February 1, 2016, AKU News: Professor Marleen Temmerman, Chair, Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology and Director, Women’s Health and Research, Faculty of Health Sciences at the Aga Khan University in East Africa has received the prestigious Marie Popelin award 2016 in recognition of her endeavours for women’s rights.
Established by the National Women’s Council, Belgium, the five-yearly award is awarded to people who contribute most to women’s rights in the country. It is named after Marie Popelin – a feminist, lawyer and political campaigner, and the first Belgian woman to receive a Doctor of Law degree.
“I am receiving this award on behalf of many women and men around the world, who are proud to be feminists, people who are convinced that men and women should have equal rights,” said Professor Temmerman.
She received the award from Ms Magda De Meyer, president of the National Women’s Council in Belgium, at a ceremony on January 28 in Brussels.
A scientist, author and politician, Professor Temmerman is best known as an obstetrician-gynaecologist who worked the world over for the health rights of women and children.
She has a strong academic background with over 400 publications and books in the area of women’s health; many PhD students in Europe, Africa, Latin America and China; and several awards and honours.
Before joining AKU in December last year, Professor Temmerman was the Director of the Department of Reproductive Health and Research at the World Health Organization in Geneva.
She is also the Founding Director of the International Centre of Reproductive Health at the Ghent University.
In 2007, Dr Temmerman was elected as a senator in the Belgian parliament where she was a member of the Commission on Social Affairs, and chair of the Commission on Foreign Affairs.
Sources:
Ismailimail 