Audrey Azoulay, the former French culture minister, was elected as the new head of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) on Friday. She is to succeed Bulgarian Irina Bokova, which will make her the second female director general of UNESCO.
Azoulay, who is of Moroccan Jewish origin, was elected over her Qatari counterpart Hamad bin Abdulaziz al-Kawari, also a former culture minister. Al-Kawari's defeat is thought to be the result of the Saudi Arabian led economic block against Qatar, as well as past accusations of anti-Semitism.
“In this moment of crisis, I believe we must invest in UNESCO more than ever, look to support and reinforce it and to reform it. And not leave it,” said the former minister in her speech upon being elected. Earlier this week, both the United States and Israel announced their respective withdrawals from the organization.
