Statement from Planned Parenthood Global on New United Nations Secretary General

Statement from Latanya Mapp Frett, Executive Director, Planned Parenthood Global, on the appointment of former Portuguese Prime Minister and former head of UNHCR Antonio Guterres as the new United Nations Secretary General:

"We have never had a woman Secretary-General, and hope to one day. But the United Nations (UN) plays a crucial role in promoting peace and sustainable development around the world, and I welcome António Guterres as its next leader. For the past decade, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has made the needs of women and girls a cornerstone of his tenure, notably with his Every Woman Every Child initiative, which has pledged billions of dollars and brought together multiple partners in support of the Global Strategy for Women's and Children's Health. In the coming days, Secretary-General Guterres will face many global challenges and pressures. Gender equality, including sexual and reproductive health, is an essential ingredient to global progress in any area, as is reflected in the new Sustainable Development Agenda. I sincerely hope that as the next UN Secretary-General, Guterres brings to bear his experience as Prime Minister of Portugal and UN High Commissioner on Refugees and fulfills his commitment to gender equity."

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About Planned Parenthood Global

For more than 40 years, Planned Parenthood Global, the international arm of PPFA, has been working overseas to ensure that women, men, and young people in some of the world’s most neglected areas have access to the health care they need to control their bodies and their futures. By partnering with local advocates, medical service providers, and youth leaders and helping to build sustainable networks and organizations, we find innovative ways to deliver critical services and fight for more inclusive laws and policies.