For Dina Kawar, being the permanent representative of Jordan to the United Nations means turning words into action.

A longtime supporter of women’s rights, Kawar was handpicked by Jordan’s King Abdullah II. She said, “When His Majesty became king, he wanted me [to join the foreign service]. That’s when he said he would like to have more women in the service, so he asked me to put words in practice and that’s how it all happened.”

As one of the first women to enter Jordan’s diplomatic service, Kawar immediately became an inspiration to others. She said, “It was the will of His Majesty to have women in the diplomatic service. At the time, there were none, so actually it was the beginning.” Being a role model means she has also felt pressure to excel. As Kawar explained, “I’m very happy and glad to have that responsibility, and also when you are a woman doing this job, the way you are and the way you behave is a reflection that is also given upon others.”

Beyond contending with skeptics at home, Kawar has found that one of her chief difficulties is combating stereotypical Western conceptions of what an Arab woman should be. She said, “I think the one thing that saddens me is to think that there is one image of the Arab woman. I keep wanting to say Arab women are like all women.” Kawar also won’t let causes she is passionate about, like education and preventing violence against women and children, be lumped together or dismissed.