Deputy Representative - Programmes

Ms. Sharmeela Rassool joined UNICEF Pakistan as the Deputy Representative – Programmes in September 2024. Ms. Rasool, a distinguished professional from Sri Lanka, has dedicated her career to serving South Asia in various impactful roles.

She is highly familiar with Pakistan, having held several key positions in the country, including her most recent appointment as UN Women Representative in Pakistan since September 2020.

Her extensive career includes leadership roles with UN Women Regional Office in Bangkok, UNDP in Bangladesh, New York, Lao PDR, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. She began her career in Male, Maldives in the field of Chemistry and then moved on to commencing her legal practice in Sri Lanka, where she served as the Head of the Human Rights Bureau at the Legal Aid Commission of Sri Lanka and as Legal Coordinator for the Bar Association of Sri Lanka.

Ms. Rasool is an Attorney-at-law of the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka and recently completed her Doctorate in Law from the University of Colombo. She holds a Master’s degree in International Human Rights Law (LLM), a Post Attorney Diploma in Intellectual Property Law, a Postgraduate Diploma in Commercial Arbitration, and an honors degree in Biochemistry.

Ms. Rassool is a cricket enthusiast and has represented and captained UNDP’s Women’s football and badminton teams during inter-agency matches. She has also functioned as Staff Representative for UNDP in Lao PDR.

Ms. Rassool is married and has two children. Her hobbies include swimming, dancing, and gardening.