Ghita El Khyari

About

Ghita El Khyari is a Moroccan international affairs professional, writer, and former United Nations official whose work explores diplomacy, gender, and the human realities behind international institutions. She spent approximately 15 years working within the UN system, gaining firsthand experience of multilateral negotiations and the complex relationships between political ideals and institutional realities. During her UN career, El Khyari held positions connected to UN Women, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), and UNESCO. Her work exposed her to the challenges of international cooperation, the negotiations surrounding global issues, and the often-invisible labour involved in diplomatic decision-making. These experiences inform her fiction, particularly her interest in the tension between professional responsibilities and private life. Her novel The Negotiator: A Woman at the Heart of the UN follows a female diplomat navigating peace negotiations, geopolitical conflict, and personal uncertainty. Through Alya’s story, El Khyari offers readers an insider-inspired perspective on the human dimensions of diplomacy and the challenges women face in leadership. Her writing draws attention to the people behind international institutions, exploring how personal relationships, political pressures, and individual convictions shape the pursuit of peace.