# Sima Sami Bahous
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{{Short description|United Nations Diplomat}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| honorific_prefix =
| name =
| native_name = {{nobold|سيما سامي بحوث}}
| native_name_lang = ar
| honorific_suffix =
| image = File:Sima Sami Bahous - 2023 (cropped).jpg
| image_size =
| image_upright =
| alt =
| caption = Bahous in 2023
| order =
| office = Executive Director of [UN Women](/source/UN_Women)
| status =
| term_start = 2021
| term_end =
| monarch =
| majority =
| predecessor =
| successor =
| pronunciation =
| birth_name =
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1956|6|26}}
| birth_place =
| death_date =
| death_place =
| death_cause =
| resting_place =
| resting_place_coordinates =
| citizenship = [Jordanian](/source/Demographics_of_Jordan)
| spouse =
| children =
| alma_mater =
| profession =
| known_for =
| prior_term =
| office2 = [Permanent Representative of Jordan to the United Nations](/source/Permanent_Representative_of_Jordan_to_the_United_Nations)
| term_start2 = 2016
| term_end2 = 2021
| office3 = UNDP Director for
[Arab States](/source/Arab_States)
| term_start3 = 2012
| term_end3 = 2016
| office4 = Assistant Secretary-General
of the [Arab League](/source/Arab_League)
| term_start4 = 2008
| term_end4 = 2012
}}
'''Sima Sami Bahous''' (Arabic: سيما سامي بحوث ; born 26 June 1956) is a [Jordanian](/source/Demographics_of_Jordan) diplomat and [women's rights](/source/women's_rights) advocate, and has served as Executive Director of [UN Women](/source/UN_Women) since 2021. She previously served as [Jordan's Ambassador to the United Nations](/source/Permanent_Representative_of_Jordan_to_the_United_Nations) from 2016 to 2021. Earlier, she was Assistant Secretary-General of the [Arab League](/source/Arab_League) in [Cairo, Egypt](/source/Cairo%2C_Egypt).
==Early life and education==
Bahous is Jordanian, and was born in June 1956.[{{cite web|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/author/sima-sami-bahous|work=The Huffington Post|title=Sima Bahous}}] She has a bachelor's degree in [English literature](/source/English_literature) from the [University of Jordan](/source/University_of_Jordan), a master's degree in literature and drama from the [University of Essex](/source/University_of_Essex), and a [PhD](/source/PhD) in [mass communications](/source/mass_communications) and development from [Indiana University](/source/Indiana_University).[{{Cite web|url=https://washdiplomat.com/her-excellency-dina-kawar/|title=Her Excellency Dr. Sima Sami Bahous|date=May 21, 2015|work=The Washington Diplomat}}][{{cite web|url=https://www.un.org/press/en/2016/bio4876.doc.htm|title=New Permanent Representative of Jordan Presents Credentials|date=22 August 2016|access-date=18 August 2017|publisher=United Nations}}][{{cite web|url=https://www.un.org/press/en/2012/sga1324.doc.htm|publisher=United Nations|title=Secretary-General Appoints Sima Sami Bahous of Jordan Director of Regional Bureau for Arab States, United Nations Development Programme|date=22 February 2012|access-date=18 August 2017}}] She is fluent in Arabic and English.[{{Cite web|url=https://jordan.unwomen.org/en/about-us/executive-director|title=Executive Director|website=UN Women – Jordan}}]
==Career==
In [Amman](/source/Amman), [Jordan](/source/Jordan), from 1994 to 1995 Bahous was head of communications at [UNICEF](/source/UNICEF). From 1996 to 1997 in [Sanaa](/source/Sanaa), [Yemen](/source/Yemen), she was then a development advisor at the [World Health Organization](/source/World_Health_Organization).[{{Cite web|url=https://www.huffpost.com/author/sima-sami-bahous|title=Sima Bahous|website=The Huffington Post}}] From 2012 to 2016, Bahous served as Assistant Secretary-General for the [United Nations Development Programme](/source/United_Nations_Development_Programme) (UNDP) and Administrator and Director of the UNDP's Regional Bureau for [Arab States](/source/Arab_States).[{{cite web|url=https://www.ipinst.org/2016/06/political-obstacles-rule-of-law-human-rights#11|title=Bahous: Politics Necessary for Achieving SDGs|date=30 June 2016|access-date=18 August 2017|publisher=International Peace Institute}}] In this post, Bahous led UNDP's 18 Arab region programme offices.[{{cite web|url=http://www.jordantimes.com/news/local/sima-bahous-appointed-jordan’s-permanent-representative-un|title=Sima Bahous appointed Jordan's permanent representative to UN|work=Jordan Times|date=18 August 2016|access-date=18 August 2017}}][{{Cite web|date=2021-09-13|title=Gender equality 'champion' Sima Sami Bahous to lead UN Women|url=https://news.un.org/en/story/2021/09/1099802|access-date=2021-09-17|website=UN News|language=en}}]
