Vera George Ghattas Baboun
Palestinian Ambassador to Chile
In office
2022–now
Preceded byImad Al Jada
Mayor of Bethlehem
In office
October 2012 – 27 May 2017
Preceded byVictor Batarseh
Succeeded byAnton Salman
Personal details
Born (1964-10-06) 6 October 1964
Bethlehem
NationalityPalestinian
Political partyIndependent
SpouseHanna (Johnny) Baboun (passed away 25 April 2007)
Children5
Alma materBethlehem University Hebrew University

Vera George Ghattas Baboun (Arabic: فيرا جورج غطاس بابون, born 6 October 1964) is a Palestinian politician who served as the first female mayor of Bethlehem.[1][2] Baboun has a master's degree in African-American literature.[3] Prior to her election, she became the principal of the Roman Catholic High School in Beit Sahour[3] (2010-2012) and was an English literature lecturer at Bethlehem University,[4][5] (1990-2010) where she was also the Assistant Dean of Students (2000-2006).[5] Additionally, she is the chairperson of the Board of Directors for Guidance and Training Centre for Family and Children[3][5] as well as a gender studies researcher in GRACE (Gender Research in Africa and the Middle East into ICTs for Empowerment) network looking at the role of information technology in empowering women in the Arab world.[3][4][5] Baboun is the mother of five children.[2] She is a Palestinian Christian.[1][6]

Political career

2012 October: Bethlehem Mayoral Elections

Baboun led the Independence and Development bloc,[7] made up of 12 Muslims and Christians in the Fatah movement campaigning to improve services and promote the tourism potential of Bethlehem.[4] Her bloc was described generally as professionals and technocrats by Al-Ghad.[8] Few expected Baboun to win. She ran against well-known male candidates as well as individuals supported by Islamists and left-wing Palestinians.[2] By 12 Oct 2012, Fatah was leading polling by AWRAD research centre at 49%.[9] Her bloc won the election on 20 Oct 2012[2] and Baboun was officially chosen as mayor in a closed session of the Bethlehem Municipal Council by the nine council members of her bloc who were popularly elected. Her opponents got six seats on the council.[10]

Mayor of Bethlehem

As mayor, Baboun presided over a city with the highest unemployment in the West Bank. Bethlehem has a changing demographic, due to an outflux of the Christian population. She cited the presence of the Israeli West Bank barrier as an obstacle to growth by restricting the movement of people, ideas and goods.[1][11] Of Bethlehem she stated, "We are a strangulated city, with no room for expansion due to the settlements and the wall."[11] She hoped to stop the flow of emigration by creating job opportunities for young people. She also hoped to regain international support lost while Hamas was in power.[12][13] Baboun terminated her post on 27 April 2017. She did not participate in the local elections that took place in Bethlehem and all the West Bank in May 2017.[14]

Palestinian Ambassador to Chile

On 8 December 2022, she was appointed as the Ambassador of the State of Palestine to Chile.[15]

Writings

Books and Papers

  • 2016: Pour l'amour de Bethléem, Ma Ville Emmurée, published by Bayard Editions.Paris[16]
  • 2014: Women and ICT in Africa and The Middle East; Changing Selves, Changing Societies. The book includes 27 gender researches by woman researchers from the MENA area in GRACE research network. My research entitled: Scheherazades of Today: Young Palestinian women use film, radio and social networking platforms to speak up and change, published by Zedbooks.UK[17]
  • 2012: "Edward Said: A Mentor Who Mastered Speaking Truth to Power" article published by This Week in Palestine[18]

Awards

  • 14 May 2017: Received 'le Prix littéraire de l'Œuvre d'Orient on' Pour l'amour de Bethléem, Ma ville emmurée published by Bayard Paris, France.[19][20]
  • 15 November 2016: The Issam M Fares Award for Exellence from the Middle East Institute in Washington DC, USA.[21]
  • Award presentation for Vera Baboun and Speech[22]
  • 17 June 2016: The "Premio Internazionale Giovanni Paolo II, XII Edition Salerno-Italy for defending and promoting the sacredness of life, in harmony with the Christian principles. Italy.[23]
  • 14 July 2016: Conferred the Honorary Freeman of the Town of Quatre Bornes, Mauritius.
  • 29 May 2016: The Recognition A Star from the Rainbow - "10 JUST FOR THE WORLD" from "Comunità Villa San Francesco" Facen di Pedavena (BL)/ Italy.[24]
  • 12 March 2016: The Chiara Lubich Award for peace leadership and its values. the Focolare Movement in Italy Mundo Nuevo Association, Italy.
  • 10 December 2015: The Cross with Crown "PRO MERITO MELITENSI" OF THE SOVEREIGN ORDER OF MALTA by His most eminent highness the prince and grand master and the sovereign of the order.[25]
  • 3 December 2015: A Certificate of Appointment as Publicity Ambassador of HWPL by Manhee Lee for the efforts of peace making
  • 13 May 2015: The Medal of High Uniqueness of the City of Paris (La médaille Grand Vermeil) by mayor Anne Hidalgo from the council of the city of Paris, France.[26][27]
  • 19 December 2014: The title and the insignia of the Star of the Knights of Italy (Ordine della Stella d'Italia della Presidenza della Repubblica) Italy.[28]
  • 19 July 2014: the Pompeo Sarnelli in recognition of the role in serving the city of Bethlehem, and supporting its youth by the Cultural Association "Mons. Pompeo Sarnelli, Bisceglie", Italy.[29]

