congressional_record: CREC-2010-12-21-pt1-PgE2217
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| granule_id | date | congress | session | volume | issue | title | chamber | granule_class | sub_granule_class | page_start | page_end | speakers | bills | citation | full_text |
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| CREC-2010-12-21-pt1-PgE2217 | 2010-12-21 | 111 | 2 | 156 | IN HONOR OF THE WORK OF THORAYA AHMED OBAID, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE UNFPA | HOUSE | EXTENSIONS | HONORING | E2217 | E2217 | [{"name": "Carolyn B. Maloney", "role": "speaking"}] | 156 Cong. Rec. E2217 | Congressional Record, Volume 156 Issue 172 (Tuesday, December 21, 2010) [Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 172 (Tuesday, December 21, 2010)] [Extensions of Remarks] [Page E2217] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] IN HONOR OF THE WORK OF THORAYA AHMED OBAID, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE UNFPA ______ HON. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of new york in the house of representatives Tuesday, December 21, 2010 Mrs. MALONEY. I rise today to celebrate the extraordinary leadership and work of Thoraya Ahmed Obaid, Executive Director of the UNFPA, United Nations Population Fund. Thoraya Ahmed Obaid will retire as Executive Director of the UNFPA, United Nations Population Fund, at the end of this year. For over a decade, Thoraya has been an exceptional and dynamic leader of this important U.N. agency and key partner to the United States. Thoraya has had a remarkable life and career where she was often the ``first'' trailblazing a path for others. Born in Saudi Arabia, her father made sure that she received the same educational opportunities as her brothers--sending her at age 7 to a Christian boarding school in Cairo, Egypt. She excelled in her studies and became the ``first'' Saudi girl to receive a government scholarship to attend Mills College in California, where she graduated with distinction. Thoraya became the ``first'' Saudi Arabian let alone Saudi woman to head a U.N. agency. At UNFPA, Thoraya has effectively implemented and advocated for UNFPA's global mandate to ensure that every pregnancy is wanted, every birth is safe, every young person is free of HIV and AIDS, every girl, woman and young person is treated with dignity and respect, and that policies for poverty eradication are based on sound data. Thoraya has played a pivotal role in promoting understanding of the close linkages between the implementation of the agenda of the International Conference on Population and Development and the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals, particularly the importance of respect for the human rights of women and greater investments in education and health for the eradication of extreme poverty and hunger. Moreover, she has a deep and abiding commitment to supporting and advocating gender equality and the empowerment of women, and giving voice to countless women, men and youth around the world to participate in enhancing their reproductive health and well-being. Under Thoraya's leadership, UNFPA has been a model within the U.N. system on working in collaboration with civil society partners around the world to ensure that culture and rights are central to all development efforts. For example, under Thoraya's watch, UNFPA's Campaign to End Fistula is now working in over 47 countries with doctors, midwives, advocates, community leaders and policymakers to make obstetric fistula as rare in the developing world as it is in the United States. Thoraya has accomplished much for the world's women and their families with grace, humility, compassion and professionalism. In retirement, she will be returning to the region of her birth to continue to be a vocal and passionate advocate for the most vulnerable and marginalized. This remarkable and much admired leader will be greatly missed in the United Nations but I am confident we will continue to hear her strong and clear voice for women's well being for many years to come. I personally thank Thoraya for her vast and tremendous contributions to the world's women. ____________________ |