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Manouchehr Assadi-Baiki 1933- 2019 -  Habib Hammam It is with great sadness that I advise of the passing of our friend and colleague Manou Assadi in Tehran early this morning. He had been fighting a prostate cancer and had gone to Tehran in the Spring to see members of his family. There was a relapse after which he was not able to travel. The last time I spoke to him he told me that he has had a good life and was contented. He recalled good times as a friend and mentioned several UNICEF colleagues. He passed on peacefully with Farideh by his side. As some of you know, Manou started with UNICEF in Tehran as General Service staff and later as a National Officer before he took his first international posting in Nigeria.  He was UNICEF Representative in Pakistan before he came to NYHQ. He was Director of the Division Programm Field Services and then Director of the Division of Personnel, before taking early retirement. Manou always had developing countries whose children we were serving at

I've noted that I did not have the good fortune to work closely with Manou even though our careers in UNICEF overlapped by perhaps 25 years or more. In all those years, I had this hint that he was someone special and as I read your beautiful recollections and tributes, I realise that my hunch was correct, and regret all the more not having had the opportunity to interact much more with Manou and to form a bond like each of you. I wonder if there might be some way that among those who knew and loved Manou best, you could bring your recollections, thoughts and feelings together in an account of Manou in UNICEF, and Manou as an inspiration and as a friend. This to share with all as a model for what it is to be part of UNICEF and for some archives of the very best of UNICEF. Just a thought, Steve Hello Steve, a wonderful idea that some of us have also been contemplating....will revert when clearer. Cheers, Fouad

Put children and young people first,  UNICEF Executive Director Henrietta Fore says at end of Sudan visit Umm Battah Girls School in Kadugli, the capital city of South Kordofan State, Sudan. KHARTOUM, 29 October 2019 – Sudan is at a historic moment and it is critical that children’s rights are at the heart of the national agenda, UNICEF Executive Director Henrietta Fore said at the end of a three-day visit to the country. “This is a defining moment,” Fore said. “Moving forward, as Sudan starts the next chapter in its history, it is critical that it reconfirms its commitment to its youngest citizens by putting children and young people front and centre.” During the visit, her first to Sudan, Fore met with several senior government officials, including Prime Minister Abdullah Hamdok, and travelled to Kadugli in South Kordofan where she met with partners and communities. Decades of conflict and underdevelopment have left millions of children vulnerable: Over 38 per cent of children unde

ED Fore's Response to the children of Yemen SANA'A, Yemen, 24 October 2019 UNICEF Yemen conducted a press briefing yesterday to present the ED's response to the children’s letter. The call on Wednesday came as UNICEF held a ceremony in Yemen's capital, Sana'a, as part of events marking the 30th anniversary of the Convention on the Rights of the Child. The event was covered by over 20 journalists and the initial coverage spanned across international and local media channels. UNICEF Yemen Representative Sara Beysolow Nyanti conducted the briefing with 5 of the children, and used the opportunity to read the ED's response. The children had written to the ED after their training on their rights. All of the children who participated in the training have one or more vulnerability. When they read their letter to Ms. Nyanti, she asked the children to hold her accountable to deliver their message to the ED and provide them with a response. "We are very grateful for y

Eimi Watanabe Credit:  IISD I enjoyed reading the first installment of David’s autobiography, and, having been the first UNICEF Representative to India, can only marvel that David and the other regional directors had the energy and depth of knowledge to deal with such varied countries in the region beyond India. The contrast and differences of Indian states (and parts thereof) were more than challenging enough for me. As I read everyone’s tribute with David’s passing and now Manou’s, I couldn’t help feeling that the person who would probably enjoyed most hearing how we appreciated them is the deceased individual, though no doubt, the bereaved family derive great comfort from our thoughts and words. This made me think if there is a way in which we can pay tribute to colleagues, say, upon reaching their 90th birthday, might not that give joy to those older colleagues who may also not be in the best of shape? I wonder what others think? Best wishes, Eimi Editor's Note:  We woul

