Guest of Honor
Her Excellency Ambassador Victoria Sulimani
Deputy Permanent Representative of the Mission of Sierra Leone to the United Nations
Ambassador Sulimani's passion for the widowhood movement is informed by her understanding o the plight of widows in her native Sierra Leone, where a prolonged brutal civil war left uncounted widows in its tragic wake. A daughter of a widow as well, her understanding of widowhood's horrific intersectionalities is uniquely personal. Ambassador Sulimani has drawn in the leadership of her Mission, and her country into championing a resolution at the United Nations to establish seminal laws to to protect widows. We salute her intrepid vision, courage, and compassion.
Prior to serving as Deputy Permanent Representative of the Mission of Sierra Leone as Political Attache, Ambassador Sulimani served as Counsellor and expert on Human Rights issues, including gender, children, and social development, as well as head of Humanitarian Affairs. Ambassador Sulimani advised the Mission on all thematic issues before the UN Security Council relating to Women, Peace and Security, Children and Armed Conflict. And she also advised the Mission on all thematic issues before the UN General Assembly relating to human rights, humanitarian and affairs as well as social development issues.