Goodbye, Thoraya!

By Samantha Singson | December 14, 2010

At a farewell dinner organized by the United Nations Foundation last night, Secretary General Ban Ki-moon praised outgoing UNFPA head Thoraya Obaid’s leadership on “human rights, reproductive health and the empowerment of women.”

Here are some highlights from Obaid’s term at the helm of UNFPA:

-Obaid outspokenly praised China’s draconian one-child policy

-Under Obaid’s leadership, UNFPA attempted to intervene in Nicaragua’s vote to ban abortion in 2006

-Increased UNFPA’s involvement in regional initiatives to push abortion and “sexual and reproductive health,” like the Maputo Plan of Action

-Increased partnerships with and provided funding abortion advocacy organizations such as the Center for Reproductive Rights, International Planned Parenthood Federation and Catholics for Choice.

“After I leave UNFPA,” she said about her future plans, “I will return to my two countries. My own Saudi Arabia and, of course, my husband’s Egypt, and I will continue to be a champion for the ICPD [International Conference on Population and Development] cause. I plan to write and speak, and support civil society organizations to raise the voices of women and young people to support change from within.”

Obaid’s term expires at the end of the month and Nigeria’s Dr. Babatunde Osotimehin will take over as head of the organization.

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