# Natalia Kanem

Natalia Kanem is a medical doctor born on 8 November ,1954 in Panama. She is currently serves as the Executive Director of UNFPA, the United Nations sexual and reproductive health agency. In this capacity, she is among the highest-ranking women at the United Nations and the first Latin American to head UNFPA.

## Quotes

* Bodily autonomy is non-negotiable. It is about choices, rights and the power of women and girls to decide over their own body. UNFPA is calling for coordinated and collective action to achieve bodily autonomy, reproductive rights and gender equality well in time for 2030,”
** United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) announces Kigali Call to Action at Women Deliver, calling for accelerated efforts to promote women and girls’ bodily autonomy African Business (July 18, 2023)
* Violence against women and girls has invaded all spaces, including virtual ones, and this must end,
** UNFPA Executive Director Dr Kanem calls for ending violence against women and girls My Republica (November 25, 2023)
* For many women and girls, no place is completely safe. Violence invades their homes, schools, and workplaces, and now, it is becoming alarmingly widespread in their digital lives. Online violence can happen anywhere, to anyone, at any time. Yet, it disproportionately affects women and girls,”
** UNFPA Executive Director Dr Kanem calls for ending violence against women and girls My Republica (November 25, 2023)
* For individuals vulnerable to intersecting forms of discrimination, the levels of digital violence they experience are even more extreme. Research shows LGBTQIA+ people, women and girls with disabilities, and people of African descent all experience online abuse specifically tied to their identities. Black women are an estimated 84 percent more likely than white women to be attacked in abusive tweets,”
** UNFPA Executive Director Dr Kanem calls for ending violence against women and girls My Republica (November 25, 2023)
* Fortunately, survivors and allies are taking action. Already, more than 54,000 signatories have joined UNFPA’s #bodyright campaign and committed to championing the right to bodily autonomy and freedom from violence. Survivors and advocates – artists, activists, politicians, and tech experts among them – are sharing stories and demanding change
** UNFPA Executive Director Dr Kanem calls for ending violence against women and girls My Republica (November 25, 2023)
* It's very important to understand the humanitarian and internal displacement conflicts is having on women, and that is why we need to create safe spaces"Dr. Natalia Kanem
** we are commiting 40 percent of our funding to finance female-led organizations The Cable (July 17, 2023)
* For UNFPA right now, we are commiting 40 percent of our funding to finance female-led organizations. And this is the leadership we are committed to."
** we are commiting 40 percent of our funding to finance female-led organizations The Cable (July 17, 2023)
* “Peace is the most pressing issue of our time and in women’s lives,”
** Executive Board of UNDP, UNFPA and UNOPS: Second Regular Session 2023 United Nations Population Fund (28 August 2023)
* Obviously, peace is fragile. It requires our continuous attention, dialogue, compromise and cooperation.”
** Executive Board of UNDP, UNFPA and UNOPS: Second Regular Session 2023 United Nations Population Fund (28 August 2023)
* “UNFPA has had a long and productive relationship with Rwanda. We discussed what is happening in the country in terms of the investments in young people and in the sexual and reproductive health of women and girls.”
** PM receives UNFPA Executive Director The New Times (November 29, 2019)
* “eased the reach to people in rural areas; a move to ensure that no one is left behind when it comes to planning for families.”
** PM receives UNFPA Executive Director The New Times (November 29, 2019)
* “I’m delighted that Rwanda is hosting ICASA; which is a bigger opportunity for us to recommit to the prevention of HIV and to the compassionate caring to those who live with the virus,”
** PM receives UNFPA Executive Director The New Times (November 29, 2019)
* UNFPA lamented the loss of lives in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territory and is deeply concerned about the safety and well-being of all civilians caught up in the crisis, especially women and girls.
* UNFPA reiterates call for reversal of evacuation order from northern Gaza Peoples Gazette (October 18, 2023 )
* UNFPA supports pregnant women and newborns by providing essential medicines and deploying midwives. This can only continue if lifesaving aid can reach them.
* UNFPA reiterates call for reversal of evacuation order from northern Gaza Peoples Gazette (October 18, 2023 )
* “We call for immediate, unimpeded humanitarian access so that food, medicines, water, and fuel can reach everyone in need.”
* UNFPA reiterates call for reversal of evacuation order from northern Gaza Peoples Gazette (October 18, 2023 )

## External links

* https://www.unfpa.org/HAO2024
* https://webtv.un.org/en/asset/k1a/k1a5j0x35r
* https://webtv.un.org/en/asset/k14/k14oh7gzvb
* Let them lead: Ensuring 600 million adolescent girls have what they need to create the future they want