Source: UN News: Saturday, 12 July 2025 00:01 am
Doctor Natalia Kanem, UN Breeding Health Agency (UNFPA), as Executive Director, does not mention any statistics, remembering her eight-year term, rather she repeatedly mentions the same picture: of a ten-year-old girl standing on the threshold of adolescence, whose future is uncertain and which are still the subject of debate. Doctor Kanem thinks, “Will that girl be able to complete her education, make her place in the world? Or she will deviate from the way for reasons like child marriage, women genital deformity (FGM), or excessive poverty?” Unfpa As Executive Director of Dr. Kanem became the hallmark of Kanem’s tenure. Doctor Kanem, from his early work at the grassroots level in East Africa to leading the $ 1.7 billion agency operating in more than 150 countries, gave UNFPA a strong guidance among global changes, political protests and ideological challenges. He led. Doctor Natalia Kanem, is removing her post in July (2025), before the scheduled time. 70 -year -old Dr. Kanem, while addressing a video message to about 5 thousand staff of the agency at the beginning of the year, said, “Now the time has come to hand over the responsibility forward. I have resolved that with my full potential, I will continue to work to bring UNFPA to such a situation, where this institution will continue to do extraordinary work even further.” UN NEWS was born in the roots and height flight and as a doctor, a doctor Natalia Kanem, after a successful career in the field of philanthropy, decided to join UNFPA in 2014. He, as part of his resolve to serve “the great objective of the United Nations”, first took charge in Tanzania, where he was deeply impressed by the unwavering commitment and service spirit of the employees working at the ground level. He said in a conversation with UN News, “Our real value is proved where the local value is proved to be locally.” But this responsibility was not easy. When he took over the command of the agency in the year 2017, UNFPA was going through a difficult phase – its visibility was decreasing, the financial situation was unstable, and consistently facing opposition from conservative forces. However, even, UNFPA continued to gain a continuous increase not only at the level of the budget, but also in its global reputation. “When I came in (this agency), I said that we said that we had a short and then we said that we had a short. There is no information about what it does. But I think the picture is more clear now. ”This clarity is partially stems from that ‘conceptual leadership’, which the doctor Kanem actively encouraged, whether to challenge the misconceptions related to breed Did. © Unfpa Vanuatu. He said, “We work in the market of ideas. We have to present the truth in such a way that it is not only reliable, but also so impressive that the colleagues that this movement demands should be motivated to join us.” Under her leadership, the agency trained millions of midwives, distributed their ongoing sorrows, and distributing their unbroken areas, and in the humanitarian problems, and the human crisis have to fight and the girls and girls in the humanitage areas. Widely increased – whether it is the Rohingya camp of the coxse market, a war -torn Ukraine or a cholera -affected. The presence of UNFPA in the decorated areas was not only systemic, but also symbolically very important. In areas like Sudan, Syria and Ghazha, a simple tent equipped with sanitary pads, blankets and soap can also become a safe shelter for a woman. Doctor Kanem said, “It is a symbol of relief and respect that a woman needs the most in times of crisis. That is why we call these kits ‘dignity kits’. Moving beyond providing, in a political and socially polarized world, the role of UNFPA was brought to new heights as an ideological leader. He made the agency an active part of public debates that were difficult and sensitive – such as adolescent pregnancies, climate worry, fertility rate and online oppression. He strongly advocated the right-based approach on every issue. Doctor Kanem says, “That ten-year-old girl is really present. What her parents, religious leaders and communities think-it is very important so that she can get ready for the challenges of life and understand how to forcibly impose the customs and traditions on her, then how to face them, then how to face them. Sufian Abdul-Mouty/Unfpa Sudan The impact of his impressive leadership was not limited to ideas only, but also clearly visible in data. Under the guidance of Dr. Kanem, UNFPA made a notable investment in increasing cooperation in national census and developing real -time -based dashboards for policy makers, so that the policies related to reproductive health can be shaped on the basis of solid and reliable figures. Every year, the world’s population trends present in the state of World Population, ” Traditional concepts like crisis “were seen with a new vision. It was clarified in the report that many women and male are delaying or avoiding children due to ideological reasons, but due to economic inability. Doctor Kanem praised the philanthropic thinking of the youth who say that they do not want to have children for fear of increasing climatic crisis. But he also clarified that the statistics present some other pictures. He explained, “Today’s global fertility rate is not a threat to the Earth. The fact says that you can produce the same children that you can take care of safely and respectfully.” In the era of upheavals, the leadership of the UNFPA on the rights in the era of the UNFPA has taken care of at a time when the attacks were increasing, when the attacks were increasing, the pilgrimage was increasing, and the pilgrimage was increasing, the pilgrimage was increasing, the pilgrimage was increasing, the pilgrimage was increasing, the pilgrimage was increasing, the pilgrimage was increasing, the nationalism was increasing, the nationalism was increasing, and the pilgrimage was increasing. Disbelief on the institutions was deepening. During this time, he faced a cut in money aid given by the US for years – including the deduction of the existing administration. Despite this, the demand for UNFPA’s services continued to increase. “The more resources that UNFPA have today were never before. But they also prove to be insufficient in front of the flood of needs.” Only resources cannot ensure the future of an agency – credibility and firmness are equally necessary. Dr. Kanem warns, “Today, when the multilateral system is most needed, it is being questioned at the same time. We have to prove our value every day. And when there is a mistake from us, we have to get up and improve it – and have to find partners who can stand with us.” In 2023, UNFPA, along with technical companies, launched a development effect in Kenya, through which adolescent girls were provided with mobile -based sexual health services – to prevent new cases of conception and HIV infection in adolescence. UNFPA progress criteria – The changing mindset UNFPA has done tireless work for a long time to eliminate harmful practices like women’s genital deformity (FGM) and child marriage. Under the leadership of Dr. Natalia Kanem, this effort was not limited to change in law only – it became a campaign to change a widespread thinking and mentality. When asked whether he was really progressed, he replied with full confidence, “Yes, of course. It has been very important to see that the religious and traditional leaders have been very important that now we are standing against some harmful practices …” and we are working together with these risks so that the girls are working together Understand and take more aware and strong decisions about your options. ”He admitted that Kovid-19 was a big shock. When the schools were closed, the traditional rituals in some communities started to be performed fast. Nevertheless, UNFPA has recorded a significant decline in these practices in many countries with population-gradation like Indonesia. The credit also goes to the youth who are raising voice against these harmful traditions from within their own communities. Next generation – and next chapter Natalia Kanem, stressed the possibilities, not on uncertainty, not uncertain. He said, “We have changed ourselves, modernized. The possibilities in front of UNFPA are unlimited.” He told about her personal future that she will now take full holidays for a few days – in which she will be able to take out time for music, her family and ultimately for themselves. However, they will not be able to sit peacefully for a long time. He said, “I know that my passion towards women and girls will never be less. It has been a loving service for me.” Their farewell message? Once again, returning to the same girl who remained at the center of her thinking and service. He said, “When that 10 -year -old girl is successful, we all are successful. Then this world really becomes a better place.”
