Haya Rashed Al-Khalifa (born October 18, 1952) ( ar, هيا راشد آل خليفة) is a lawyer and diplomat from Bahrain. As ambassador to France 1999-2004 she became Bahrain's first ever female ambassador. She is one of the first women to practice law in Bahrain, and the third ever woman to preside at the UN General Assembly.

Legal career

Haya obtained a Bachelor of Law degree from the

University of Kuwait Kuwait University ( ar, جامعة الكويت, abbreviated as Kuniv) is a public university located in Kuwait City, Kuwait. History Kuwait University (KU), (in Arabic: جامعة الكويت), was established in October 1966 under Act N. 2 ...

in 1974. She has also obtained a Diploma in Civil Rights Private Law from the University of Alexandria, Egypt, in 1986 and a Diploma in Comparative Law from the

Ain Shams University Ain Shams University ( ar, جامعة عين شمس) is a public university located in Cairo, Egypt. Founded in 1950, the university provides education at the undergraduate, graduate and post-graduate levels. History Ain Shams University was fou ...

, Egypt, in 1988. With Lulwa Al Awadhi, she was one of the first two women in Bahrain to practice law when she was admitted as a

lawyer A lawyer is a person who practices law. The role of a lawyer varies greatly across different legal jurisdictions. A lawyer can be classified as an advocate, attorney, barrister, canon lawyer, civil law notary, counsel, counselor, solic ...

in Bahrain in 1979. She set up her own practise and is the founder of the Haya Rashed Al Khalifa Law Firm. From 1997 to 1999, she was the vice chairwoman of the International Bar Association. She is the legal advisor to Bahrain's royal court and is a Global Advisors to Orphans International.

Diplomatic career

Haya was the President of the 61st session of the United Nations General Assembly which began on September 12, 2006, and closed on September 17, 2007. She was the third woman to hold the position since Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit of India and

Angie Elisabeth Brooks Angie Elizabeth Brooks (August 24, 1928 – September 9, 2007) was a Liberian diplomat and jurist. She was the only African female President of the United Nations General Assembly. She was also the second woman from any nation to head the U.N. bo ...

Liberia Liberia (), officially the Republic of Liberia, is a country on the West African coast. It is bordered by Sierra Leone to Liberia–Sierra Leone border, its northwest, Guinea to its north, Ivory Coast to its east, and the Atlantic Ocean ...

were appointed to the presidency in 1953 and 1969 respectively. She was elected by acclamation after Bahrain was chosen as its candidate by the group of Asian nations. In addition to being the first woman president since 1969, Haya was the first woman Muslim president. She was the Bahraini

ambassador An ambassador is an official envoy, especially a high-ranking diplomat who represents a state and is usually accredited to another sovereign state or to an international organization as the resident representative of their own government or sov ...

to France from 1999 to 2004. When she was appointed Ambassador to France in 1999 she became the first ever female Bahraini ambassador. She also served as a permanent delegate to the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization ( UNESCO). The move was the first in a series of appointments of women to high-profile government positions in recent years, which have included the country's first female cabinet minister,

Nada Haffadh Nada Haffadh was Bahrain's first female cabinet minister when she was appointed Minister of Health in 2004, serving in the position until September 2007. Previously she served in Bahrain's upper house of parliament, the Consultative Council. Bi ...

, and six women nominated to the

Shura Council In Arab culture, a Majlis-ash-Shura ( ar, مجلس الشورى; Shura Council in English) is an advisory council or consultative council. In Islamic context, the Majlis-ash-Shura is one of two ways that a Caliph, khalifa (Islamic leader) may be s ...

, the upper house of parliament. On the same day (6 June 2006) that Haya was selected to preside at the UN,

Mona Al Kawari Mona may refer to: People *Mona (name), a female given name, nickname and surname *Mona (Angolan footballer) (born 1997) *Mona, ring name of American wrestler Nora Greenwald Museums *Museum of Nebraska Art, Kearney, Nebraska, US *Museum of Neon ...

became the first female judge in Bahrain.Gulf News: 'A date to remember with pride' http://gulfnews.com/news/gulf/bahrain/a-date-to-remember-with-pride-1.240006

Family and background

Haya is a member of the ruling Al Khalifa family of Bahrain. She is the great-granddaughter of Isa ibn Ali Al Khalifa, who ruled Bahrain from 1869 to 1932. The present head of the family, King Hamad ibn Isa Al Khalifa, is the great-great-grandson of Isa ibn Ali.

Appointments and awards

Sheika Haya has received the following awards: * United Nations Millennium Development Goals Special Award, 2007 * Path to Peace Award 2007 * Social Creativity Award, at the Sixth Conference of the Arab Thought Foundation. Sheikha Haya is a member of the following bodies: * World Intellectual Property Organisation Arbitration Committee * International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) * International Court of Arbitration * Bahrain Supreme Council of Culture, Arts & Literature * Bahrain Bar Association (Vice-Chair) * Bahrain Chamber for Dispute Resolution (Chairperson of the Board of Trustees) * Consumer Advisory Group of the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority, Bahrain (Chair).

References

External links