Main Conferences (2015-2017)

  • 7 June 2017: New Cities Summit - Speaker in the 1st plenary panel entitled Understanding Urban Wellbeing, and the last plenary panel entitled Healthy Placemaking. Songdo, South Korea[30]
  • 4 February 2017: Speaker at the United Nations Roundtable on the Question of Palestine. Managua, Nicaragua[31][32]
  • 1 October 2016: Created and administered the 1st Bethlehem District Diaspora Convention which was held in Bethlehem, Palestine
  • 17 November 2016: National Democratic Institute - a discussion with Vera Baboun, Mayor of Bethlehem, on "Leading for Inclusion and Security: The View from Bethlehem," moderated by BBC News Correspondent Jane O'Brien. Washington, USA
  • 19 October 2016: 2 World Assembly of Local and Regional Governments provided formal input to the New Urban Agenda (NUA) to be adopted at Habitat III, taking place in Quito, Ecuador. Signed on the statement of the world assembly of Local and regional governments to habitat III
  • October 2016: Participant at the NDI's Woman Mayors' Network (WoMN) delegation to the 5th UCLG Congress of Local and Regional Leaders in Bogota, Colombia and the UN HABITAT III Conference in Quito, Ecuador
  • 16 July 2016: Speaker in Port-Luis and Quatre Bornes MainHalls. Mauritius
  • April 2016: A speaker in The Atlanta Summit of Churches in the USA and the Holy Land entitled 'Pursuing Peace and Strengthening Presence" Atlanta, USA
  • 4 December 2015: Climate Summit for Local Leaders in Paris, France
  • 7 September 2015: Speaker at the G7 Forum for Dialogue with Women headed by Prime Minister Angela Merkel. Berlin, Germany.
  • 26 June 2015: Member of the presidential delegation to the signing ceremony of The Bilateral Agreement between the Holy See and the State of Palestine, Vatican.
  • April 2015: Headed the International Conference for the Historical Cities in the Mediterranean in Chefshawen, Morocco
  • 4 April 2015: Speaker in Middle East Institute, "Grass-Roots Governing in Bethlehem" Washington, USA.
  • 13 March 2015: Speaker at the First Women Mayors' Summit in Avcilar, Turkey.
  • 10 October 2014: Speaker at the Forum of Mediterranean Cities in Naples, Italy.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Bohn, Lauren E. (22 December 2012). "New female mayor gears Bethlehem up for Christmas". Associated Press. Retrieved 25 December 2012.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Kuttab, Daoud (23 December 2012). "Bethlehem Has New Female Mayor, Yet Same Old Problems". Al-Monitor. Retrieved 25 December 2012.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "Female candidate tops list to become mayor of Bethlehem". Ma'an News Agency. 29 September 2012. Archived from the original on 17 December 2013. Retrieved 25 December 2012.
  4. 1 2 3 Abdalla, Jihan (14 October 2012). "Palestinian women look to Bethlehem where Vera Baboun is running for mayor". Reuters. Retrieved 25 December 2012.
  5. 1 2 3 4 "VERA BABOUN Researcher, Palestine". Grace Network. Archived from the original on 6 September 2013. Retrieved 25 December 2012.
  6. ↑ "Eine Frau für Bethlehem". Die Welt (in German). 12 December 2012. Retrieved 25 December 2012. Die Palästinenserin mit den markanten grünen Augen hat sich einiges vorgenommen.
  7. ↑ "Bethlehem ballot 22 Oct 2012" (PDF). Al-Ayyam. 22 October 2012. Retrieved 25 December 2012. كتلة االستقالل و التنمية فيرا جورج موسى بابون
  8. ↑ "فيرا بابون أول امرأة فلسطينية تصبح عمدة بيت لحم". Al-Ghad (in Arabic). Archived from the original on 8 August 2017. Retrieved 25 December 2012.
  9. ↑ "WEST BANK: Vera Baboun is campaigning to become the first female mayor of the city of Bethlehem". ITN. 12 October 2012. Retrieved 25 December 2012.
  10. ↑ "فيرا بابون .. أول امرأة تتولى رئاسة بلدية بيت لحم". Al-Quds (in Arabic). 13 November 2012. Archived from the original on 16 November 2012. Retrieved 25 December 2012.
  11. 1 2 Sherwood, Harriet (22 December 2012). "Bethlehem Christians feel the squeeze as Israeli settlements spread". The Observer. Retrieved 25 December 2012. We are a strangulated city, with no room for expansion due to the settlements and the wall.
  12. ↑ "Video: Betlemme cerca rilancio ma resta il Muro". Nena News Agency (in Italian). 24 December 2012. Archived from the original on 15 April 2015. Retrieved 25 December 2012.
