President of Malta Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca has been awarded the ‘Agent of Change’ award by the United Nations and UN Women. The award, presented by Deputy Executive Director of UN Women Lakshmi Puri, was given for the first time this year as recognition to women leaders who have, through their work, proven to be champions of gender equality and women’s empowerment.
In her acceptance speech, President Coleiro Preca reiterated her intention to continue working in favour of gender equality, stating that she will not be happy if in Malta ‘‘there would be full equality, and somewhere around the world there will be just one woman who would be suffering from discrimination’’. The President insisted that it is time to move from words to action, adding that there should be a general sense of determination across the board, so that Goal number 5 of the Sustainable Development 2030 Agenda is reached, for the benefit of present and future generations. President Coleiro Preca dedicated this award to all Maltese children, and those children facing daily struggles in search of freedom and a better life.
The ‘Agent of Change’ award was also presented to Prime Minister of Bangladesh Sheikh Hazina Wazed, and to the First Lady of the United Nations Ban Soon-taek.