Executive Director
Inés Alberdi of Spain has been appointed as the new Executive Director of the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM) and assumed her duties on 4 June 2008.
Ms. Alberdi has worked for more than 25 years on gender issues and in politics. She comes to UNIFEM from her previous position as Professor of Sociology at Madrid University where she had taught Political Sociology and Sociology of Gender since 1993. Prior to that, she was Director for Research at the Centre for Sociological Research (1992–1993). Ms. Alberdi has published extensively on family and women’s issues. Her distinguished academic career also included positions as Associate Researcher at George Washington University, Washington, DC (1988–1989), and Visiting Scholar in the Department of Sociology at Georgetown University, Washington, DC (1978–1979), as well as an Eisenhower Fellowship (1998).
From 2003 to 2007, Inés Alberdi was an elected Deputy in the Madrid Assembly. She served as an expert for the Equal Opportunities Unit of the European Commission on the networks Family and Work and Diversification of Occupational Choices for Women (1998–2000) and worked for the Inter-American Bank as Adviser for Women in Development (1989–1990). She also served as a Member of the Board of INSTRAW, the United Nations International Research and Training Institute for the Advancement of Women (1986–1989).
“I am delighted to take on my new responsibilities,” said Ms. Alberdi of her appointment. “I come with high hopes and am determined to make my contribution. For me, UNIFEM has been a key reference in the struggle for women’s rights and gender equality throughout the years. I want the organization to continue to be at the cutting edge of these issues and will dedicate all my efforts to this,” she added.
Inés Alberdi is the fourth Executive Director of UNIFEM. She succeeds Noeleen Heyzer of Singapore (1994–2007), Sharon Capeling-Alakija of Canada (1989–1994) and Margaret Snyder of the USA (1978–1989).
Speeches, Statements and Articles by Inés Alberdi
- Discurso de Inés Alberdi en el Encuentro de Mujeres Parlamentarias (Discurso, 15.06.09) • spa
- UNIFEM Statement at the 2009 Annual Session of the UNDP/ UNFPA Executive Board (Speech, 28.05.09) • eng
- A Call to Action: Accountability to Women in All Aspects of Conflict Prevention, Peacebuilding and Recovery (Speech, 07.03.09) • eng
- The Activities of the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM) to Eliminate Violence against Women (Speech, 04.03.09) • eng
- International Women’s Day 2009 – Women and Men United to End Violence against Women and Girls (Statement, 04.03.09) • eng • spa
- World AIDS Day – Statement from the Executive Director (Statement, 28.11.08) • eng
- International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women – Statement from the Executive Director (Statement, 21.11.08) • eng • spa
- Women’s Equal Participation and Full Involvement in All Efforts for the Maintenance and Promotion of Peace and Security (Speech, 29.10.08) • eng
- Advancing Implementation and Accountability for Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment (Speech, 15.10.08) • eng
- Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment: Implementation and Accountability (Speech, 13.10.08) • eng