In 2021, Jordanian King Abdullah II bestowed upon her the Order of The State Centennial in appreciation of her services to Jordan.{{citation needed|date=December 2023}}
On 30 September 2021 she became [UN Women](/source/UN_Women)'s third Executive Director.[{{Cite web|url=https://press.un.org/en/2021/sga2062.doc.htm|title=Secretary-General Appoints Sima Sami Bahous of Jordan Executive Director of UN-Women {{pipe}} UN Press|website=press.un.org}}][{{Cite web|url=https://www.womenglobalaward.org/en/about/international-jury-members|title=International Jury Members|website=womenglobalaward.org}}][{{cite web |url=https://moderndiplomacy.eu/2021/09/16/gender-equality-champion-sima-sami-bahous-to-lead-un-women/|title=Gender equality champion Sima Sami Bahous to lead UN Women |publisher=Modern Diplomacy |access-date=16 March 2023 |archive-date=16 September 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210916211410/https://moderndiplomacy.eu/2021/09/16/gender-equality-champion-sima-sami-bahous-to-lead-un-women/ |url-status=live }}] She was described by the United Nations Secretary General as: "A champion for women and girls."[{{Cite web|url=https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/profiles/sima-bahous|title=Executive Director of UN-Women {{pipe}} United Nations Secretary-General|website=www.un.org}}][{{Cite web|url=https://morungexpress.com/guterres-appoints-new-un-women-chief|title=Guterres appoints new UN Women chief|website=Morung Express}}]
== Criticism ==
During Bahous's tenure as UN Women Executive Director, UN Women and Bahous were criticized for expressing concerns on the effects of war on Palestinian women,[https://www.unwomen.org/en/news-stories/statement/2023/12/un-women-statement-on-the-situation-in-israel-and-gaza][{{Cite web|url=https://www.unwomen.org/en/news-stories/speech/2023/11/speech-now-more-than-ever-we-must-seek-peace|title=Speech: Now more than ever we must seek peace {{pipe}} UN Women – Headquarters}}][https://www.unwomen.org/en/news-stories/statement/2023/10/un-women-statement-on-the-situation-in-israel-and-the-occupied-palestinian-territory][{{Cite web|url=https://www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v46/n09/azadeh-moaveni/what-they-did-to-our-women|title=What They Did to Our Women|first=Azadeh|last=Moaveni|date=May 9, 2024|volume=46|issue=09|via=www.lrb.co.uk}}] while remaining silent on Hamas' [sexual and gender-based violence in the 7 October attack](/source/Sexual_and_gender-based_violence_in_the_7_October_attack_on_Israel) on Israeli civilian women and female minors. The organization under her leadership was criticized for the lengthy delay in its response, a response that followed [What They Did to Our Women. Azadeh Moaveni on sexual violence in wartime, London review of Books Sept 2024)] the organization's alleged[{{Cite web|url=https://theintercept.com/2023/12/24/feminism-sexual-violence-hamas-israel/|title=There Was No Cover-Up of Hamas's Sexual Violence on October 7|first=Judith|last=Levine|date=December 24, 2023}}] silence during the war.[{{Cite news |last=Greenaway |first=Naomi |date=2023-11-29 |title=The UN's silence on the rape of Israeli women makes a mockery of its campaign against violence |language=en-GB |work=The Telegraph |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2023/11/29/the-uns-silence-on-the-rape-of-israeli-women-makes-a-mocker/ |access-date=2023-12-01 |issn=0307-1235}}][{{Cite web |last=Sforza |first=Lauren |date=2023-11-30 |title=House lawmakers accuse UN Women of disregarding Hamas attack |url=https://thehill.com/homenews/house/4335175-house-lawmakers-accuse-un-women-hamas-attack/ |access-date=2023-12-01 |website=The Hill |language=en-US}}][{{Cite web|url=https://www.foxnews.com/world/united-nations-slammed-silence-hamas-rapes-mutilation-murder-israeli-women-critics-say|title=United Nations slammed for silence over Hamas rapes, mutilation and murder of Israeli women, critics say|first=Ruth Marks|last=Eglash|date=November 19, 2023|website=Fox News}}]