Rudolf Messinger So beautiful your words cher Joseph about our wonderful Manou. As a most magnificent giving , caring and wise human being you will always remain in our hearts cher Manou. 4563876539 hugs, Rudolf Kul Gautam Thanks, dear Joseph, for sharing your very touching recollection of Manou - his defense of National Officers, how he quit smoking and his many other merits and qualities. He was truly a very special person and professional. May he rest in eternal peace. Bilgé Ögün Bassani I have sent a private message to Assadi family, but Joseph's tribute resonated strongly to my sense of essential being of Manou, with whom I shared the Sufi connection, I want to add how much I respected him. Bilge Joseph Acar I join our colleagues in mourning Manou’s passing. Manou as the Director of Personnel was my supervisor. He was and will remain in my memory as a down to earth, caring, compassionate and fair person who would go out of his way to support and aid colleagues in difficulties.

Credit: ru.nl Old-timers in UNICEF will recall that Sadako Ogata was the very dynamic Chair of the UNICEF Executive Board in 1979 - the historic International Year of the Child. Affectionately called the "5-foot Giant", she was a tough but compassionate leader who became the first female head of a UN agency - UNHCR - during a very challenging time. She declined several offers to become foreign minister of Japan before accepting to head JICA. She also led the Human Security Commission, along with Amartya Sen. This Commissions report was instrumental in enshrining "human security" as a key component in Japanese foreign policy and in many UN policy documents, including the World Fit for Children adopted by the UNGA Special Session on Children in 2002. Sadako was a great friend and supporter of UNICEF. Hope UNICEF and the Japan Committee for UNICEF will remember to pay appropriate tribute to her on the occasion of her passing away. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-50

Credit: NY Times After the International Women’s Year (1975), the Japanese government realized that it is hugely embarrassing that Japan had so few women diplomats (as well as other highly placed officials), and decided to appoint women from the private sector as senior diplomats.   Mrs Ogata, who was then a Professor of International Affairs at Sophia University, was thus asked to represent Japan, and became the Minister in Japan’s Mission to the UN in 1976.  In that capacity, she became active in UNICEF’s Executive Board, and was selected as the Chair of the Board for 1978/1979, which included the important session for the International Year of the Child.    Jim Grant was extremely impressed with her effectiveness and commitment to UN goals, and even after her term as ExBd chair ended, continued to seek her advice and help on many issues, especially on UNICEF’s relations in Japan.  Jim used to call her UNICEF’s  “Fairy Godmother”.    Mrs. Ogata was instrumental also in recruiting Jap

Credit: The Guardian “They think we’re freaks,” she says, rolling her eyes. “That we steal children because we can’t have our own. But here we are, doing the exact opposite.” Gulnaz pulls out a crumpled photo from her purse and sighs; the missing child she has spent all afternoon searching for – 13-year-old Asma Razzak – is nowhere to be found." " According to  NGO Sahil , in a survey of 85 national and regional newspapers, 1,064 child abduction cases were reported, of which 79% were girls and 21% boys. This is part of a wider story of children going missing across Pakistan; exploited, abused, sold into forced marriage or slavery. In  its latest report, Sahil  found the main reasons for abduction were trafficking, begging, sex work and bonded labour in brick kilns."  Read the article

Chinese city passes landmark law to promote breastfeeding A megacity in south China has become the first in the country to pass a law promoting breastfeeding, which remains unpopular despite the myriad proven benefits of human milk. The law, passed in Guangzhou, requires public places such as train stations,… Read the article

The U of Helsinki - Gender Studies - organized an International Conference on Gender and Violence 24-26th of October 2019.  There were approximately 350-400 participants from all corners of the world. The Conference included three Keynote Speakers - I heard two of them speak - and up to 25 Workshops each day on various issues related to gender and violence.   I spoke at one of them on Child Marriage, Conflict and the MENA Region: Challenging Euro-Centric Perspectives on the 26th of October. This was based on the work I had done as a consultant for UNICEF MENA two years back and my own interest in the topic. It was well received and we had an engaging discussion subsequently. Some of the other topics covered included - Violence & Shelter, Anti-Feminist Currents in Latin America, Gender-based Violence and Urban Spaces, Online Violence against Women, Trafficking and Violence, the Media, Cinema and Gendered Violence, Narratives of Masculinity and Violence in the MENA Region, Social

