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International Planned Parenthood Federation presents global awards for Contribution to Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights

The IPPF International Award for Contributions to Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights has been awarded to Her Royal Highness Princess Basma Bint Talal of Jordan, in recognition of her outstanding contributions over many years to the field of women’s right and development. The award will be made at an awards ceremony hosted by the International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF), the world’s largest non-governmental organization working on sexual and reproductive health and rights, in London, 27 November 2010.

HRH Princess Basma Bint Talal’s advocacy in the field of women’s health and rights has advanced reproductive health and rights throughout the Arab World Region. As well as being a UN Goodwill ambassador to UNFPA and UNICEF, HRH Princess Basma Bint Talal is a well respected advocate and pioneer for international development in general, and for women’s development in particular. She played a significant role leading up to, and following the Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing. She was a member of the International Advisory Group to the UN Secretary-General for the preparatory phase of the Conference, and headed the official Jordanian delegation to Beijing in 1995.

HRH Princess Basma Bint Talal has made a major contribution to the acceptability of family planning, and the advancement of sexual and reproductive health and rights in Jordan, and has significantly increased the profile of these issues as a result of lending her considerable prestige to these issues, which continue to be controversial in many countries.

Chaired by IPPF’s President, Trinidadian child and adolescent psychiatrist Dr. Jacqueline Sharpe, the awards are chosen by a international panel of experts and given to individuals who have made outstanding contributions in the field of Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights.

Other awardees include:

The IPPF Individual Volunteer Award for Contributions to Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights is awarded to Mr Peter Safar (Posthumous Award). Peter Safar was a Gynaecologist in the Public General Hospital in Korneuburg, Austria. He was a volunteer with the IPPF Austrian Member Association (Österreichische Gesellschaft für Familienplanung (ÖGF) for 9 years and a Member of the Board for 5 years up to his death.

Peter also served as a Gynaecologist in Africa 1982-1984 (Liberia), 1984-1986 (Guinea-Bissau) and 2000-2002 (Malawi); Member of the Medical Advisory Board of the Safe Motherhood Project in Malawi; Lecturer for Reproductive Health at the Medical School of the University of Malawi/Blantyre 2000-2002.

The IPPF Youth Award for Contributions to Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights is awarded to Mr. Milinda Rajapaksha. Milinda joined the Family Planning Association of Sri Lanka in 2004 as a peer educator and served on the National Council of FPA Sri Lanka from 2006 to February 2010. From 2007 he has been working with the HIV and Development team of UNDP in Colombo and also works very closely with PANOS International and media organizations on awareness raising for sexual and reproductive health issues. He works with Journalists and the Mass Communication Department of the University of Colombo to promote new media among journalists who are working on development sector.

The IPPF Staff Award for Contributions to Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights is awarded to Dr. Guillermo Escobedo of IPPF’s Guatemalan Member Association, APROFAM. Over his 36 years of professional life, Dr. Escobedo stands out as a man with principles, values and professionalism. Amongst his many achievements, he developed and pioneered a new vasectomy technique, which he has selflessly shared with other medical professionals throughout his life and which has won international awards.

The IPPF Member Association Award for Contributions to Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights is awarded to PROFAMILIA of Colombia for its pioneering work to address sexual violence and violence against women, A Viva Voz, and its outstanding educational programme, Profamilia Educa.

ENDS

Contact information:

Paul Bell: Tel. +44 (0) 20 7939 8233 Mob. +44 (0) 7799 335533 Email. pbell@ippf.org

Fiona Salter: Tel. +44 (0) 20 7939 8223 fsalter@ippf.org