The Hague, 12 September 2007,

UNPO expresses its sadness at the news of the death of Dame Anita Roddick, human rights activist and founder of the Body Shop. She had been a long-time active supporter of UNPO and its Members, and on behalf of all the unrepresented people of the world, UNPO expresses its sympathy to the family of Dame Roddick.

After nurturing the growth of the Body Shop, a beauty product retailer with an ethical philosophy founded in the 1970’s, Dame Roddick became very active in human rights and environmental issues. She championed the cause of the oppressed, abused, and forgotten around the world, and supported UNPO from its foundation onwards to contribute to the improvement and development of human rights.

Her activities in the field were greatly appreciated by UNPO, never more so than when she supported the environmental campaign of the Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP) to protect their land against degradation, her tireless fight against the imprisonment and execution of rights activist Ken Saro-Wiwa, representative of the Ogoni and Vice-President of UNPO at the time, and her generous funding of countless UNPO activities.

With her loss, all UNPO Members have lost an ally and a friend, and UNPO is confident that the positive impact she made on the search for justice will be remembered and carried on.

Signed by,

Ledum Mitee
UNPO President

Marino Busdachin
UNPO General Secretary