Torild Skard

Who is Torild Skard?

Torild Skard is a Norwegian psychologist and researcher, feminist, politician for the Socialist Left Party, civil servant and former high-ranking United Nations official. She served as a Member of Parliament for Akershus, President of its upper chamber and Deputy Chair of the Standing Committee on Justice from 1973 to 1977. She served as Director for Questions relating to the Status of Women of UNESCO 1984–1986 and Regional Director for West and Central Africa at UNICEF 1994–1998. She was Chairman of the UNICEF Executive Board 1988-1989. She was President of the Norwegian Association for Women's Rights from 2006 to 2014. She has also served as Director-General for Development Cooperation, Deputy Permanent Secretary responsible for development cooperation and Special Adviser in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and has been a Senior Researcher at the Norwegian Institute of International Affairs. She has written several books, including Continent of Mothers, Continent of Hope on African developent and Women of Power on female heads of state or government.