Bureau of the UN-Women Executive Board

The Executive Board is the governing body for UN-Women’s operational activities and also provides operational policy guidance to the Entity. The Board consists of 41 Member States elected by the Economic and Social Council members for a term of three years based on equitable geographical distribution, across regions.

Member States elect representatives of the regional groups to the UN-Women Executive Board through regional elections. All Member States of the United Nations can however participate in the Executive Board session and in the negotiations of Executive Board decisions.

UN-Women Board consists of 10 members from African States; 10 members from Asian States; 4 members from Eastern European States; 6 members from Latin American and Caribbean States; 5 members from Western Europe and Other States; and 6 members from top contributing countries.

Executive Board’s term

Each year, the Economic and Social Council elects members to the Board from the United Nations membership for a three-year term. The Western European and Others Group has established a rotation schedule for its members under which some States do not serve a full three-year term.

Executive Board’s Bureau election

The officers of the Executive Board constitute the Bureau and are elected by the Member States of the Executive Board at its first official meeting each year (held in January). The Executive Board calendar runs from 1 January to 31 December.

The 4 officers—the President and three Vice-Presidents—represent their regional groups, with the presidency rotating among regional groups every year, accompanied on the above picture by Mr. Jean-Luc Bories, Secretary of the Executive Board. In 2026, the election took place on 12 January. The following officers were elected by acclamation:

• President: H.E. Dr. Adonia Ayebare
  Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Uganda to the United Nations 
• Vice President: H.E. Ms. Suela Janina
  Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Albania to the United Nations
• Vice President: H.E. Ms. Sophie de Smedt
  Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Belgium to the United Nations
• Vice President: H.E. Ms. Aida Kasymalieva
  Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Kyrgyzstan to the United Nations

Former representatives of the Bureau of the Executive Board: 2025, 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011