As reported by ''The New York Times'', at the United Nations, [Gilad Erdan](/source/Gilad_Erdan), Israel's Ambassador to the United Nations, said he sent two letters about the use of rape by Hamas militants, appended with photographs of victims' bodies, to Bahous. He said: "I got no response whatsoever. Not even, 'We received your letter.'"[{{Cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/12/04/world/middleeast/israel-hamas-sexual-violence-un.html|title=Accounts of Sexual Violence by Hamas Are Aired Amid Criticism of U.N.|first1=Katherine|last1=Rosman|first2=Lisa|last2=Lerer|date=December 5, 2023|work=The New York Times}}][{{Cite web|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/world/middle-east/2023/12/05/horrific-things-i-saw-with-my-own-eyes-un-criticised-as-hearing-told-of-hamas-sexual-violence/|title='Horrific things I saw with my own eyes': UN criticised as hearing told of Hamas sexual violence|website=The Irish Times}}] Israeli Foreign Minister [Eli Cohen](/source/Eli_Cohen_(politician%2C_born_1972)) called on Bahous to resign.[{{Cite web|url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/israel-led-un-special-session-condemns-world-silence-on-hamas-using-rape-as-weapon-of-war/|title=Israel-led UN special session condemns world silence on Hamas using rape as weapon of war|work=The Times of Israel}}] An analysis of her X posts and those of UN Women indicated that out of dozens of them, there were no condemnations of Hamas, and almost zero posts in the first week of the war.[{{Cite web|url=https://www.ynetnews.com/article/s1unmexba|title=Israel demands ousting of UN Women head over 'blatant disregard' for Israeli victims|first=Itamar|last=Eichner|date=November 28, 2023|work=ynetnews.com}}]
Actress [Natalie Portman](/source/Natalie_Portman) posted on Instagram, and asked people to contact Bahous, providing her email address.[{{Cite web|url=https://www.ynetnews.com/culture/article/bj7pezeep|title=Natalie Portman to Hamas hostage families: 'I cry with you'|first=Inbal|last=Hananel|date=November 14, 2023|work=ynetnews.com}}] She wrote, addressing Bahous: "Women's organizations have neglected their role and abandoned the hostages in Gaza. They must take a stand now! The heinous sexual crimes committed against Israeli women on October 7th by Hamas are [war crime](/source/war_crime)s and [crimes against humanity](/source/crimes_against_humanity). Distance yourself from these crimes. You are committed to preserving women's rights without distinction of religion, race, or gender."
==Publications==
*{{cite web|url=http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContentP/4/126474/Opinion/New-momentum-in-response-to-the-Syria-crisis-We-mu.aspx|title=New momentum in response to the Syria crisis: We must seize the moment|first=Sima|last=Bahous|date=31 March 2015|work=Ahram}}
*{{cite web|url=http://www.undp.org/content/undp/en/home/blog/2015/11/5/Saving-lives-preserving-dignity-and-securing-the-future-in-Syria.html|title=Saving lives, preserving dignity, and securing the future in Syria|date=5 November 2015|first=Sima|last=Bahous|publisher=UNDP}}
*{{cite web|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/sima-sami-bahous/water-more-important-than_b_4394481.html|work=The Huffington Post|title=Water More Important Than Oil for the Future of the Arab World|first=Sima|last=Bahous}}
*{{cite web|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/creating-opportunities-fo_b_5070613.html|work=The Huffington Post|title=Creating Opportunities for Youth — The Way Forward for the Arab World|date=1 April 2014|first=Sima|last=Bahous}}
==Personal life==
Bahous is married to Ziad Rifai and has one daughter, Jahan.[{{cite web|url=http://www.missionjordanun.org/the-ambassador.html|title=Ambassador|publisher=The Permanent Mission of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan to the United Nations}}]
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bahous, Sima Sami}}
Category:1956 births
Category:Living people
Category:Alumni of the University of Essex
Category:Arab League people
Category:Indiana University Bloomington alumni
Category:Women ambassadors of Jordan
Category:Jordanian women diplomats
Category:Permanent representatives of Jordan to the United Nations
Category:UNICEF people
Category:University of Jordan alumni
Category:21st-century diplomats
Category:Executive Directors of UN Women
---
Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Sima Sami Bahous](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sima_Sami_Bahous) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sima_Sami_Bahous?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.