(27 September 2011) The United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) sends its condolences to Wangari Maathai's family and everyone in Kenya and Africa who are currently grieving the loss of one of their greatest representatives.
Maathai, who died of ovarian cancer on Sunday aged 71, leaves a huge gap in the international community due to her great commitment to the conservation of the environment, democracy and human rights in the African continent and all over the world.
In 1977, she founded the Green Belt Movement in Kenya, an organization which combined environmental protection, the fight against poverty and empowerment of women through the mass planting of trees in rural areas of Africa.
In 2004, she became the first environmentalist and the first African women to receive a Nobel Peace Prize. Maathai strongly supported the work of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and worked in the parliament and government of her country.
"Everyone who had the honour of meeting her feels inspired by her passion, dedication and ideas. Her death must encourage us to continue working even harder towards sustainable development all over the world," stated the Executive Secretary of ECLAC, Alicia Bárcena.
Any queries should be addressed to the ECLAC Public Information and Web Services Section. E-mail: dpisantiago@cepal.org; Telephone: (56 2) 210 2040.
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