By Soraya Warzazi

I want to take some time to pay tribute to this exceptional woman, who dedicated her entire life to advance human rights globally with passion, determination, empathy, professionalism and humility.

Halima Embarek Warzazi is the first Moroccan woman diplomat, who spent over 50 years of her career at the United Nations. During her entire life, she committed herself to fighting for human rights, gender equality, racial and social justice, and represented the Kingdom of Morocco at the multilateral stage.

In 1959, she joined the Embassy of Morocco in Washington as a Cultural attaché and then became a member of the Moroccan delegation to the United Nations. In 1966, at the age of 33, she was elected as the President of the Third Committee of the General Assembly where two major human rights instruments were adopted: the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights; and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.

Imagine at a time when most women were confined in the private space, a young woman from the Global South presiding the Third Committee of the U.N.G.A despite the challenges it implied! Imagine seeing a young stubborn and determined woman at that time, defying patriarchy while taking space in international fora and making noise to advocate for gender equality and social justice! Imagine a young woman who believed in her dreams and became an important actor of social change, disrupting the established order, by taking part in the U.N decision making process. That woman with strong determination and leadership was my Grandmother. She perfectly embodied intersectional feminism, representing and defending the values of Morocco in the U.N by wearing Moroccan traditional clothes during world conferences, and seeking justice for marginalized women from Morocco and all parts of the world.

Her expertise was internationally recognized as she was appointed to important positions; as an expert to the Sub-Commission on the Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities in 1973 and to the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination in 1974 where she chaired the group negotiating the Draft Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination; as chair-rapporteur of the U.N. Working Group tasked with studying harmful practices affecting women and children in 1985; or as the Rapporteur of the World Conference on Human Rights in Vienna in 1993, among others.

My Grandmother was the strongest person I have ever known and my eternal inspiration because she gave me her passion to fight for a better world. Like her, I want to believe in a world where women and girls are free to choose the path of their lives. Like her, I want to fight for racial justice so that all communities live with dignity and justice and are powerful actors of change. Like her, I want to take action so that my future is in my own hands.

My Grandmother worked so hard to achieve what she aspired for! She is an inspiration for youth, women, Morocco and the world. She is my eternal role model and I will never be thankful enough for everything she did for Moroccan women.

Goodbye Madame La Diplomate.