UN Secretary-General honored by women's rights group

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon was awarded for his efforts promoting the health, rights and well-being of girls and women by a global organization on Tuesday.

The "Delivering for Girls and Women" award was presented at UN headquarters by Women Deliver, a leading global advocacy organization.

"While I am honored to receive this award, the true champions are fighting on the front lines for health rights every day," Ban said.

He described the award as a testament to the people who are united around a common vision of ensuring the survival, health, and well-being of women, children, and adolescents in every setting.

"The UN Secretary-General has helped propel gender equality and girls' and women's health, rights and well-being to the forefront of the global agenda and into the Sustainable Development Goals," said Katja Iversen, CEO of Women Deliver.

"His commitment to the new global health strategy and to the health and rights of every woman, every child and every adolescent everywhere has been outstanding."

In 2010, Ban created Every Woman Every Child — an unprecedented global movement that mobilizes and intensifies international and national action by governments to galvanize attention and support at the highest levels for putting an end to preventable deaths of women and children.

By working together, EWEC partners have already saved the lives of millions of women and children globally.

More than 40 countries and 120 multi-stakeholder partners have made commitments to UN's Global Strategy for Women's, Children's and Adolescents' Health (2016-2030), totaling in excess of $25 billion.

Contact the writer at yangwanli@chinadaily.com.cn