Ghada Waly

Ghada Fathi Waly (born 1965) is an Egyptian politician who has been serving as the director-general/executive director of the United Nations Office at Vienna (UNOV)/United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) since 2020, following her appointment by Secretary-General António Guterres. She holds the rank of Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations.

Ghada Waly

Quotes

• The States Parties to those conventions have recently emphasized that they remain relevant and flexible in scope, permitting their use against new and emerging forms of illicit activities. As the guardian of the UNTOC and UNCAC, UNODC has a vital role to play in assisting States as they translate their commitments into actions.
  • [1]

• I have pledged to improve the representation of women at the staff levels where parity is not achieved, as a significant step towards meeting the goal of gender parity at all levels by the end of 2021. My aim is that we build and cultivate an enabling working environment which provides the same chances and opportunities to male and female staff.
  • [2]

• I am grateful that in Vienna I could rely on an experienced security team in addressing the many challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic over these past months. Their dedication has helped to keep our staff safe, and was recognized and appreciated by our host country. I count on UNDSS to further strengthen our UN security community here in Austria.
  • [3]

• Currently, just over a quarter of our security staff in Vienna are women, and we are working to improve the gender balance. There is an immense opportunity for women in security to become strong role models, especially at senior levels, accelerating progress towards a more gender diverse work force, attracting new female recruits, and putting in motion a virtuous circle – for the benefit of all.
  • [4]