From left to right: Mr. Kensaku Hogen; Amb. Penny Wensley; Dr. Roberto Savio;
Mr. Claude Robinson; Dr. Nafis Sadik; and Mr. Hector Botero

UNITED NATIONS, Dec 12 (IPS) - Paying tribute to outgoing UNFPA Executive Director Dr Nafis Sadik, Ambassador Penny Wensley of Australia said that Sadik will be remembered for many things: for her advocacy, her capacity to lead and inspire, her candour, her effectiveness as a manager-- and above all for her contributions to the advancement of women that will define her life and her legacy. Wensley, Australia's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, was the keynote speaker at a formal ceremony at the UN Delegate's Dining Room Monday where Sadik received the International Achievement Award presented by Inter Press Service (IPS) news agency.

Wensley said that in 1987, 40 years after the founding of the United Nations, there had never been a woman appointed to a top position anywhere in the Organisation. So when Sadik was chosen to head the UN Population Fund (UNFPA), she made history, becoming the first woman to head one of the UN's major voluntary funded programmes, and the first woman executive head in the UN system. "This was a singular achievement, marking indelibly her shift of status, from being a pioneer in Pakistan to one in and for the United Nations and for women worldwide," she added. Wensley also recalled moments and high points in Sadik's life and work which evoked a sharp sense of just much the world -- and especially women-- owe her. "How her actions, her conviction and her courage have driven change, and transformed the way we think about population, about family planning, about gender and development, and about women, including women as leaders," she noted.

Dr Roberto Savio, president of the IPS Executive Committee, said that "Nafis Sadik did'nt shy away from holding onto positions she had committed herself to." He said that some of UNFPA's policies evoked strong opposition from the Pope, the United States, and from some of the mullahs and Islamic leaders. "I think, for the first time in the history of the United Nations, somebody successfully did confront major powers and won the battle. The United Nations needs people who can stand up for the institution, for its ideas, for its goals, for its commitments and for its utopia," he added. Sadik had the courage to do it-- and did it successfully, Savio added.

Hector Botero, President, International Media Services (IMS), co-sponsor of the IPS award, said that IMS was proud to support IPS's initiatives to recognise outstanding individuals and their achievements in making the lives of millions of people better. "We are proud to be a sponsor of the IPS International Achievement Award 2000, and we congratulate a very worthwhile honoree this year, Dr. Nafis Sadik," he said.

In a message read out at the presentation ceremony, IPS Director-General Pat Made said that under Sadik's leadership, UNFPA has been a key global player in advancing the "women's rights as human rights" agenda. Sadik, she said, brought the human experience to her work at UNFPA, providing a much more holistic approach to population issues. "And equally important, Dr Sadik did not shy away from the controversy that brought lots of media attention during the run-up to and during the 1994 Cairo conference. She held firmly to her principles and beliefs. A woman in her position, holding an audience with the Pope, was no small feat," Made added.

Kensaku Hogen, Under-Secretary-General for Communications and Public Information, said that Sadik's legacy, after years of service as UNFPA Executive Director, is nothing less than "dazzling". "Put simply, Dr. Sadik has made a difference for millions of women and children throughout the world", he said.

Accepting the award, Sadik said: "We have come a very long way since 1970 in population and development, and I hope that I have stood up for what is right. But I don't think Icould have done it alone." She paid tributes to two of her mentors and teachers, the late Rafael Salas and Mahbub ul-Haq, and also those who had faith in her, former Secretaries-General Javier Perez de Cuellar and Boutros Boutros-Ghali, and "my good friend Kofi Annan, who has been such a tremendous encouragement to me and to UNFPA since he took over as Secretary-General."

Format: Real

Duration: 40 seconds