Emma makes Namibia proud
The 2022 United Nations Population Award individual laureate for 2022 is Namibian Member of Parliament of Emma Theofelus, deputy minister of Information and the youngest-ever winner of the award.The announcement was made in New York on Monday.
Theofelus received the individual award for her work advocating for women’s empowerment and adolescent sexual and reproductive health in Namibia.
Born in 1996, she is one of Africa's youngest cabinet ministers and has used her youth-friendly perspective and her experience as an advocate for sexual and reproductive health to directly address the country’s adolescents.
As a deputy minister, she led the country’s public communication campaign on Covid-19 preventions in Namibia, and as a Member of Parliament, her motion enabled feminine hygiene products to be identified as a tax-free commodity.
Prior to her appointment, Theofelus was a member of the Namibia chapter of AfriYAN, a regional youth-led organisation, where she led pioneering efforts to fight teen pregnancy and protect young people’s sexual and reproductive health.
The UN Population Award honours individuals and institutions for their outstanding contributions to population, development and reproductive health since 1983.