BRUSSELS – UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund, has been named the beneficiary of the 2007 ‘Europeans of the Year’ awards gala held at the Palais d'Egmont Tuesday 27 November. Financial proceeds from the gala, totaling €32,000, will support the UNFPA-led Campaign to End Fistula.

The awards, known as EV50, are conferred annually by European Voice, the European Union affairs newspaper, to ten individuals who have influenced the European agenda over the past 12 months. Winners were selected from among 50 nominees by European Voice editors and a distinguished panel of leading opinion makers and thinkers.

“UNFPA is delighted to be associated with the European of the Year award 2007,” said Sietske Steneker, director of the UNFPA Brussels Office, at the gala ceremony. “UNFPA works across the globe to ensure that women in developing countries can give birth as safely as they can in Europe, that all young people have equal access to the information and means to protect themselves from HIV and unwanted pregnancies, and that every girl and woman is treated with dignity and respect. Without the support of European individuals, campaigners, parliamentarians, businesses, governments and the EU, this work would simply not be possible.”

Thanking EV50 for the generous contribution on behalf of the Campaign to End Fistula, Ms. Steneker presented the award of ‘Campaigner of the Year’. The award went to Arnold Schwarzenegger, who was nominated for taking action against climate change with the California Global Warming Solutions Act, and for plans to introduce an emissions trading scheme with other US states and possibly with the EU.

At the awards ceremony, Lithuanian President Valdas Adamkus was declared ‘European of the Year’. Angela Merkel, German Chancellor, was voted ‘Stateswoman of the Year’. Richard Branson, Chairman of Virgin, won the ‘Business Leader of the Year’ award. ‘Diplomat of the Year’ was awarded jointly to Benita Ferrero-Waldner, external relations Commissioner, and Frank-Walter Steinmeier, German Foreign Minister. For more information on the Europeans of the Year 2007, click here.

The Campaign to End Fistula, led by UNFPA, is an international effort to prevent and treat obstetric fistula in more than 40 countries. Since 2003, the Campaign has grown to include a wide range of non-governmental partners and foundations.

UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund, is an international development agency that promotes the right of every woman, man and child to enjoy a life of health and equal opportunity. UNFPA supports countries in using population data for policies and programmes to reduce poverty and to ensure that every pregnancy is wanted, every birth is safe, every young person is free of HIV/AIDS, and every girl and woman is treated with dignity and respect.

Contact Information:

Karin Heisecke
UNFPA Brussels Office
Karin.heisecke@unfpa.be
Tel: +32 2 5501832