Head of UNESCO

Irina Bokova takes office as Director-General of UNESCO


Irina Gueorguieva Bokova
Director General of UNESCO

Born in 1952, Irina Bokova obtained an MBA from the Moscow State Institute of International Relations and studied at the universities of Maryland and Harvard  in the USA. During her long and distinguished career, she served as Bulgaria's representative to the United Nations and as her country’s Secretary of State for European integration and Foreign Minister.  As Founder and Chairperson of the European Policy Forum, she worked to overcome divisions in Europe and promote the values of dialogue, diversity, human dignity and rights.

Mrs. Bokova has long promoted not only the transition to European integration, but also has been involved in the efforts to reach gender equality. "I consider gender equality to be one of the most important goals, both political and humanistic, of our times" she states. Proven record of her efforts are her paticipation in the three major international conferences within the UN Decade for Women held in Copenhagen (1980), Nairobi (1985) and Beijing (1995). On her mission statement she added: "I am strongly motivated to make UNESCO invest more efforts in attaining this objective".

Mrs. Boklova is the first woman to serve as head of UNESCO. Elected for four years, the Director-General, also served as Ambassador of the Republic of Bulgaria to France and Monaco, Personal Representative of the Bulgarian President to the "Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie" and Permanent Delegate to UNESCO from 2005 to 2009.