H.E. Mrs Suzanne Mubarak, First Lady of Egypt, is a social scientist. She spent her early career closely studying disadvantaged communities to understand better ways and means of improving their living conditions. These early experiences have greatly shaped her outlook and determination to place the human being at the centre of all development activities.

By giving a voice to those who are among the most underrepresented in society, Mrs Mubarak has been instrumental in the creation of institutions entrusted with the formulation of policies, strategies and initiatives directed at the empowerment of women and ensuring the well-being of children and youth. She is the Chairperson of the Advisory Board of the National Council for Childhood and Motherhood and President of the National Council for Women.

She is the architect of countless programmes that aim to improve the quality of life of individuals from birth to adulthood. Some of the initiatives she has pushed forward include enhancing cultural environments, addressing the special needs of individuals and improving the access and quality of education and health care for all.

The welfare of the child has always been one of Mrs Mubarak’s priorities and to which she has dedicated, over the years, much of her time and energy. Mrs Mubarak has aspired to provide the new generation with the necessary tools and facilities for their cultural and aesthetic development while paying particular attention to children with special needs. Motivated by the sense of social responsibility, Mrs Mubarak is concerned with their educational, health and welfare needs so that they may be able to live normal lives and become healthy and useful citizens. Her efforts on the national, regional and international levels have always been tailored to extend a helping hand to children in greatest need — the ailing and the disabled — and unleash their potential as sustainable and productive citizens.

Her concern for peace as a pre-requisite for sustainable development led her to found the Suzanne Mubarak Women’s International Peace Movement (SMWIPM) in 2003. The Movement focuses on the positive and holistic aspects of peace, helping to forge alternative communication networks, developing capacities, creating avenues for cooperative action and making silent voices heard. She is the proponent of a culture of peace, raising awareness and engaging with the community through strategic partnerships. In September 2007, the SMWIPM launched a Cyber Peace Initiative in partnership with the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), the Global Alliance for IT and Development (GAID), the Egyptian Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT) and corporate sponsors. Comprising six tracks, the Initiative is an integrated effort to use the power of information and communication technology to promote a culture of peace.

Mrs Mubarak has received numerous awards and decorations nationally and internationally for her outstanding contribution to public service.