CHILDREN'S ADVOCACY

Irina Bokova, born in Sofia (Bulgaria), has been two terms the Director-General of UNESCO from 2009 to 2917. She is the first woman to lead the Organisation.

Having graduated from Moscow State Institute of International Relations, Irina Bokova was a Fellow at the University of Maryland, Washington, and followed an executive program at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. 

Before being elected as Director General of UNESCO, from 2005 to 2009 Irina Bokova was Ambassador of Bulgaria to France, Monaco and UNESCO and Personal Representative of the President of the Republic of Bulgaria to the Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie.

As Director-General of UNESCO, Irina Bokova was actively engaged in the UN efforts to adopt Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development, particularly Goal 4 on “Inclusive and equitable quality education and life-long learning for all », gender equality, the protection of the world’s cultural heritage. 

Irina Bokova was on the Forbes List of the world's most influential women for 2016.

In 2020 she was elected International Honorary Member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.

She has received state distinctions from more than 40 countries and is Doctor honoris causa of leading universities across the world, such as King’s College and University of Edinburgh, UK, Paris-Sud Saclay, France, Tonji University, Shanghai, Moscow State University, Boston University, US, Catholic University of Milan, Italy, and others.

Currently, she is a Member of the Board of “Ban Ki Moon Centre for Global Citizens”, Member of the Concordia Leadership Council, Member of the Strategic Committee of the Paris School of International Affairs /PSIA/, SciencesPo, and lecturer on cultural diplomacy, Visiting Lecturer at the University of Geneva on sustainable development, among others. In 2019 she became a member of the High Committee on Human Fraternity.

In addition to her mother tongue, she speaks English, French, Spanish and Russian.