Helvi Sipilä Dies
Helvi Sipilä has died at the age of 94. Helvi Sipilä was the first ever woman U.N. Assistant Secretary-General. Her specific area of responsibility was the Center for Social Development and Humanitarian Affairs, where she served from 1972 to 1980.
Among the achievements during her period of office were the first U.N. International Womens Year and its related world conference in 1974-75. Later she was appointed Chairperson of the Finnish association of the U.N. Development Fund.
Helvi Sipilä began her career as a lawyer in the 1940’s. In 1982, she was also the first women to stand as a presidential candidate in Finland.
Throughout her career, Helvi Sipilä was a promoter of womens rights, which she felt had been ignored in many societies and constituted a great setback to development.
Helvi Sipilä received numerous honours including a total of twelve doctorates in universities and other institutes of higher education. She was granted the title of Minister in 2001.
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