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 five officers—the President and four Vice-Presidents—represent the five regional groups, with the presidency rotating among regional groups every year. In 2024, the election took place on 10 January. The following officers were elected by acclamation:

• President: H.E. Ms. Zoraya del Carmen Cano Franco
  Ambassador and Deputy Permanent Representative of Panama to the United Nations 
• Vice President: H.E. Mr. Jonibek Ismoil Hikmat
  Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Tajikistan to the United Nations
• Vice President: H.E. Ms. Halley Christine Yapi Bah
  Ambassador and Deputy Permanent Representative of Côte d'Ivoire to the United Nations
• Vice President: H.E. Mr. Andreas Von Uexküll
  Ambassador and Deputy Permanent Representative of Sweden to the United Nations
• Vice President: Mr. Michal Daniel Miarka
  Minister Plenipotentiary and Deputy Permanent Representative of Poland to the United Nations

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