30 March 2007, Rome – President Vaira Vike-Freiberga of Latvia was today awarded the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization’s Ceres Medal in recognition of her contribution to social justice, moral values and democracy.

At a ceremony at FAO Headquarters, Director-General Jacques Diouf told Dr Vike-Freiberga that the award was a token of the Organization’s “esteem and respect for your active engagement in community services and for your distinguished work in the humanities and social sciences".

He also cited the efforts undertaken by Latvia’s first woman Head of State to promote her country’s cultural heritage and her policies in favour of social justice and gender equality, human rights and the plight of refugees.

Special Envoy

Dr Vike-Freiberga has served since 2005 as Special Envoy to the UN Secretary-General on the Reform of the United Nations.

The Ceres Medal – named after the Roman goddess of agriculture – is awarded to distinguished women who have made an outstanding contribution to social and humanitarian affairs or to agricultural development and food security. Previous recipients include Mother Teresa of Calcutta, Queen Sofia of Spain, former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and the former President of Panama, Mireya Moscoso.

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Contact:
Christopher Matthews
Media Relations, FAO
christopher.matthews@fao.org
(+39) 06 570 53762