The committee for the award in 2022 is chaired by Amal Mudallali, Permanent Representative of Lebanon to the United Nations, and is composed of representatives of nine other UN Member States. The United Nations Department for Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) represents the UN Secretary-General in the committee, and UNFPA administers the award.Prior to her appointment, Ms. Theofelus was a member of the Namibia chapter of AfriYAN, a regional youth-led organisation, where she led pioneering efforts to fight teen pregnancy and protect young people’s sexual and reproductive health.
Empowering women
The individual laureate is Member of Parliament Emma Theofelus, who is currently the Deputy Minister of Information in Namibia and the youngest-ever winner of the Award.
In the institution category, BKKBN has been recognized as a shining example of successful, innovative and rights-based family planning initiatives in the Republic of Indonesia, which continued even during the COVID-19 pandemic, said UNFPA.
Born in 1996, she is one of Africa’s youngest cabinet ministers, and has used her youth-friendly perspective, and her experience as an advocate for sexual and reproductive health, to directly address the country’s young people.
It’s played a leading role in advocating against harmful practices, helping to raise the minimum age for marriage for girls, from 16 to 19, in 2019.
Family planning success story
Ms. Theofelus was recognized for her work advocating for women’s empowerment and adolescent sexual and reproductive health in Namibia.
Amongst its many achievements, it has trained population experts, engaged with non-governmental and faith-based organisations on population issues, and developed programmes to assist families caring for older persons.
About the award
The UN Population Award has honoured individuals and institutions for their outstanding contributions to population, development and ,reproductive health, since 1983.
As a deputy minister, she has led the country’s public communication campaign on COVID-19 preventions in Namibia, and as a MP, she pioneered legislation for feminine hygiene products to be identified as a tax-free commodity.
