Thoraya Obaid, the top Saudi official at the United Nations, was on Thursday presented with a human-rights award honoring her work with the U.N. Population Fund (UNFPA). Obaid was chosen for The Louis B. Sohn Human Rights by the U.N. Association of the National Capital Area (UNA-UCA) for her work promoting maternal health. “Thoraya Obaid has been a tireless champion of women's human and reproductive rights. Throughout her career, she has been fearless in breaking down barriers and challenging stereotypes,” U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said. ”Under her leadership, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) has played a major role in promoting maternal health and women's empowerment, and campaigns against female genital mutilation and fistula have achieved global resonance. I congratulate Thoraya Obaid, and I commend the UNA-NCA on their choice,” Ban added. For its part, UNA-UCA said it chose Obaid for speaking out for an end to discrimination and violence against women and girls and for respect for their full human rights. “Such an honor will only make me, and UNFPA, more committed to promoting the human rights of women and girls who still face gender discrimination and violence, to advancing their empowerment and gender equality, and to ensuring universal access to reproductive health,” Obaid said when she received the award at a ceremony in Washington on Thursday.
