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United Nations, New York — The appointment of Inés Alberdi of Spain as the new Executive Director of the United Nations Development Fund for Women, UNIFEM, has been announced by UNDP Administrator Kemal Dervis.

Inés Alberdi has worked for over 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 has 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).

Published in: Inés Alberdi Appointed as UNIFEM Executive Director, Press Release, UNIFEM, 8 April 2008.