Cape Town - Former South African Deputy President Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka has been appointed to serve a second term as Executive Director of UN Women.
In a statement, UN Women said Mlambo-Ngcuka would continue to serve her appointment at the UN Entity for Gender Equality and Empowerment of Women for a further term of four years.
“This renewed term is our opportunity to reflect constructively, build our momentum, and surge ahead," Mlambo-Ngcuka said.
"In these years we are going to be putting our new Strategic Plan 2018-2021 into practice, supporting the Member States and our diverse partners to accelerate their implementation of the 2030 Agenda with gender equality and women’s empowerment and full realisation of their rights at its heart."
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres consulted with member states and the executive board of UN Women before deciding on the reappointment.
Mlambo-Ngcuka praised the staff at UN Women for their commitment and high calibre of work.
“Their energy and dedication keep us going through all the challenges, and make our organization what it is. Together with Member States and all our partners, we are fiercely ambitious for the women and girls of this world, and positive that greater equality bears fruit for all,” she said.
According to UN Women, under the leadership of Mlambo-Ngcuka, the entity had played a significant role in ensuring that women were put front and centre of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and that the responsibility of ending gender inequality became everyone’s responsibility.
Mlambo-Ngcuka established the HeForShe movement that engages men and boys.
"She has been influential in transforming conversations and knowledge on the most important issues affecting women’s lives such as discriminatory laws, unequal pay and unpaid care work, violence against women, disenfranchisement, and conflict and humanitarian crises through flagship programming that coordinates response through the UN system," UN Women said.