Home / News

News

Palestinian Jerusalemite Mira Rizeq elected President of World YWCA, Palestinian Young Woman Selina Abdallah elected Board member

Palestinian Jerusalemite Mira Rizeq elected President of World YWCA, Palestinian Young Woman Selina Abdallah elected Board member

 

Geneva, November 30, 2023 Mira Rizeq, a Palestinian from Jerusalem, was re-elected as the President of the World YWCA for a new term (2023-2027) during the 30th World Council meeting, which took place both in person at the main headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, and virtually from November 27th to December 1st, 2023.

Rizeq, who previously served as the General Secretary of the YWCA of Palestine from April 2006 until her election as the World YWCA president in 2019, secured the majority of votes in the elections. Her re-election reaffirms the success she achieved during her four years as head of the World Board, making her the first Palestinian to hold this position in the worldwide association's history.

In addition to Mira Rizeq's re-election, Selina Abdallah, a young Palestinian, was elected as a member of the World Board, representing the Middle East region. The board comprises 20 women representing eight geographical regions.

The World YWCA is the largest women's association globally, with 100 member associations around the world, representing approximately 25 million women. The association has representation in the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).

The Palestinian delegation to the World Council meeting was led by the Chairman of the Board of Directors, Luma Tarazi, and included the General Secretary of the association, Amal Tarazi, along with members Lana Rabadi, Sandrine Amer, Selina Abdallah, and Dana Qassis. An observer delegation also participated, including members Vera Pano, Rabab Musleh, Arda Aghazarian, Ruba Odeh, Mayadah Tarazi, Lara Khammash, Nidal Abu Al-Zuluf, Manar Sharouf, Yara Abd Rabbo, Juliana Majrouh, Ekhlas Abu Zir, Lina Rabadi, and Shereen Ajrab.

The YWCA of Palestine congratulates the former General Secretary, Mira Rizeq, on her re-election as the president of World YWCA and Selina Abdallah on her election to the World board.

“These achievements reflect the leadership role played by Palestinian women in various fields," the YWCA of Palestine emphasized.

The YWCA of Palestine is a non-governmental association initiated in 1893 and formally established in Jerusalem in 1918. It includes four local associations in Jerusalem, Ramallah, Jericho, and Bethlehem. The YWCA has three areas: leadership and civic engagement, economic justice, and just peace. The YWCA is a rights-based association where all our programs and advocacy are based on the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

The association aims to enhance the participation of women, especially young women, in decision-making processes, empower them to take on leadership roles, and contribute to creating a society characterized by equality, freedom, tolerance, justice, peace, and human dignity. It is affiliated with the World YWCA, working to empower women, young women, and girls in over a hundred countries worldwide.

Share :