Nearly 300 friends and supporters joined IWHC in honoring Christiane Amanpour at our annual gala on April 8, 2013, at The Pierre in New York City. As CNN’s chief international correspondent and the global affairs anchor for ABC News, Amanpour has maintained an unwavering commitment to telling the stories of women and girls around the world. IWHC President Françoise Girard and Board Chair Marlene Hess presented Amanpour with an honorary tribute for being a “champion for women and girls.” The following are her remarks at the gala.

At its annual gala on April 8, 2013, IWHC presented the first Joan B. Dunlop Award to Adenike Esiet, Executive Director of Action Health Incorporated, based in Lagos, Nigeria. The award recognizes Esiet’s outstanding work to advance the sexual and reproductive health and rights of adolescents in Nigeria. Dr. Babatunde Osotimehin, Executive Director of the United Nations Population Fund, presented Esiet with the award. The following are Esiet’s remarks.

Today, the UN Member States resoundingly committed to ending violence against women and girls, including strong agreements on promoting gender equality, women’s empowerment, and ensuring reproductive rights and access to sexual and reproductive health services.

On the heels of the passage of the Violence Against Women Act in the United States today, women's groups worldwide are calling on government leaders at the United Nations to commit to preventing sexual violence and providing rape survivors with safe abortion and emergency contraception.