SECRETARY-GENERAL EMPHASIZES NEED FOR PEOPLE-CENTRED DEVELOPMENT AT POPULATION AWARD CEREMONY
Press Release
SG/SM/6021
POP/622
SECRETARY-GENERAL EMPHASIZES NEED FOR PEOPLE-CENTRED DEVELOPMENT AT POPULATION AWARD CEREMONY
19960717 Following is the statement by Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali at the 1996 United Nations Population Award ceremony, held at Headquarters today:I would like to welcome all of you to the 1996 United Nations Population Award ceremony. Each year at this event, the international community recognizes individuals and institutions who have made a significant contribution in the field of population and development.
It gives me great pleasure this evening to honour the two distinguished laureates of this year's Award: Senator Leticia Ramos Shahani, of the Philippines, and Pathfinder International.
The importance of addressing population issues cannot be overemphasized. Two years ago, at the International Conference on Population and Development in Cairo, the international community made an historic decision -- that people and their needs must be placed firmly at the centre of all our development efforts.
Recent global conferences in Copenhagen, Beijing and Istanbul have all helped to keep the important message of people-centred development at the forefront of international debate.
The United Nations has been instrumental in forging a new world consensus around these issues. And we will continue wherever possible, to ensure that the needs of people in the developing world remain high on the international agenda.
This is not always an easy task. It may not always be possible to translate positive words into positive deeds. But today's event demonstrates clearly that real and lasting progress is possible. Real and lasting progress can be achieved.
The distinguished laureates of this year's Population Award are two outstanding examples of those who have successfully put a people-centred development approach into practice. Their dedication and commitment continue to inspire us all.
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