The Inaugural FPA- SUNY Global Engagement Program Lecture, with Zainab Hawa Bangura (Video)

Zainab Hawa Bangura
Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in Conflict, United Nations

Zainab Hawa Bangura of Sierra Leone assumed her position as Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in Conflict at the level of Under-Secretary-General on 4 September 2012.In this capacity, she also serves as Chair of the 13-member interagency network, UN Action againstSexual Violence in Conflict (UN Action), which includes DPA, UNAIDS, UNICEF, DPKO, UNDP, UN Women, OCHA, UNFPA, OHCHR, UNODC, PBSO, UNHCR and WHO.

A Team of Experts on Rule of Law/Sexual Violence in Conflict (TOE), mandated under Security Council Resolution 1888, with members of the Team from DPKO, OHCHR, and UNDP, also reports to her and is responsible for strengthening the capacity of governments to develop prevention measures, address impunity of perpetrators and increase access to justice for victims.

Mrs. Bangura has over 20 years of policy, diplomatic and practical experience in the field of governance, conflict resolution and reconciliation in Africa. She served for two years as Minister of Health and Sanitation, and three years as Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation for the Government of Sierra Leone. She has deep experience engaging with State and non-State actors on issues relevant to sexual violence, including engaging with rebel groups.

Mrs. Bangura worked previously with the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL), where she managed the largest civilian component of the Peacekeeping Mission, promoting capacity-building of government institutions and community reconciliation.

She is an experienced and results-driven civil society, human and women’s rights campaigner and democracy activist, fighting corruption and impunity, notably as, Executive Director of the National Accountability Group, and Coordinator and Co-founder of the Campaign for Good Governance in Sierra Leone. She has received numerous national and international, humanitarian and human rights awards.

Mrs. Bangura is a former fellow of the Chartered Insurance Institute of London, with Post Graduate Diplomas in Insurance Management from the City University Business School of London and Nottingham University. She received her Bachelor of Arts from Fourah Bay College, University of Sierra Leone.

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