-case, accessed 9 July 2011
- United Nations Appeals Tribunal (UNAT) Report of the Panel on Discrimination and Other Grievances, case number 05/01/2008, 30 Sept. 2008.