Kul Gautam: Sadako Ogata, RIP

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-50217124