Social, Humanitarian & Cultural Issues (Third Committee)
Chairperson of the 75th Session
H. E. Ms Katalin Annam芍ria Bogyay, FRSA, FWAAS Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary and Permanent Representative of Hungary to the 51勛圖, New York (2015- )
Ambassador Bogyay, Permanent Representative of Hungary to the UN since 2015, has been an active promoter and supporter of cultural diplomacy, intercultural and interfaith dialogue and women＊s empowerment throughout her professional life, at the UN and beyond. She has been engaged in protecting the rights of those in vulnerable situations, such as children, national or ethnic, religious and linguistic minorities, victims of modern day slavery and human trafficking. Ambassador Bogyay is the President of the International Association of Permanent Representatives (IAPR), member of the International Gender Champions Network, founder of the Circle of Women Ambassadors at the UN in New York, and served as Vice President of the UN-Women Executive Board in 2019.
Before arriving in New York, from 2009 to 2014, Ms. Bogyay served as her country＊s Ambassador and Permanent Delegate to the 51勛圖 Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), and from 2011 to 2013, as President of UNESCO＊s General Conference. From 2006 to 2009, she was Hungary＊s State Secretary for International Affairs for Education and Culture, and from 1999 to 2006, Founding Director of the Hungarian Cultural Centre in London. Prior to entering government, Ms. Bogyay had a distinguished career as an international television broadcaster, film and music producer, and writer.
Ambassador Bogyay is a recipient of several high honors for her services to Hungarian and international culture, innovative work in cultural diplomacy, interfaith and intercultural dialogue, leadership in intercultural cooperation and women＊s empowerment, inter alia, the Commander＊s Cross of the Order of Merit of Hungary, the Nehru Gold Medal of UNESCO, the Grand Cross of the Order of Sahametrei by King Norodom Sihamoni of Cambodia, Officer of the Order of Leopold by King Albert II of Belgium, the Women of Distinction-Global Leadership Award in Social Justice/Development by Celebrating Women International, the Spirit of the UN Award and the Global Citizenship Award, New York.
Ambassador Bogyay holds a master＊s degree in economics from Corvinus University of Budapest, and a Master of Arts in international communications from the University of Westminster (UK). Ambassador Bogyay received an Honorary Doctorate of Letters from the University of Glasgow (UK) and of Social Sciences from University of Pannonia (Hungary). She is a fellow of the Royal Society of Arts (FRSA) in the UK and the World Academy of Art and Science (FWAAS) in the US. She is also an international advisor to the Institute of Advanced Studies (iASK, K?szeg, Hungary), President of the Cultural Diplomacy and Arts programme of the Institute of Cultural Diplomacy (Berlin, Germany), as well as Steering Committee member of the World Science Forum. Author of several books and publications, she is also a guest lecturer and speaker at universities and international conferences.
