Haleh Afshar, Professor of Politics and Women's Studies at the University of York, UK, summarises the achievements of Hanan Ashrawi:

"She was sent to the world of the UN where by and large men represent men and she was sent to represent a community which is seen by world as being very masculine ... but she actually was selected as the best person for the job…

Hanan Ashrawi is good example of how to break down the barriers about gender - she's a woman in a mans world; the barriers about religion - she's a Christian in a world that would like to see itself as Muslim and she's fighting for the rights of a minority in a context of a majority which is in control."