Rabab Fatima elected president of Unicef Executive Board

Ambassador Rabab Fatima, Bangladesh’s Permanent Representative (PR) to the United Nations, has unanimously been elected president of the Unicef Executive Board at elections held on Tuesday at UN Headquarters in New York.

Serving alongside her as vice presidents will be the PRs of Lithuania and Morocco, and deputy PRs of Brazil and Switzerland, according to a message from the Bangladesh Permanent Mission at the UN.    

With this election, Bangladesh will be able to contribute further to the UN’s work, this time in providing strategic guidance to its agency specialising in children’s causes.

In her acceptance speech, the ambassador thanked board members and assured Unicef that the new board will work hard to bring new ideas that can ensure the wellbeing of children and fight for their rights.

Unicef Executive Director Henrietta H Fore welcomed the new president and said the agency looks forward to benefiting from her experience and wisdom.

Fore expressed optimism that Fatima would spearhead the bureau’s guidance to the work of Unicef.