Shahida Azfar Dear Habib, Fouad, Shahnaz and other friends and colleagues of Manou I too am deeply shocked and grieved to learn of Manou’s passing . I have no words to add to what you all have written about him to express all that Manou was to UNICEF And more. I want to acknowledge my lifelong debt to him. He recruited me in UNICEF as a national officer in Pakistan in 1975 and mentored and guided me as my Rep to help me find my bearing in UNICEF . At a time when UNICEF Pakistan was dominated by men who had been there for ages and were not Welcoming women Manou made sure the few of us who were there had his full support. He sent many of us for training overseas and encouraged our full participation and contributions.  His strategic vision , leadership qualities and interpersonal skills were par excellence and won him many friends in Pakistan in government and outside who remember him most fondly to this day Never the one to shy away from difficult situations he managed a very cantank

See photos  from 2019 Reunion including Padmini's additions It is more than a month since our last reunion in Armenia and Georgia ended, but it is only that I managed to post my photos. Some you may have seen from what others sent, but I think they do not include those of the Genocide Museum and the Museum of Ancient Manuscripts [outside only, as no photography allowed inside]. warm regards to all

it is with deep sadness and some shock that I learned about the death of Manou Assadi. While we maintained contact over the years since he retired, I did not know he was seriously ill. Manou was indeed one of UNICEF’s greats. He had a very strong commitment and passion for UNICEF’s mission and he served as mentor to many of us, his junior colleagues. I traveled with him to Pakistan with Jim Grant, after Afghan refugees first  flooded into Peshawar. The camps in Peshawar were grim but Jim’s energy and compassion was equaled by Manou’s. Only Manou’s also reflected his feelings for the unfolding tragedy, and  his deep personal knowledge of Pakistan and of the wider region of which he himself was a part. He was also a great human being. Very thoughtful and empathetic to everyone including his  colleagues and friends. I knew I could count on Manou for support. And he was always there for me. In fact, he was the principal witness when John and I got married and he gently guided everyone, in

I first met Manou in September 1978 when I was posted to New York as a junior programme officer in Programme Division. He was then the Deputy Director of PD and a strong advocate of UNICEF’s work in the field to improve well being of children and women. Until his retirement in 1990, I worked with him directly or indirectly in one capacity or other. Over the years I also developed a friendship with him and Farideh, his wonderful wife. We had many talks about our common Iranian heritage and what was happening back in our country. Manou was larger than life! His presence was felt wherever he was. He was charismatic and had a lively personality that captured one’s attention immediately. He was an inspirational and natural leader. His experiences working in Iran, Nigeria and Pakistan before coming to New York bestowed upon him the wisdom and pragmatism required to lead a large team effectively. His tenures as Director of Division of Programme Field Services and then Division of Personnel w

Yoshi Uramoto Thanks Steve. You have described the Manou I know well. To me, above all the contribution he made to Unicef and for children, he was a good man! He was kind, considerate and human .... he makes me proud that we worked for Unicef! Thank you Manou! You can rest in peace now as you have done your work on earth! Yoshi Steve Umemoto Manou is indeed one of us that will long be remembered in the hearts of so many. I first encountered him as UNICEF Representative in Pakistan in the mid 1970s. He struck me as a forthright and engaging personality ... but that was only a part of who Manou was and what it contributed to the mission of UNICEF. Manou knew and identified fully with the mission of UNICEF. But rather than focus on his own position and career, he seemed to recognize that teamwork and empowered team members was really what it was all about. Although I never had the good fortune to serve together with Manou in any post, we met occasionally and over the years I have in