At ICFP 2025, we celebrated individuals, organizations, and national leaders whose work exemplifies courage, innovation, and lasting impact across the field of sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR). This year’s awardees represent diverse regions and disciplines, yet share a common thread: each has advanced equity, expanded access, and improved lives through bold leadership.
Below is a look at the outstanding honorees recognized at this year’s conference.
Luminary Award Recipients
Hadiqa Bashir — Pakistan
A feminist activist and founder of Girls United for Human Rights (GUHR), Hadiqa Bashir has become a global voice for ending child marriage and advancing girls’ rights. Her activism began at age 11, when she refused a forced marriage proposal—a defining moment that sparked her mission to protect girls and empower marginalized youth. Through GUHR, she links gender equality, SRHR, and climate justice, partnering with policymakers, religious leaders, and local communities to drive sustainable, community-led change. Her leadership has earned international recognition and continues to inspire young advocates worldwide.
Dr. Tlaleng Mofokeng — South Africa
A global health expert and UN Special Rapporteur on the right to health, Dr. Tlaleng Mofokeng has shaped policy, clinical practice, and public discourse on SRHR, advocating for adolescent health, transgender-affirming care, abortion access, and gender justice. A bestselling author and respected scholar, she brings deep clinical and policy experience to health reform efforts worldwide. Her work chairing the Lancet Commission on Racism, Structural Discrimination and Global Health exemplifies her commitment to building equitable systems that protect dignity and advance human rights.
Esther Corona Vargas — Mexico
A pioneer of sexuality education in Latin America, Esther Corona Vargas has spent nearly six decades strengthening SRHR, gender equality, and comprehensive education. She founded AMES, Mexico’s first NGO dedicated to sexual education, and has shaped global norms through leadership roles in major scientific and policy bodies. Her enduring contributions—as an educator, psychologist, advocate, and consultant to UN agencies—have expanded rights-based, evidence-driven sexuality education for generations.
Excellence in Leadership & Innovation Award Recipients
Chinelo Jessica Ucheaga — Nigeria (Individual)
An SRHR advocate advancing reproductive justice across Africa through data-driven digital strategy and community-centered programming. Through her work with the Leading Women’s Health Foundation, she has expanded access to menstrual equity initiatives and breast and cervical cancer screening for underserved women and schoolgirls in Nigeria. As a digital content strategist, Chinelo applies analytics-informed approaches to design and scale accessible, evidence-based sexual and reproductive health education, reaching millions across social media platforms.
Martha Dimitratou — Greece (Individual)
A cultural and digital strategist, Martha Dimitratou merges technology, art, and advocacy to resist censorship and elevate access to SRHR information worldwide. Through Repro Uncensored and Uncensored Media, she has pioneered innovative research and privacy-protective reporting tools that document digital suppression of reproductive and political information. Her cross-disciplinary collaborations—from global rights forums to major cultural festivals—have redefined what creative, intersectional SRHR advocacy can achieve in the digital era.
Sudan Family Planning Association (SFPA) — Sudan (Organization)
For six decades, SFPA has championed rights-based SRHR access across Sudan, even amid conflict and displacement. Operating clinics, mobile units, franchised facilities, and a nationwide network of community distributors, SFPA delivers essential services to youth, women, persons with disabilities, IDPs, and refugees. Its adoption of digital systems, strong governance, and deep community partnerships exemplify innovation and resilience. SFPA continues to model what sustainable, locally led SRHR progress looks like under challenging conditions.
WHO/IBP Network — Switzerland (Organization)
The IBP Network is one of the world’s longest-standing platforms for evidence-sharing and collaborative learning in FP/SRHR. With over 25,000 members and 150+ organizations, IBP has transformed how practitioners exchange, adapt, and scale best practices. Its communities of practice have seeded new institutions, strengthened local leadership, and advanced equity within global health. IBP’s commitment to centering local expertise has reshaped how knowledge is produced—and who holds power within SRHR agendas.
The Government of Madagascar — Madagascar (Country)
Madagascar was honored for sustained national leadership and investment in SRHR, even amid political transition. The country has increased modern contraceptive prevalence from 33.3% in 2012 to 48.6% today, with a clear path to reaching 60% by 2030. Its domestic financing commitments—including $25 million dedicated in 2025—demonstrate long-term accountability. Innovations such as youth-focused voucher programs, mobile clinics, and the landmark “Made Possible by Family Planning” campaign reflect an unwavering commitment to equity, resilience, and rights.
Lifetime Achievement Award Recipients
Jose “Oying” Rimon — Philippines
A globally respected leader in population and reproductive health, Oying Rimon has shaped the SRHR landscape for more than 30 years. His leadership at the Gates Institute, his stewardship of the International Conference on Family Planning, and his decades of designing, managing, and evaluating advocacy and behavior-change programs have influenced health systems across Asia, Africa, and the Near East. His strategic vision helped shape the 2012 London Summit on Family Planning and continues to guide efforts to expand rights-based access worldwide.
Dr. Natalia Kanem — Panama
A distinguished global health leader and former UNFPA Executive Director, Dr. Kanem has dedicated her career to advancing the rights and well-being of women and girls. Her medical and diplomatic expertise has strengthened international investments, grounded programs in community priorities, and upheld the principle that people experiencing challenges must lead the solutions. She has mobilized resources, shaped global policy, and championed human dignity with unwavering conviction for over four decades.
Global Humanitarian Award Recipient
Dirk Rossmann — Germany
Entrepreneur, philanthropist, and founder of the Rossmann retail chain, Dirk Rossmann has demonstrated how private-sector leadership can drive profound social change. Through the Deutsche Stiftung Weltbevölkerung (DSW), he has expanded youth empowerment, sexuality education, and access to contraceptives across East Africa. His advocacy for rights-based family planning—and his collaborations with governments, foundations, and development partners—has elevated SRHR as a cornerstone of sustainable development. His leadership embodies a rare combination of business acumen, humanitarian commitment, and long-term vision.
Celebrating Leadership That Moves the World Forward
This year’s honorees remind us that progress in family planning and SRHR is powered by people and institutions willing to innovate, challenge norms, and stand firm in their values. Their contributions—spanning grassroots activism, national policy, digital freedom, and global collaboration—are shaping a future where rights and access are realized for all.
ICFP is proud to celebrate their achievements and even prouder to stand with them as partners in advancing equity through action.
