;)
Dr Nafis Sadik with Commat Director Marianne Haslegrave during ICPD at 15 Forum, Berlin. September 2009The Commonwealth Medical Trust (Commat) is profoundly saddened to learn of the passing of Dr Nafis Sadik, the Executive Director of UNFPA from 1987 to 2000.
In 1994, she led the negotiations for the landmark International Conference on Population and Development in Cairo, at which the ICPD Programme of Action was adopted, which has subsequently defined the work of Governments, civil society organizations, and other stakeholders on sexual and reproductive health and rights.
Although she retired in 2000, she served as the UN Secretary-General’s Special Adviser and Special Envoy for HIV/AIDS in Asia and the Pacific.
Many of us will remember the strong, impactful statements that she made in various UN meetings.
The tribute from Dr Natalia Kanem and UNFPA is available here.
As Commat, we extend our condolences to Dr Sadik’s family, to the Government and people of Pakistan, and to all those who had the privilege of knowing and working with her.