Haya Rashed Al-Khalifa

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
UN
, 2006

Haya Rashed Al-Khalifa (born October 18, 1952) (

Arabic: هيا راشد آل خليفة) is a lawyer and diplomat from Bahrain. As ambassador to France 1999-2004 she became Bahrain's first ever female ambassador. She is one of the first women to practice law in Bahrain, and the third ever woman to preside at the UN General Assembly.[1]

Legal career

Haya obtained a Bachelor of Law degree from the

University of Alexandria, Egypt, in 1986 and a Diploma in Comparative Law from the Ain Shams University, Egypt, in 1988.[2]

With Lulwa Al Awadhi, she was one of the first two women in Bahrain to practice law when she was admitted as a lawyer in Bahrain in 1979. She set up her own practise and is the founder of the Haya Rashed Al Khalifa Law Firm. From 1997 to 1999, she was the vice chairwoman of the International Bar Association. She is the legal advisor to Bahrain's royal court and is a Global Advisors to Orphans International.

Diplomatic career

Haya was the

Angie Elisabeth Brooks of Liberia were appointed to the presidency in 1953 and 1969 respectively. She was elected by acclamation after Bahrain was chosen as its candidate by the group of Asian nations. In addition to being the first woman president since 1969, Haya was the first woman Muslim president.[3]

She was the Bahraini ambassador to France from 1999 to 2004. When she was appointed Ambassador to France in 1999 she became the first ever female Bahraini ambassador. She also served as a permanent delegate to the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

The move was the first in a series of appointments of women to high-profile government positions in recent years, which have included the country's first female cabinet minister,

Shura Council
, the upper house of parliament.

On the same day (6 June 2006) that Haya was selected to preside at the UN, Mona Al Kawari became the first female judge in Bahrain.[4]

Family and background

Haya is a member of the ruling

Hamad ibn Isa Al Khalifa
, is the great-great-grandson of Isa ibn Ali.

Appointments and awards

Sheika Haya has received the following awards:

  • United Nations Millennium Development Goals Special Award, 2007
  • Path to Peace Award 2007
  • Social Creativity Award, at the Sixth Conference of the Arab Thought Foundation.

Sheikha Haya is a member of the following bodies:

  • World Intellectual Property Organisation Arbitration Committee
  • International Chamber of Commerce (ICC)
  • International Court of Arbitration
  • Bahrain Supreme Council of Culture, Arts & Literature
  • Bahrain Bar Association (Vice-Chair)
  • Bahrain Chamber for Dispute Resolution (Chairperson of the Board of Trustees)
  • Consumer Advisory Group of the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority, Bahrain (Chair).

See also

  • First women lawyers around the world
  • Women's political rights in Bahrain
  • Dr Nada Haffadh, Bahrain's Minister of Health and first female cabinet member (appointed 2004)

References

  1. ^ UN News 8 June 2006 http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=18797&Cr=general&Cr1=assembly
  2. ^ Official biography http://www.hraklf.com/shaikha_haya.html Archived 2010-07-29 at the Wayback Machine
  3. ^ UN News Centre 17 September 2007 http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=23839&Cr=general&Cr1=assembly
  4. ^ Gulf News: 'A date to remember with pride' http://gulfnews.com/news/gulf/bahrain/a-date-to-remember-with-pride-1.240006

External links

Positions in intergovernmental organisations
Preceded by President of the United Nations General Assembly
2006–2007 		Succeeded by
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