UNFPA Executive Director Addresses Sun Valley Film Festival

UNITED NATIONS, New York — UNFPA Executive Director, Dr. Babatunde Osotimehin, last week visited Sun Valley, Idaho, where he was the key guest of honour at the Fifth Family of Women Film Festival. Dedicated to documentaries addressing women's status and empowerment at the global level, this year’s festival focused on the Middle East and North Africa.

Dr. Osotimehin opened the festival on 1 March at a special ceremony that screened Saving Face winner of the 2012 Oscar for Best Documentary (short). The film highlights the practice of disfiguring women in Pakistan, typically as a result of acid attacks caused by domestic violence, jealousy, land disputes or marital and pre-marital disagreements. Dr. Osotimehin then provided opening remarks and fielded questions with the documentary’s director, Daniel Junge, and protagonist Dr. Mohammed Jawad.

During the festival, Dr. Osotimehin presented remarks on gender-based violence and the empowerment of women, and their linkages to reproductive health, with examples of UNFPA's work in those fields. He also had several meetings with key leaders of the North-western United States, both residents of Sun Valley and other guests at the event.

The festival is co-chaired by Peggy Goldwin, a Board Member of Friends of UNFPA, and Stephanie Freid-Perenchio from Sun Valley.

By Sherin SaadAllah