Excellences, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen:

It is now some years ago that I first came in contact with the work of ICRW. Since that positive first impression, my admiration for ICRW’s approach to translating insights identified through research into paths of action has grown strongly.

In May this year, the Women Deliver conference was held in Denmark and I had the honour of awarding ICRW’s Champions for Change to Jill Sheffield (Women Deliver’s Founder and President) and Melinda Gates. At this event, it was strikingly clear that the work of ICRW is highly respected and valued by so many stakeholders who share a common goal to empower women, advance gender equality and fight poverty in the developing world.

Thank you for all for being here today - and thank you, Betsy, for your warm remarks. 

I was honoured to be asked to join the ICRW Leadership Council and it’s certainly an honour to enter the ICRW Leadership Council in the presence of such distinguished guests and fellow gender equality advocates.

ICRW is an organization that aligns closely with my personal belief that all human beings are born free and equal in rights and dignity. It is also the mission of my foundation to work for a world where everyone has the right to belong and contribute to and be a valued member of a group or society. Gender equality is the foundation for supporting healthy individuals, fostering prosperous communities and building sustainable societies. In my country, Denmark, gender equality is deeply embedded in our culture and I’m very proud that Denmark has been recognized as a world leader in supporting policies and programs that empower women and eliminate gender disparities. 

To have the opportunity to advocate on this agenda alongside eighteen extraordinary leaders in the ICRW Leadership Council is humbling.

The Council is comprised of individuals from a broad range of countries and backgrounds. In that way, the Council is an accurate reflection of the realities: in order to ensure a more equitable world, every man, every woman in every country must commit to building a sustainable future for all. 

The distinguished Council is a result of 40 years pioneering research as well as ambitious leadership. ICRW pursues truth with such passion and ensures that facts and figures are the foundation for creating powerful solutions and real change for women and girls around the world.

Sarah, your leadership has been transformative. I congratulate you on your outstanding achievements and I’m immensely happy to formalize today the relations between us – and also further strengthen the cooperation between Denmark and ICRW.

I will also take this opportunity to thank you – on behalf of the Embassy of Denmark to the United States – for the close collaboration you have had this past year. On this 40th anniversary year of ICRW, shared values and ambitious goals have laid the foundation for several important and timely events organized by ICRW and the Danish Embassy. I know from Ambassador Lose and his team that this collaboration has been seamless and the impact strong.

This venue is rather fitting for this occasion as in many ways this beautiful Library of Congress is a manifestation of the history of human progress.

As we all know, human progress requires a change in the status quo, it requires brave women and men to give voice to inequalities in our societies.

Change requires time and holistic and continuous effort and importantly strong and authentic leadership.

It requires strong and ambitious advocates like Dr. Geeta Rao Gupta to pave the way forward.

I am, therefore, honoured to announce that the 2016 Champions for Change Award for Innovation goes to Dr. Geeta Rao Gupta for her steadfast leadership throughout her career in securing the health and wellbeing of women and girls, which includes twenty-one years of dedicated service to ICRW.

Her groundbreaking research on the causes of women’s vulnerability to HIV changed the face of the global fight against AIDS. And her pioneering spirit established ICRW’s presence in India and built its reputation across Asia and throughout the World. 

On behalf of the International Center for Research on Women and the Leadership Council, it is my great honour to present the 2016 Champions for Change Award for Innovation to Dr. Geeta Rao Gupta.

Congratulations.