Raz Starts Office as Afghanistan Permanent Representative to UN

Deputy Foreign Minister Adela Raz starts office as Afghanistan’s Permanent Representative to United Nations, as he passed her credentials to the UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres on Friday.

Guterres underlining country’s role within international agenda, stressed the strong support and vision of the United Nations towards gender equality.

Raz has been appointed by President Ashraf Ghani, who succeeded Ambassador Mahmoud Saikal, holding the first female position as Afghan Permanent Representative to UN.

Ambassador Raz will look closely after some key issues of gender, specifically protecting women’s right and their achievement in past 18 years amid ongoing peace process; and environment, as Afghanistan is severely affected by climate change and pollution.

Prior to her appointment as Permanent Representative, Raz developed an extensive career in the field of economic development. In 2013, she was appointed as the first female Spokesperson and Director of Communications for President Hamid Karzai.

Following the election of President Ashraf Ghani, she was appointed to the role of Chief of Staff at the Administrative Office of the President in November 2014 and then to the role she held prior to her appointment as Deputy Minister for Economic Cooperation at Ministry of Foreign Affairs in March 2016.

Ambassador Raz is the 12th Permanent Representative of Afghanistan to the United Nations since the organization’s foundation in 1945.