A champion for vulnerable girls and women: tributes paid to UN agency chief Babatunde Osotimehin
Barriers to education, Early childhood development, Girls' education, Health and nutrition, Right to education
The Executive Director of UNFPA, who has died aged 68,聽was dedicated to making life better for some of the most disadvantaged聽children and women.聽
One word summed up聽Babatunde Osotimehin – he was a champion. For young people in general and specifically for聽the rights of disadvantaged girls and women around the world.
The word appeared repeatedly in tributes paid to the Executive Director of UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund, after his death at the age of 68.
“The world has lost a great champion of health and well-being for all,” said UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.
“He聽was admired globally for his leadership of the UN Population Fund and for his forceful advocacy for the world’s women and girls in particular.”
Dr Osotimehin – a medical doctor and public聽health expert –聽had headed聽UNFPA since 2011. The agency said it was dedicated to continuing the Nigerian’s “grand vision for women and young people” and will continue to stand up for the human rights and dignity of everyone, particularly the most vulnerable adolescent girls
UNFPA – which helps women and young people to lead healthy and productive lives –聽said he had “vigorously championed” three major global goals:
- Ending preventable maternal deaths
- Tackling unmet demand for family planning
- Eliminating harmful practices against women and girls
It added: “Dr聽Osotimehin was bold and never afraid of a challenge and his strong leadership helped keep the health and rights of the world国产视频檚 women and girls high on the global agenda.聽
“He understood that the world国产视频檚 1.8 billion young people are truly its greatest hope for the future.国产视频澛
Sarah Brown, President of 国产视频, said聽Dr聽Osotimehin was “a towering figure in the world of maternal, newborn and child health”.聽
She added: “He was a champion for the most vulnerable and marginalised women and children in the poorest parts of the world聽and understood the big-picture changes needed to improve their lives.聽
“He never wavered in his leadership role at UNFPA at working to end avoidable maternal deaths, to provide family planning and to end unsafe practices like FGM.聽
“He will be sorely missed in the international community for his professional expertise but also as a great friend.”
Michel Sidib茅, UNAIDS Executive Director, said:聽国产视频淏abatunde Osotimehin will be remembered for improving the lives of women and young people and promoting sexual and reproductive health and rights.聽Young people have lost a champion today.国产视频
Born in聽1949, Dr Osotimehin studied medicine at the University of Ibadan in Nigeria聽and聽received a doctorate in medicine from聽the University of Birmingham in London.
The father-of-five聽became聽director-general of Nigeria’s National Agency for the Control of AIDS and was聽minister of health from 2008 to 2010.
About UNFPA
UNFPA works in more than 150 countries and territories. Its mission is聽to ensure that every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe and every young person国产视频檚 potential is fulfilled.
It focuses聽on women and young people because their ability to exercise their right to sexual and reproductive health is often compromised.
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