PRESS BRIEFING BY EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF UNITED NATIONS ENVIRONMENT PROGRAMME
Press Briefing
PRESS BRIEFING BY EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF UNITED NATIONS ENVIRONMENT PROGRAMME
19970306
FOR INFORMATION OF UNITED NATIONS SECRETARIAT ONLY
The Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), Elizabeth Dowdeswell, told correspondents at a Headquarters press briefing this morning that, to mark its twenty-fifth anniversary and International Women's Day, the Programme was honouring 25 contemporary women for their efforts to protect the world's environment. In that connection, the Programme would host an exhibition called "UNEP's 25th: Eyes on the Environment -- 25 Women Leaders in Action", which would open at 6 p.m. today at the South Lounge of the Secretariat Building in New York.
Shedding more light on the selection of the 25 women, she said they ranged from the highest political leaders to dedicated scientists, from renowned Hollywood entertainers to a dedicated nun working in shantytowns, from non-governmental organization and community activists to business leaders. The event would highlight women's crucial roles in protecting the environment and safeguarding the well-being of its inhabitants. It was also about providing leadership and encouraging partnerships in caring for the environment -- the essence of UNEP's mission in the past 25 years, she stressed.
"Obviously, there are many, many in the world who should be honoured in such a fashion", she said. "But we have made an honest effort to find those from the North, South, East and West and from all walks of life, who could most appropriately represent the outstanding contribution of women all over the world in our search for a better environment."
The Executive Director then introduced a Japanese artist, Hisako Ono, who had contributed to the exhibition. Ms. Ono had produced for the exhibit an artistic illustration of the various contributions of women to the protection of the environment.
Ms. Ono told correspondents that her work was inspired by the contributions of women in preserving the environment. The exhibit, "Eyes on the Environment -- 25 Women Leaders in Action", was her interpretation on canvass of the contributions women had made to the cause of preserving the environment. Women, she said, had made tremendous progress, with some of them becoming heads of State and members of the police and armed forces in various countries. She acknowledged the help she had received in hosting the exhibit from Secretary-General Kofi Annan, and individuals from UNEP and other organizations.
UNEP Briefing - 2 - 6 March 1997
Ms. Dowdeswell reminded correspondents that today's events marked the beginning of a series of United Nations events related to women on the occasion of International Women's Day and the session of the Commission on the Status of Women, which begins on Monday, 10 March. She also referred to today's panel discussion in Conference Room 4 on the theme "Women at the Peace Table". Regarding UNEP's work, she reminded reporters that the organization had in the last two weeks released a report, "Global Environment Outlook", which looked at the world through regional eyes. It was because the report had indicated that the international community was not moving fast and far enough that UNEP decided to encourage the work of women such as those represented in the press briefing. She then introduced some of them. They included: Bella Abzug, a former United States Congresswoman; Maria Cherkasova, a Russian ecologist, journalist and Director of the Centre for Independent Ecological Programmes in the Russian Federation; Theo Colborn, a Canadian pharmacist and zoologist with the World Wildlife Fund; Tuenjai Deetes, from Thailand, Secretary-General of the Hill Area Development Foundation, a non-governmental organization; and Olfat Dessouky El-Sabaie, an Egyptian professor of Environmental Chemistry and Biology and member of the advisory panel for the Water and Sanitation Decade of the World Bank/United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). Other honourees in attendance included: Molly Gaskin, a writer and educator on the environment from Trinidad and Tobago; Niki Goulandris, a co- founder of the Goulandris Natural History Museum in Greece and former member of the United Nations World Commission for Culture and Development; Adrianna Hoffmann, a biologist and General Coordinator of Defenders of the Chilean Forests, a non-governmental organization; and Gladys Khangwayini Mashinini, "Mama Elsie", the first South African recipient of a UNEP Global 500 award. Also present at the press briefing were: Aviva Rabinovitch-Vin, an ecologist, writer and former Chief Scientist of the Nature Reserves Authority of Israel; Albena Simeonova, Vice-Chair and co-founder of the Bulgarian Green Federation and the Vice-Chair of the Bulgarian Green Party; and Sister Maria Aida Velasquez, founder of the Philippines Movement for Environmental Protection (PMEP) -- which disseminated information on the hazards of nuclear power -- who later became involved in the nuclear-free and independent movement in the Pacific. Among the 25 honourees absent from today's press briefing were: Gro Harlem Brundtland, former Prime Minister of Norway; Professor Wangari Maathai, "Tree Woman of Kenya", who is one of Africa's leading environmentalists and founder of The Green Belt Movement, which has expanded from her country to 30 African States; Queen Noor of Jordan; Bette Midler, a singer and actress from the United States; and Olivia Newton-John, an international music, film and television star from Australia who has served as Goodwill Ambassador to UNEP. The press briefing was launched by UNEP information officer, Jim Sniffen, who also introduced the Executive Director.
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