It is with heavy hearts that we heard the news of Dr Babatunde Osotimehin’s sudden passing this morning. As Executive Director of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), Dr Osotimehin was a tireless advocate for all people’s sexual and reproductive health and rights. He was also a dear friend to Action Canada for Sexual Health and Rights and many other civil society organizations.
Dr. Osotimehin will be remembered as a global leader in the areas of public health, the empowerment of women and young people, and human rights, particularly sexual and reproductive health and rights. We mourn the loss of one of the world’s sexual and reproductive health and rights champions at a time when these rights are under increasing attack.
As the UNFPA’s implementing partner in Canada, Action Canada had the pleasure of hosting Dr. Babatunde on his visit to Canada last year, where he played a crucial part in bolstering Canada’s commitment to sexual and reproductive health and rights around the world. Now, more than ever, we need to stand together as a community, in Canada and globally, to ensure all people’s sexual and reproductive health and rights are guaranteed so that all people can live a life of dignity. The world needs more leaders like Dr. Osotimehin.