NEW YORK – The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) today named Geri Halliwell Goodwill Ambassador for its international advocacy campaign for reproductive health care, gender equality and the empowerment of women throughout the world.
"I am incredibly honoured to be named a goodwill ambassador for the United Nations Population Fund," said Ms. Halliwell, accepting the appointment at the United Nations headquarters in New York.
Ms. Halliwell will be working in partnership with Marie Stopes International and Population Concern in the United Kingdom as part of UNFPA's "Face to Face" campaign with European organizations to raise concern about reproductive health and rights, especially for women.
"Ever since I've entered the media arena I've always stood for the empowerment of women, that's what the UN Population Fund is about and I'll be promoting the empowerment of women in developing countries," she said.
The "Face to Face" campaign which Ms. Halliwell will be part of has the common aim of sensitizing the public to the need for universal reproductive heath care and the empowerment of women. Another objective of the campaign is to ensure that population assistance for developing countries from donor nations is maintained or augmented.
"We are delighted that Geri is going to be a Goodwill Ambassador for us," said Dr. Nafis Sadik, Executive Director of the United Nations Population Fund. "She has the attention of young women around the world and will be a powerful advocate for the right of women to reproductive health care including family planning."
In her new role Ms. Halliwell will be visiting developing countries to look at of the problems of reproductive health and meet some of the people working on solutions.
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UNFPA is the world's largest international source of population assistance to over 160 countries. Its programme areas include reproductive health, population and development research, policy and advocacy.
Face to Face is a three year, international United Nations-led campaign designed to publicize the plight of millions of women denied basic human rights, especially access to reproductive health care and family planning services.
Marie Stopes International is a global family planning agency working in the United Kingdom and in over 30 countries in Africa, Asia, Europe and Latin America to provide reproductive health care to around one and a half million women and their families.
Population Concern works for improvements in quality of life worldwide by advancing the right of all people to exercise free and informed reproductive health choices and to have access to confidential sexual and reproductive health services, including family planning.
Contact Information:
Abubakar Dungus
Tel.: +1 (212) 297-5031
Email: dungus@unfpa.org