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Former Danish PM to lead Save the Children International

Xinhua, January 14, 2016 Adjust font size:

Former Danish prime minister Helle Thorning-Schmidt was appointed as the new chief executive of Save the Children International, the children charity organization announced on Wednesday.

Thorning-Schmidt replaces Jasmine Whitbread as head of the umbrella organisation for the Save the Children movement, with responsibility for programs reaching over 55 million children in 120 countries, the organization said in a statement published on its website.

"We are very pleased to appoint a new CEO with a proven track record of international leadership and a passion to improve the world for children," Alan Parker, chairman of Save the Children International, said in the statement.

Parker said it is not right that many children continue to suffer and die unnecessarily and to be held back from fulfilling their potential in the 21st century.

"Helle shares this conviction deeply and I believe that she can play a real role in helping to increase our impact and deliver real improvements for children," Parker said.

Thorning-Schmidt will take up her position on April 4, and will be based at Save the Children International's headquarters in London.

Thorning-Schmidt, 49, led a coalition Danish government for a full parliamentary term from 2011 until 2015 before she stepped down after losing a parliamentary election on June 18, 2015, to Lars Loekke Rasmussen.

Commenting on her appointment, Thorning-Schmidt said there is still much more to do to rescue children from suffering and danger although the world has made unprecedented progress in reducing child mortality in recent decades.

"Children's protection, rights and development have always been close to my heart, and I look forward to doing everything I can to help us deliver on our bold but simple ambitions: that no child under five dies from preventable causes, all children get access to quality education and that no child should live with violence and abuse," she said in the statement.

Save the Children International, formed in 2010, is part of the charity organization Save the Children, which also comprises 30 member organizations that work together to deliver change for children in 120 countries. Endit