21 Facts About Torild Skard

Torild Skard was born on 29 November 1936 and is a Norwegian psychologist, politician for the Socialist Left Party, a former deputy permanent secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and a former chairman of UNICEF.

Torild Skard 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.

Torild Skard has 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.

Torild Skard has written several books, including Continent of Mothers, Continent of Hope on African development and Women of Power on female heads of state or government worldwide.

Torild Skard was born in Oslo as a daughter of professor Sigmund Skard and associate professor Ase Gruda Skard.

From 1962 to 1965 Torild Skard was married to historian, theologian and politician Berge Furre.

Torild Skard had her first schooling in Washington, DC, from 1942 to 1945, since her family was exiled because of the German occupation of Norway.

Torild Skard chaired the Students' Council, from 1961 to 1962.

Torild Skard was subeditor of the Norwegian Educational Journal from 1966 to 1972, and from 1968 to 1969 she researched for the Norwegian Institute for Social Research.

Torild Skard was originally a member of the Labour Party, but as leader of the Socialist Student Group she was excluded in 1959 together with most of the group, because they were opposed to the Labour Party's western-aligned foreign policy and Norway's NATO membership.

Torild Skard was delegate for Norway to the UN General Assembly and delegate for Norway to the World Conference for the International Women's Year.

Torild Skard was the first woman President of the Lagting.

From 1984 to 1986 Torild Skard was Director for Questions relating to the Status of Women in UNESCO, Paris.

Torild Skard was then deputy under-secretary of state of the Norwegian Ministry of Development Cooperation from 1986 to 1989.

When that Ministry was merged into the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Torild Skard retained her position as deputy under-secretary of state there.

Torild Skard was the first woman deputy under-secretary of state in both these Ministries.

Torild Skard was Chairman of the UNICEF Executive Board at the international level from 1988 to 1989.

Torild Skard was a special adviser at the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs from 1999 to 2003, and a senior researcher at the Norwegian Institute of International Affairs until 2011.

Torild Skard has lectured on Leadership, Women and the UN at the United Nations System Staff College.

Torild Skard served as president of the Norwegian Association for Women's Rights from 2006 to 2013.

Torild Skard has been a deputy member of the Cultural Council in Norway, board member of the Student Union in Oslo, board member of People's Movement against the European Community, local leader in the Norwegian Civil Service Union and deputy chair of the Forum for Women and Development.