Toronto, May 10, 2017…Save the Children is pleased to announce that its President and CEO, Patricia Erb, is this year’s recipient of the Karen Takacs Award for Women’s Leadership in International Development. The award is given annually to a woman who identifies as a feminist, is peer-nominated, and is making a meaningful contribution to global cooperation.
Erb received the honour at CCIC’s Global Impact Soirée. The event, held as part of Canada’s 150th Anniversary celebrations, highlighted the contribution Canada has made to international development and humanitarian assistance.
“It’s fitting that we’ve honoured Patricia Erb at this special event,” said Julia Sanchez, President-CEO of the Canadian Council for International Co-operation (CCIC). “Erb is an unwavering advocate and champion for the rights and health of children and women.”
At the age of 14, while travelling in Bolivia, Erb witnessed overwhelming poverty – children and families struggling simply to survive. It inspired her life’s work to help break the cycle of poverty and social injustice.
She attended university in Buenos Aires during the time of the military junta. In 1976, when Erb was a student leader and social activist, the military junta broke into her parent’s home and kidnapped her. She was held and tortured for four weeks. Thanks to the activism of the Mennonite community of North America who called for her release, Patricia survived when more than 30,000 didn’t.
Expelled to her country of birth, the United States, Erb worked with other activists to successfully campaign to end US military funding for Argentina. She rushed to finish the education that the Junta tried to deny her and returned to Latin America in the 1980s.
Over the years, Erb has used her voice as a champion for the vulnerable and marginalized. She has had a specific focus on the rights of women and girls, working children, and also the rights of Indigenous children. As the President and CEO of Save the Children, she is passionate about improving children’s lives, protecting their rights and creating opportunities for change.
The Karen Takacs Award was created in 2016 in memory of Karen Takacs. It honours her contribution to social and economic justice. By creating this award, CCIC celebrates the leadership Takacs demonstrated throughout her career and during her time as Chair of the Board of CCIC.
“I am extremely honoured to receive this award. My motivation for my work has always been equality and justice for all. Karen’s work was exactly this. With optimism and compassion, she devoted herself to social justice. Being recognized for my work on behalf of vulnerable populations is a privilege I feel extremely lucky to experience. Being recognized by an award in Karen’s name is humbling, and I’m flattered to be associated with her name and her memory,” stated Erb.
ENDS
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