Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka sworn in as UN- Women Executive Director

Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka was sworn in as the Executive Director of UN Women during a ceremony on 19 August 2013 at United Nations (UN) Headquarters in New York City, presided over by Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. She was accompanied by her husband Bulelani Ngcuka, the former Head of the National Prosecuting Authority. Mlambo-Ngcuka will be leading the UN‘s work on advancing gender equality and women empowerment. Ngcuka was also the first President of the Natal Organisation of Women (NOW). NOW was formed in December 1983 and became an affiliate of the United Democratic Front (UDF). She also served as South Africa’s first female deputy president from 2005-2008. She is admired as one of the exceptional women figures in South Africa who has played a crucial role in fighting for women upliftment. When pledging her allegiance to the UN she said ,“I Phumzile Mlambo Ngcuka solemnly declare and promise to exercise in all loyalty, discretion and conscience functions entrusted to me as an international civil servant of the United Nations, discharge these functions and regulate my conduct in the with the interests of the UN only in view. And not to seek or accept instructions in regards to the performance of my duties from any government or other source external to the organization.”