Bilge Ogun Bassani, former Programme Director for the UN Fund for
International Partnership, Will Direct 87 AIDS-related Efforts in 17 Countries
Beginning December 1, 2004, World AIDS Day
BOSTON, Dec. 1 /PRNewswire/ -- Bilge Ogun Bassani has been appointed Chief
Executive Officer of the Francois-Xavier Bagnoud (FXB), it was announced here
today by FXB Founding President Albina du Boisrouvray.
Ms. Bassani, the former Programme Director of the UN Fund for
International Partnership (the office created to serve as the operational arm
of the UN system in support of the UN Foundation -- UNF), will take direction
of the worldwide 15-year-old NGO with headquarters in Switzerland and 87
AIDS-related projects in 17 countries reaching more than a million persons
today, World AIDS Day.
Commenting on the appointment, Albina said "I am confident that Bilge with
her long experience of work with the UN Foundation, UNICEF and field
experience with Save the Children will lead FXB to the next level to develop
the resources, strengthen and tighten the worldwide management and to raise
public consciousness to effectively help the millions of AIDS orphans and
vulnerable children from FXB grassroots programs to political, legal and
medical changes."
"HIV/AIDS orphans crisis is the greatest humanitarian, social, economic
and development challenge facing the global community. It is a priority to
prevent AIDS orphans and these vulnerable and destitute children from becoming
a global stability and security risk. In order to survive, these children have
no choice but to let themselves be pulled into prostitution, criminality, drug
dealing, becoming child soldiers, terrorists or turning themselves into human
bombs, creating a global subculture of delinquency values," she said.
Ms. Bassani, who will initially work out of New York City, said that "to
help the orphans and vulnerable children globally, we will vigorously promote
the FXB low-cost community-driven models, create opportunities through high-
technology and market-based solutions for them to move out of poverty to
dignified self sufficiency. Based on the results of our research and policy
analysis, we will not hesitate to speak out forcefully in defense of these
children."
The appointment was announced World AIDS Day at the Francois-Xavier
Bagnoud Building, the US headquarters of FXB as well as the location of the
Francois-Xavier Bagnoud Center for Health and Human Rights, established in
late 1992 at the Harvard School of Public Health under the leadership of the
late Dr. Jonathan Mann, a pioneer in developing programs to deal with the AIDS
pandemic.
FXB is a non-profit organization registered as a 501(c) (3) public charity
in the United States; in France under the Law 1901 modified; as per articles
60ss of the Swiss Civil Code; and in numerous countries in which FXB has staff
and operations, consistent with national registration and incorporation
requirements. In addition, FXB has Special Consultative status with the United
Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).
The mission of FXB is to fight poverty and AIDS and support the orphans
and vulnerable children left in the wake of the pandemic by advocating for
their rights and by providing direct support to families and communities that
care for them.
From the time that Albina du Boisrouvray founded FXB in 1989, she has
sought to identify and apply practical solutions to the social, economic and
health problems caused by the AIDS pandemic. FXB has been a leading innovator
and pioneer in the fight against HIV/AIDS and the application of social
entrepreneur models to care for those infected and affected by the virus. FXB
works with the conviction that the inextricable link between Health and Human
Rights is a key to sustainable development.
For more information: http://www.fxb.org.
SOURCE Francois-Xavier Bagnoud
 back to top
Related links:
http://www.fxb.org
CONTACT:
Don Casey of Francois-Xavier Bagnoud,
+1-718-237-9173, dcasey@fxb.org
|
