[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 172 (Tuesday, December 21, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2217]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




IN HONOR OF THE WORK OF THORAYA AHMED OBAID, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE 
                                 UNFPA

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. CAROLYN B. MALONEY

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, December 21, 2010

  Mrs. MALONEY. I rise today to celebrate the extraordinary leadership 
and work of Thoraya Ahmed Obaid, Executive Director of the UNFPA, 
United Nations Population Fund.
  Thoraya Ahmed Obaid will retire as Executive Director of the UNFPA, 
United Nations Population Fund, at the end of this year. For over a 
decade, Thoraya has been an exceptional and dynamic leader of this 
important U.N. agency and key partner to the United States.
  Thoraya has had a remarkable life and career where she was often the 
``first'' trailblazing a path for others. Born in Saudi Arabia, her 
father made sure that she received the same educational opportunities 
as her brothers--sending her at age 7 to a Christian boarding school in 
Cairo, Egypt. She excelled in her studies and became the ``first'' 
Saudi girl to receive a government scholarship to attend Mills College 
in California, where she graduated with distinction.
  Thoraya became the ``first'' Saudi Arabian let alone Saudi woman to 
head a U.N. agency. At UNFPA, Thoraya has effectively implemented and 
advocated for UNFPA's global mandate to ensure that every pregnancy is 
wanted, every birth is safe, every young person is free of HIV and 
AIDS, every girl, woman and young person is treated with dignity and 
respect, and that policies for poverty eradication are based on sound 
data.
  Thoraya has played a pivotal role in promoting understanding of the 
close linkages between the implementation of the agenda of the 
International Conference on Population and Development and the 
achievement of the Millennium Development Goals, particularly the 
importance of respect for the human rights of women and greater 
investments in education and health for the eradication of extreme 
poverty and hunger. Moreover, she has a deep and abiding commitment to 
supporting and advocating gender equality and the empowerment of women, 
and giving voice to countless women, men and youth around the world to 
participate in enhancing their reproductive health and well-being.
  Under Thoraya's leadership, UNFPA has been a model within the U.N. 
system on working in collaboration with civil society partners around 
the world to ensure that culture and rights are central to all 
development efforts. For example, under Thoraya's watch, UNFPA's 
Campaign to End Fistula is now working in over 47 countries with 
doctors, midwives, advocates, community leaders and policymakers to 
make obstetric fistula as rare in the developing world as it is in the 
United States.
  Thoraya has accomplished much for the world's women and their 
families with grace, humility, compassion and professionalism. In 
retirement, she will be returning to the region of her birth to 
continue to be a vocal and passionate advocate for the most vulnerable 
and marginalized.
  This remarkable and much admired leader will be greatly missed in the 
United Nations but I am confident we will continue to hear her strong 
and clear voice for women's well being for many years to come.
  I personally thank Thoraya for her vast and tremendous contributions 
to the world's women.

                          ____________________