Minister of Social Solidarity and Head of the Executive office of the Arab Social Affairs Ministers Ghada Wali discussed on Sunday with UNDP Regional Bureau for Arab States Director Sima Sami Bahous the issues of social justice, cooperation over means of supporting the disabled people and women and poverty combat.
During the meeting, held on the fringe of the Arab Summit, Wali said President Abdel Fattah El Sisi is strongly backing Sharm El Sheikh declaration announced by the Arab social affairs ministers to support the agenda of social justice, women, investment and other development goals.
They also discussed including the Arab priorities for development on the World agenda so as to contribute to achieving comprehensive development in the Arab region.
Sima Sami Bahous was appointed in February 2012 by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon as Assistant Secretary-General, Assistant Administrator and Director of the UNDP Regional Bureau for Arab States. In this post, Bahous leads UNDP’s 18 Country Offices in the Arab region in their efforts to develop national capacities for poverty reduction, democratic governance, sustainable development, crisis prevention and recovery, and women’s empowerment.
From 2008 to 2012, Bahous served as the Assistant Secretary-General and Head of the Social Development Sector at the League of Arab States, leading the work of the Arab League’s Departments of Social Policies, Health and Humanitarian Assistance, Youth, Women, Children and Family, Population and Migration, Human Rights, Civil Society, and Studies and Research.