APHRC Newsletter: April – June 2015

APHRC WINS PRESTIGIOUS UN POPULATION AWARD

The United Nations honored the African Population and Health Research Center (APHRC) for its outstanding contributions to human rights, reproductive health, gender equality and population research. The Center received the 2015 UN Population Award under the institutional category, alongside former UNFPA Executive Director, Dr. Thoraya Obaid who won in the individual category.

“APHRC has blazed the trail in improving lives and achieving sustainable development,” said UN Deputy Secretary-General Jan Eliasson at the awards ceremony held on June 26, 2015 at the UN Headquarters. “This award is therefore in recognition of 15 years of dedicated policy relevant research to address Africa’s most pressing problems through south-south partnerships.”

“More and more leaders and people in the world understand that human rights are the basis not only for peace and security but also for sustainable human development,” Mr. Eliasson said, after presenting the awards to Dr. Obaid and Dr. Ezeh. “Today’s laureates are part of and linked to that success, and they are continuing to address the inequalities that persist.

In his speech, Dr Ezeh described a picture of an ideal Africa in the year 2030. This would mean every boy and girl being born in a hospital with their births recorded, every family living in a clean and safe environment, all children going to school and learning how to read and write and the elderly in the society enjoying long and healthy lives.