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(2 September 2014) The Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), Alicia Bárcena, today became the first Latin American woman to be awarded an honoris causa doctorate by the University of Oslo, Norway, along with another 16 men and women from various disciplines and nationalities.
The most senior representative of ECLAC, speaking to an audience made up of university officials, academics and students, stated "When I obtained my biology degree at the Science Faculty of the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) in the 1970s, I would not have dared to dream that one day I would be the first Latin American woman to achieve this distinction".
According to Ms. Bárcena, since its creation the University of Oslo has been one of the essential pillars of Nordic identity, a major factor underpinning the unique social model that Norwegians have built on collective well-being, and a faithful reflection of this people's aspirations and determination to forge original pathways towards a more equitable and cohesive society.
The Executive Secretary (who took office on 1 July 2008) felt that - through her - the University of Oslo was recognizing the role of hundreds of men and women who work every day to promote human rights, justice and equality in Latin America and the Caribbean under the aegis of ECLAC.
Ms. Bárcena described the honour as "inspiring and intimidating at the same time", in the light of the select group of people to have received it. She stated "Since 1902, the University of Oslo has awarded honorary doctorates to individuals of the standing of Winston Churchill, John Maynard Keynes, Santiago Ramón y Cajal, Niels Bohr, Max Born and the renowned Norwegian, Gro Harlem Brundtland, who devised the concept of sustainable development".
The international official underlined the significance of receiving this honour in Norway as, despite the distance imposed by geography, "we share a community of ideas and values".
She emphasized "My aspiration is to achieve equality based on rights and dignity for all. I aspire to build a sustainable world that protects and respects diversity and global borders".
As part of her visit to the Norwegian capital, the Executive Secretary of ECLAC will hold meetings on Wednesday 3 September with the country's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Børge Brende, as well as other representatives from the Government and Parliament. She will also deliver a lecture at the University of Oslo entitled Equality and sustainable development: a Latin American and Caribbean perspective.
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