President of the Council

         She held several important positions including:-

• • Coordinator General for the Arab Economic Summit in Kuwait. (2009).
  • Under Secretary General of the United Nations, and Executive Secretary of the Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia ESCWA (2001 – 2007).
  • The first Secretary General of the National Council for Woman in Egypt (2000 – 2001).
  • Minister of Insurance and Social Affairs in Egypt (1997 – 1999).
  • Assistant to the Minister of Foreign Affairs for Political and Economic Affairs.
  • Ambassador of Egypt to Japan (1993 – 1997).
  • Ambassador of Egypt to Austria (1987 – 1991).
  • Governor on the Board of Governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
  • Resident representative of Egypt to the IAEA, UNIDO & UN Center for Humanitarian Affairs
  • She also served in many other United Nations headquarters.

 She worked in various UN fields, including: human rights, disarmament, non proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, environment, population, economic development, equality issues and the advancement of women:-

• • Participated in numerous negotiations on the national and international levels, and in bringing about agreement between developed and developing countries on matters of mutual interests.
  • During the International Conference on Population and Development held in Cairo in 1994 she played a leading role in reaching agreement on the final document, which was the first international declaration to acknowledge the right to reproductive health.
  • Chairing the Health Committee at the United Nations Fourth World Conference on Woman; thus playing a key role in reaching agreement on the Beijing Declaration 1995.
  • Proposed a special agreement for technical cooperation between the IAEA and the African continent on the peaceful uses of nuclear energy. She played a vital role in the negotiations that led North Korea becoming party to the IAEA Safeguards Agreement.
  • Initiated a number of proposals that led to the adoption of new additions of international humanitarian laws such as:-
    • The right to development 1977;
    •  The United Nations Declaration of 1974 on the  Protection of Women and Children in Time and Armed  Conflict.
    •  The United Nations Declaration on the Elimination of Violence against Women.
    •  The drafting of the UN Convention on Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW).
    • Since 1968 she participated in many UN Conferences and Summits in areas of non proliferation of weapons of mass destruction – disarmament – environment Rio de Janeiro  – trade & development - humanitarian issues – human rights – women equality – children, youth & disabled - Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances, 1988.
    • She participated in the UN Summits on the Information Society in both Geneva 2003 & Tunisia 2005 & helped in reaching a unified Arab position on the subject prior to the first phase of the Summit in Geneva, in it her capacity as UN Under- Secretary General and Executive Secretary of ESCWA.

• • She negotiated with the government of Japan over a period of three years as Ambassador of Egypt to Japan and reached an agreement on the building of the Suez Canal Bridge, the "Bridge of Peace", which is the highest bridge in the world and links Africa with Asia.
  • While serving as ambassador to Austria, an agreement on improving the telephone system in Egypt was signed between the two countries.
  • As Minister of Insurance and Social Affairs, she carried out a review of existing legislation and the drafting of new legislations, in line with international practice, to achieve balance between the rights and the duties of citizens in the field of social development, and promotion of integrated social policies.
  • She drafted and issued a new law to promote the work of non governmental organizations and civil society in Egypt  reducing the government intervention and authority in the work of the NGOs. Equally, she revised the four social insurance laws with the aim of unifying the legislation and to encourage individuals to join the insurance system. She drew up programs and projects aimed at reducing the poverty rate. These included: opening a special credit line to facilitate for rural women to obtain loans from the Nasser Social Bank; issuing identity cards to women in rural and urban poor areas to facilitate their access to various services; opening soup kitchens in poor areas, and establishing clothing banks to help low income students.
  • She played a leading role in the rehabilitation of institutions dealing with mental health and disabled people,  as well as the rehabilitation and modernization of the institutions for juvenile delinquents, and the development of educational, and recreational programs and vocational training to improve the conditions of this category of youth with the aim of preventing them from returning to crime and helping them become productive citizens.

• •  She has a Bachelor degree in Political Sciences and in Business Administration from the American University in Cairo, and an MA in international relations,  as well as doctoral studies from the Graduate Institute of International Studies in Geneva, Switzerland. She undertook studies on foreign investment in the Law School of Harvard University.
  • She is member of a number of non governmental organizations working in the fields of development, women, youth and environment. She is also member of the board of directors of research centers, universities, institutes, as well as international bodies.
  • She has been awarded the National Order of the Cedar by the Lebanese Republic, the State medal of honor of Austria, and the Prize of the Ambassador of the Year. She has also received numerous certificates of appreciation from various official, governmental and non governmental bodies, and research centers. She is the Chair of the Association of the international Civil Servants (AFICS-Egypt).

• •  Mrs. Tallawy is married and has a daughter and two grandchildren.