Varsha Deshpande from Satara wins 2025 UN Population award for championing gender equality in India

According to an official statement, the laureate of the fortieth edition of the United Nations Population Award in the individual category is Varsha Deshpande, Secretary, Dalit Mahila Vikas Mandal of India.

At the helm of Dalit Mahila Vikas Mandal that she set up in 1990, Deshpande has spearheaded numerous programmes, including ones addressing child marriage through the empowerment of adolescent girls and engagement with men and boys; safeguarding the rights of women in the informal sector; and promoting joint property registration to boost women’s access to assets. She is a member of several statutory bodies constituted under the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PCPNDT) Act, the law to address gender-biased sex selection, and has played an instrumental role in strengthening its implementation.

“Deshpande tirelessly works to empower grassroots women by building their vocational skills, connecting them to vital resources and services, and fostering their financial independence. She has also played a pivotal role in addressing gender-biased sex selection (GBSS), championing legal reforms and behaviour change through community engagement and advocacy,” the statement added.

“I sincerely hope this recognition helps renew focus on the critical issue of gender-biased sex selection and reinforces the importance of investing in the value of women and girls. Being counted among those who have made significant global contributions is both humbling and inspiring. It deepens my sense of responsibility to live up to this honour and to uphold the trust placed in me,” Dehpande said

Andrea M Wojnar, United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) India representative and Country Director Bhutan, pointed out that Deshpande’s pioneering efforts to build a more equal society were truly commendable. “Her dedication to addressing all forms of discrimination—whether based on gender, caste, or religion—has contributed significantly to ensuring that people, especially women and girls, can live with dignity, opportunity, and well-being. I deeply appreciate her passion and commend her courage for working on a sensitive and critical issue like gender-biased sex selection,” she said. This recognition affirms the power of grassroots action in advancing gender equality and reproductive rights, and reflects the global importance of Deshpande’s lifelong work, she said.

About the UN Population Award

Each year, the Committee for the United Nations Population Award honours an individual and/or institution in recognition of outstanding contributions to population and reproductive health issues and solutions. The award was established by the General Assembly in 1981, in resolution 36/201, and was first presented in 1983. It is now in its fortieth year. It consists of a gold medal, a diploma, and a monetary prize. The Committee for the United Nations Population Award comprises eight UN member states, with United Nations Secretary-General and UNFPA Executive Director serving as ex-officio members.