Executive Director's Corner

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ECW Executive Director Yasmine Sherif

Yasmine Sherif is the Executive Director of Education Cannot Wait (ECW). A lawyer specialized in International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights Law (LL.M), she has over 30 years of experience with the United Nations and international NGOs. 

Ms. Sherif has served in some of the most crisis-affected areas of the world, including Afghanistan, the Middle East, the Balkans, Cambodia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Sudan as well as in New York and Geneva. She has led high-level missions to numerous conflict and crisis-affected countries. Her expertise spans across the education, humanitarian, development, human rights, gender and peacekeeping spectrum.

She is the author of the book, The Case for Humanity: An Extraordinary Session, and a Champion for ‘No Lost Generation.’ In 2017, she received the annual award Sweden’s UN Friend of the Year, in 2020 she was awarded the Global Educator Award in the United States, and in 2022 she received on behalf of Education Cannot Wait, the prestigious Mother Teresa Award.

Ms. Sherif also received an award from the United Nations Association-USA Brooklyn Chapter in 2023, and was recently honored as a Listee in Marquis Who's Who for her dedication to the field of international affairs and law, and leadership of ECW. 

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All Statements and Updates

Quote card of ECW's Executive Director Yasmine Sherif
Statements
International Women’s Day Statement by Education Cannot Wait Executive Director Yasmine Sherif Across much of the world, women have endured thousands of years of oppression, subjugation, and systematic denial of reaching our human and economic potential. Women’s education and leadership have been denied, delayed or destroyed. While progress has indeed...
Child in classroom in Uganda
Statements
World Day of Social Justice Statement: ECW Executive Director Yasmine Sherif The United Nations Charter, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and its covenants would suffice to make our world a just world for all. Yet, the global community does not respect its commitments to these international legal frameworks. It...
Girl posing for a picture at a classroom
Statements
ECW Executive Director Yasmine Sherif Statement on the Launch of the Africa Year of Education As we lead into the Africa Year of Education , and under the leadership of Africa, world leaders have an opportunity to solidify commitments to ‘Educate an Africa Fit for the 21 st Century’. That...
Yasmine Sherif's quote card
Director's Corner
In-Depth Interview with Yasmine Sherif, Executive Director, Education Cannot Wait: Getting to Know Her Yasmine Sherif is the Executive Director of Education Cannot Wait (ECW). A lawyer specialized in International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights Law (LL.M), she has over 30 years of experience with the United Nations and international...
Children at a school used as a shelter in Gaza
Statements
International Day of Education Statement: Education Cannot Wait Executive Director Yasmine Sherif Education is the bedrock of peace, the foundation of strong societies, and the building block for a better world. This year, as we celebrate the Sixth International Day of Education under the theme of ‘learning for a lasting...
Girl walking through rubble in Gaza
Director's Corner
In Latin it reads: Aude aliquid dignum . In the final analysis, when all else falls away, isn’t it most worthy to build a world where human civilization is marked by an ethical and moral compass, by reason, empathy and shared values? A world where human rights law and international...
Girl writing on blackboard
Statements
Global Refugee Forum Statement by ECW Executive Director Yasmine Sherif Today at the Global Refugee Forum , we reaffirm our commitment to alleviate human suffering and serve humanity. We stand with refugee children and adolescents everywhere. We will steadfastly continue to work with all our partners and invest in a...
Girl in classroom making a heart shape with her hands
Statements
Human Rights Day Statement by Education Cannot Wait Executive Director Yasmine Sherif Today we mark a milestone in history: the 75 th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights . As people around the world commemorate Human Rights Day, we must also deeply reflect on the meaning of this...
Girl playing with a soccer ball
Statements
International Day of Persons with Disabilities Statement by Education Cannot Wait Executive Director Yasmine Sherif Children with disabilities have an undisputed right to an inclusive quality education. We will never achieve true equality – nor the overarching goals outlined in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development – if they are...
Girls seated in a circle in the DRC.
Statements
International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women Statement by Education Cannot Wait Executive Director Yasmine Sherif 25 November 2023, New York – In the 21st century, we cannot tolerate the rape and abduction of girls and women, forced child marriage, and the continued denial of any human rights...
Young girl in Gaza.
Director's Corner
The UN Secretary-General has defined the crisis in Gaza not just as a humanitarian crisis, but rather as a crisis of humanity. According to UN Secretary-General António Guterres : “Gaza is becoming a graveyard for children. Hundreds of girls and boys are reportedly being killed or injured every day.” This...
Children at a school used as a shelter in Gaza
Statements
World Children’s Day Statement by ECW Executive Director Yasmine Sherif On World Children’s Day , I think many of us feel a need to bow to the 224 million crisis-impacted children and adolescents who are suffering unspeakable violations of international humanitarian and human rights law right now. Born of innocence...

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Resolutions are just tiny steps. To make them a reality requires Action. Until it becomes action on the ground, those words mean very little. Not until you help that child to access a safe, quality education have you actually achieved the result.

Yasmine Sherif, ECW Executive Director