Marrakech \u2013 The United Nations Office at Geneva unveiled on Tuesday a photo exhibition celebrating 75 women leaders from around the world. Morocco\u2019s Amina Bouayach, Chairperson of the National Human Rights Council (CNDH), is among them.<\/p>\n
The exhibition opened at the Hall of Lost Footsteps in the Palais des Nations under the title<\/a> \u201cNot a Woman\u2019s Job? Women Leading Countries, Societies and Communities.\u201d It ran from 2:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Geneva time. The event was organized by UN Geneva, UN Women, the Permanent Mission of Kazakhstan to the UN in Geneva, and international partners.<\/p>\n Bouayach is the only Moroccan featured in the exhibition. She is one of three Arab women and one of three African women leaders included. The 75 portraits represent women from 47 member states of the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC<\/a>). They span fields including heads of state and government, regional organizations, rights advocacy, policymaking, and civil society.<\/p>\n The opening ceremony featured remarks by Tatiana Valovaya, Director-General of the UN Office at Geneva. Sofia Calltorp, Director of UN Women\u2019s Geneva Office and Chief of Humanitarian Action, also spoke.<\/p>\n Kazakhstan\u2019s Deputy Permanent Representative Talgat Ashetov and Azerbaijan\u2019s Deputy Chairperson of the State Committee for Family, Women and Children Affairs Sadagat Gahramanova delivered remarks as well.<\/p>\n Alice Roseth Helleberg, the first female Deputy Leader of the Norwegian Coastal Fisher\u2019s Association, also addressed the gathering. A walk-through of the exhibition followed the speeches.<\/p>\n Bouayach\u2019s exhibition profile describes her as an internationally recognized advocate for the right to life. It spotlights her defense of the rights of women, victims, and vulnerable groups.<\/p>\n Read also: SIEL: CNDH Examines Moroccan Sahrawi Women\u2019s Participation Through Children\u2019s Voices<\/a><\/p>\n It also cites her contributions to advancing human rights culture and strengthening civil society in Morocco, across Africa, and internationally. Her portrait was taken on December 17, 2024, at the CNDH headquarters in Rabat, as she celebrated<\/a> Morocco\u2019s historic vote<\/a> in favor of the universal moratorium on the death penalty.<\/p>\n The recognition comes during an active period for Bouayach in Geneva. On June 19, she addressed<\/a> a high-level discussion marking the 20th anniversary of the UN Human Rights Council.<\/p>\n Speaking as president of the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions (GANHRI), she called for stronger bridges between international human rights mechanisms and national realities.<\/p>\n She noted that GANHRI now includes more than 119 accredited institutions, up from around 50 when the council was created in 2006. She also warned of a growing crisis of public confidence in institutions and urged making the council a platform of convergence within the international human rights system.<\/p>\n The session was moderated by HRC President Sidharto R. Suryodipuro and introduced by UN Secretary-General Ant\u00f3nio Guterres via video message.<\/p>\n