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Editor in Chief Mohamed Wadie

Ghada Wali Officially Takes Office As UNOV Director-General


Tue 04 Feb 2020 | 11:48 AM
NaDa Mustafa

Former Social Solidarity Minister Ghada Wali has officially taken over her duty as new director-general of the United Nations Office at Vienna (UNOV) and the executive director of the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).

Wali

Upon her arrival, Wali was accorded an official reception.

Wali

She held a meeting with the office staff, then she took a tour inside the organization building.

 

Wali

It is worth mentioning that, Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah El Sisi received Wali a few days ago.

During their meeting, President Sisi affirmed Egypt's support for the United Nations' role in facing global and regional challenges.

He also underlined the importance of transferring and exchanging experiences in the areas of fighting corruption, organized crime, human trafficking, and drugs.

Ghada Wali

Wali has served as the minister of social solidarity in Egypt since 2014, holding the position under former prime ministers Ibrahim Mehlab and Sherif Ismail, as well as the current Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly.

During her tenure, the ministry launched a public awareness campaign against drug use in Egypt, choosing football star Mohamed Salah as the face of the campaign in TV and online advertisements.

In 1987, she received her BA from the College of Languages and Literature at Colorado State University, USA , and her M.A. in Humanities from the same university in 1990.

Wali was also a leading voice in the UN Development Program (UNDP), where she served as Assistant Resident Representative and aimed to reduce the percentage of people living under the poverty line and increase job opportunities, according to Women of Egypt news outlet.