UNFPA Executive Director Receives 'MDG 3 Champion Torch'

COPENHAGEN – UNFPA’s Executive Director Thoraya Obaid today received an ‘MDG 3 Champion Torch’ from the Danish Minister for Development Cooperation Ulla Tørnæs. The torch symbolizes Denmark’s commitment to raising gender equality and women’s empowerment (MDG 3) higher on the international agenda so as to accelerate progress toward all of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

“UNFPA is proud to contribute to the MDG 3 Call to Action and we commend the Government of Denmark for taking this important initiative,” said Ms. Obaid. “UNFPA will address critical issues which lie at the heart of women’s empowerment and gender equality.” She made the comments after accepting the torch.

The campaign, ‘MDG 3 Global Call to Action’, is a Danish government initiative in which at least 100 torches will travel the world. Torchbearers representing governments, the private sector, civil society, international organisations and the media will be asked to make a commitment to ‘Do Something Extra’ in support of MDG3. At the UN High Level Meeting on the MDGs in September in New York, all commitments will be presented to the UN Secretary General, who will be invited to accept the last torch.

"The commitment from UNFPA today and the strong personal engagement from Thoraya Obaid are crucial to highlight the importance of sexual and reproductive health,” said Minister Tørnæs, passing the torch to Ms. Obaid.

To further support MDG 3, Ms. Obaid has committed UNFPA to raising nearly $500 million through the Thematic Fund on Maternal Health, which focuses on improving adolescent sexual and reproductive health, and reducing maternal death and disability. Other related areas of focus include preventing unsafe abortion and managing its complications, preventing HIV transmission, and ending child marriage and female genital mutilation/cutting.

“Addressing these issues will raise the profile of the broader development issue of women’s empowerment and gender equality”, said Ms. Obaid.