Format: Real

Duration: 5:18 mins.

Inter Press Service International Achievement Award
United Nations, New York, 11December 2000

REMARKS BY KENSAKU HOGEN
Under-Secretary-General, U.N. Department of Public Information

Ladies and gentlemen,

Once again I have the great honour and privilege of addressing the distinguished guests assembled here on this special occasion. This is a celebration tinged with sadness as we say au revoir to the very person we are toasting.

Tonight, Inter Press Service bestows the International Achievement Award on one of our most outstanding colleagues, a trailblazer with a long list of accomplishments to her credit, Dr. Nafis Sadik. Her legacy after years of service as Executive Director of the UN Population Fund (UNFPA) is nothing less than dazzling. As the New York Times has written, she has presided over a social revolution. Put simply, Dr. Sadik has made a difference for millions of women and children throughout the world.

She came to head UNFPA in 1987 as a vastly experienced obstetrician and public health specialist. She rose to the challenge of being the first woman to head one of the United Nations major agencies and in doing so has become a symbol for the empowerment of women. In her 13 years of leadership she has transformed the focus and operational activities of the Fund, turning it into a leading advocate of the needs and rights of women, and pressing forward with the imperative of involving women directly in making and carrying out population policies and programmes.
Those active in this field point to Cairo in 1994, where Dr. Sadik served as Secretary-General of the landmark International Conference on Population and Development, as the turning point in this endeavour. She was instrumental in winning acceptance for changing the fundamental terms of the population debate: to finding a balance between individual rights and responsibilities on the one hand, and the rights and obligations of the wider society on the other. Women´s health and rights were placed at the centre of the agenda, with the most controversial issues being tackled as part of the global dialogue.

As Dr. Sadik herself has noted, the world has come a long way in its approach to the issue of population and development; there is finally consensus on what the problems are and a convergence of views on how to address them. This is as critical as the dramatic, if simple, notion that population is not a matter of numbers: it is a matter of people. And that is why it is fitting that IPS has chosen to pay tribute to Dr. Sadik. IPS has itself played a leading role in its attempt to promote responsible journalism, and to cover the development issues that affect the lives of millions of people in the developing world but who do not always receive adequate media attention. At the United Nations we appreciate this steadfast commitment and recognize the special relationship that IPS has with the Organization. Indeed, we are grateful that this annual award ceremony continues to be held at UN Headquarters.

Thank you.