This archive report was first published on 15 August 2019.
On August 15, 2019, United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres appointed Oxfam International executive director Winnie Byanyima as the new UNAids executive director.
Byanyima, a Ugandan, has held several roles affiliated to the governance of the African Union and has influenced the international agenda at the United Nations through her leadership in many coalitions of civil society organisations.
She has been the Oxfam executive director for six years since her appointment in January 2013.
Byanyima will take over from Malian Michel Sidibé who stepped down in May, following accusations of serious mismanagement, including creating a patriarchal culture tolerating harassment and abuse of authority.
According to an Independent Expert Panel (IEP) report commissioned by UNAids governing body, the agency's culture under Sidibé also failed to uphold the United Nations' laws and values.
Byanyima, 60, said she was 'honoured' to be joining UNAids 'at such a critical time in the response to HIV.'
'An honour to be asked to lead the UN and global HIV response! I embrace the role with humility, passion and faith that we can end this pandemic by 2030,' she added.