  13. ↑ Mosoianu, Adrian (25 December 2012). "Cum se sarbatoreste Craciunul in "miezul fierbinte" al Islamului". Finantistii (in Romanian). Archived from the original on 31 December 2012. Retrieved 25 December 2012.
  14. ↑ "Bethlehem municipal council approves newly elected mayor". Maan News Agency. Retrieved 2 July 2017.
  15. ↑ "فيرا بابون تؤدي اليمين القانونية أمام الرئيس سفيرة لفلسطين لدى تشيلي" [Vera Baboun is sworn in before the President as Palestine's Ambassador to Chile] (in Arabic). 8 December 2022.
  16. ↑ "Pour l'amour de Bethléem - broché - Véra Baboun - Achat Livre - Achat & prix | fnac". livre.fnac.com (in French). Retrieved 2 July 2017.
  17. ↑ "Women and ICT in Africa and the Middle East: Changing Selves, Changing Societies". IDRC - International Development Research Centre. Retrieved 2 July 2017.
  18. ↑ "Edward Said: A Mentor Who Mastered Speaking Truth to Power". Archived from the original on 4 September 2018. Retrieved 2 July 2017.
  19. ↑ "Le prix littéraire de l'Œuvre d'Orient attribué à Véra Baboun, maire de Bethléem". La Croix (in French). 15 May 2017. ISSN 0242-6056. Retrieved 2 July 2017.
  20. ↑ GREGOIRE, COUSTENOBLE (24 May 2017). "Les lauréats du Prix littéraire de l'Œuvre d'Orient". France Catholique (in French). Retrieved 2 July 2017.
  21. ↑ "MEI Annual Awards". Middle East Institute. Retrieved 2 July 2017.
  22. ↑ Middle East Institute (30 November 2016), Award Presentation for Vera Baboun, retrieved 2 July 2017
  23. ↑ "Premio Internazionale Giovanni Paolo II - XII Edizione". TrevisoToday. Retrieved 2 July 2017.
  24. ↑ "Wayback Machine has not archived that URL". Archived from the original on 19 April 2023. Retrieved 29 March 2023.
  25. ↑ "Holy Family Hospital Bethlehem" (PDF).
  26. ↑ "La maire de Paris en visite à Jérusalem et dans les Territoires palestiniens". Consulat Général de France à Jérusalem (in French). Retrieved 2 July 2017.
  27. ↑ "Mayor of Paris signs historic cooperation agreement with Bethlehem". Maan News Agency. Retrieved 2 July 2017.
  28. ↑ "Mo: concerto a Betlemme per chiusura semestre italiano Ue - Italia - ANSAMed.it". www.ansamed.info. 19 December 2014. Retrieved 2 July 2017.
  29. ↑ "Serata d'emozioni per l'XI edizione del "Premio Sarnelli" / FOTOGALLERY - Bisceglie24". Bisceglie24 (in Italian). 20 July 2014. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 2 July 2017.
  30. ↑ "Speakers - New Cities Summit 2017". New Cities Summit 2017. Retrieved 2 July 2017.
  31. ↑ "Palestinian Rights Committee to Convene United Nations Round Table on Question of Palestine in Managua, Nicaragua, 4 February | Meetings Coverage and Press Releases". www.un.org. Retrieved 2 July 2017.
  32. ↑ Ramírez, Pedro Ortega. "Inicia en Managua reunión del Comité Palestina ONU". El 19 Digital (in Spanish). Retrieved 2 July 2017.
  • A Female Mayor in the Heart of Middle East, 2016 Article in Asian News [1]
  • GRACE researcher, Vera Baboun: First Female Mayor of Bethlehem [2]
  • Grass-Roots Governing in Bethlehem: A talk with Mayor Vera Baboun [3]
  • Palestinian women are very progressive, 2016 Article on TechnoTimes [4]
  • Can cities be feminist? Inside the global rise of female mayors, 2016 article on The Guardian [5]
  • Bethlehem Has New Female Mayor, Same Old Problems', 2012 article in Al-Monitor [6]
  1. ↑ "A Female Mayor in the Heart of Middle East". THEAsiaN. 14 September 2016. Retrieved 24 October 2016.
  2. ↑ "GRACE researcher, Vera Baboun: First Female Mayor of Bethlehem | GRACE News Blog". grace-network.net. Archived from the original on 24 October 2016. Retrieved 24 October 2016.
  3. ↑ "Grass-Roots Governing in Bethlehem: A Talk with Mayor Vera Baboun". Middle East Institute. Retrieved 24 October 2016.
  4. ↑ "Palestinian women are very progressive". THEAsiaN. 18 September 2016. Retrieved 24 October 2016.
  5. ↑ Rustin, Susanna (12 October 2016). "Can cities be feminist? Inside the global rise of female mayors". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 24 October 2016.
  6. ↑ "Bethlehem Has New Female Mayor, Yet Same Old Problems - Al-Monitor: The Pulse of the Middle East". Archived from the original on 3 December 2013. Retrieved 29 November 2013.
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