Dick Heyward
Encyclopedia
Dick Heyward was a deputy executive director of UNICEF
between 1949 and 1981. During that time, he was responsible for developing many of UNICEF's policies for children and served under three executive directors.
E.J.R. Dick Heyward was born in Tasmania
in 1914. He grew up on his family's apple farm and studied at the London School of Economics
. He served as first secretary to the Australia
n Mission between 1947 and 1949. He started his career in UNICEF as the Deputy Executive Director in charge of Operations in 1949 and soon developed a reputation for his intellect, efficiency and dedication.
He played a leading role in integrating UNICEF into the United Nations Development Programme
established in the late 1950s. In 1960, UNICEF established a special survey into the needs of children commissioning reports from the World Health Organisation (WHO), the Food and Agriculture Organization
(FAO) and other UN organisations. The outcome of this work was the Children of the Developing Countries report arguing that children be the focus of development programs and that UNICEF supported "Planning for Children". As a result of the new policy guided by Heyward, UNICEF funded educational programs for the first time.
Heyward became a Deputy Executive Director of UNICEF in 1975 with the rank of UN Assistant Secretary General. In that year, he played a significant role in reviewing assistance to the third world. He championed the "basic services" model where services would be integrated and community based rather than the top down model previously in place. UNICEF committed to this model in 1976 and the organisation was working with the WHO in adopting a preventative approach to health care. After some initial reluctance, UNICEF agreed to support a proposal by child related NGOs
such as the International Union for Child Welfare to set up the International Year of the Child
in 1979.
He retired from his position in UNICEF in 1981. However, he continued to travel regularly to Africa on missions from UNICEF, the World Bank
and the WHO. For example, in the early 1990s he recommended to the World Bank that iodine be added to water from village wells to address deficiencies in that mineral rather than fortifying salt as salt was not always used. However, he had a stroke in 1997 which meant that he was not able to travel as widely as before. Heyward died in Manhassett on Long Island
after a long illness in 2005.
Heyward's wife Elisabeth Heyward
was a United Nations
conference interpreter
, and his son Andrew Heyward
was president of CBS News
until his death. His other son Peter Heyward was a lawyer in Washington DC.
United Nations Children's Fund
United Nations Children's Fund was created by the United Nations General Assembly on December 11, 1946, to provide emergency food and healthcare to children in countries that had been devastated by World War II...
between 1949 and 1981. During that time, he was responsible for developing many of UNICEF's policies for children and served under three executive directors.
E.J.R. Dick Heyward was born in Tasmania
Tasmania
Tasmania is an Australian island and state. It is south of the continent, separated by Bass Strait. The state includes the island of Tasmania—the 26th largest island in the world—and the surrounding islands. The state has a population of 507,626 , of whom almost half reside in the greater Hobart...
in 1914. He grew up on his family's apple farm and studied at the London School of Economics
London School of Economics
The London School of Economics and Political Science is a public research university specialised in the social sciences located in London, United Kingdom, and a constituent college of the federal University of London...
. He served as first secretary to the Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n Mission between 1947 and 1949. He started his career in UNICEF as the Deputy Executive Director in charge of Operations in 1949 and soon developed a reputation for his intellect, efficiency and dedication.
He played a leading role in integrating UNICEF into the United Nations Development Programme
United Nations Development Programme
The United Nations Development Programme is the United Nations' global development network. It advocates for change and connects countries to knowledge, experience and resources to help people build a better life. UNDP operates in 177 countries, working with nations on their own solutions to...
established in the late 1950s. In 1960, UNICEF established a special survey into the needs of children commissioning reports from the World Health Organisation (WHO), the Food and Agriculture Organization
Food and Agriculture Organization
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations is a specialised agency of the United Nations that leads international efforts to defeat hunger. Serving both developed and developing countries, FAO acts as a neutral forum where all nations meet as equals to negotiate agreements and...
(FAO) and other UN organisations. The outcome of this work was the Children of the Developing Countries report arguing that children be the focus of development programs and that UNICEF supported "Planning for Children". As a result of the new policy guided by Heyward, UNICEF funded educational programs for the first time.
Heyward became a Deputy Executive Director of UNICEF in 1975 with the rank of UN Assistant Secretary General. In that year, he played a significant role in reviewing assistance to the third world. He championed the "basic services" model where services would be integrated and community based rather than the top down model previously in place. UNICEF committed to this model in 1976 and the organisation was working with the WHO in adopting a preventative approach to health care. After some initial reluctance, UNICEF agreed to support a proposal by child related NGOs
Non-governmental organization
A non-governmental organization is a legally constituted organization created by natural or legal persons that operates independently from any government. The term originated from the United Nations , and is normally used to refer to organizations that do not form part of the government and are...
such as the International Union for Child Welfare to set up the International Year of the Child
International Year of the Child
* Maureen Millicent Bomford founded International Year of The Child and it was endorsed by the United Nations. Maureen was born in Canterbury Punchbowl in 1930 and had four brothers. Her father was a Mayor and she always learned to appreciate the value of leadership. As the wife of a prominent...
in 1979.
He retired from his position in UNICEF in 1981. However, he continued to travel regularly to Africa on missions from UNICEF, the World Bank
World Bank
The World Bank is an international financial institution that provides loans to developing countries for capital programmes.The World Bank's official goal is the reduction of poverty...
and the WHO. For example, in the early 1990s he recommended to the World Bank that iodine be added to water from village wells to address deficiencies in that mineral rather than fortifying salt as salt was not always used. However, he had a stroke in 1997 which meant that he was not able to travel as widely as before. Heyward died in Manhassett on Long Island
Manhasset, New York
Manhasset is a hamlet and neighborhood in Nassau County, New York, on the North Shore of Long Island. As of the United States 2010 Census, the population was 8,080....
after a long illness in 2005.
Heyward's wife Elisabeth Heyward
Elisabeth Heyward
Elisabeth Heyward was one of the participating interpreters during the Nuremberg Trials held in the city of Nuremberg, Germany after World War II. She was the wife of the late Dick Heyward, former senior deputy executive director of UNICEF....
was a United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
conference interpreter
Interpreting
Language interpretation is the facilitating of oral or sign-language communication, either simultaneously or consecutively, between users of different languages...
, and his son Andrew Heyward
Andrew Heyward
Andrew Heyward is a former President of CBS News, serving from January 1996 until early November 2005. Currently, he is a Senior Advisor to Marketspace LLC, Monitor Group's digital media practice, where he works with clients to create and strengthen original online content, make more effective use...
was president of CBS News
CBS News
CBS News is the news division of American television and radio network CBS. The current chairman is Jeff Fager who is also the executive producer of 60 Minutes, while the current president of CBS News is David Rhodes. CBS News' flagship program is the CBS Evening News, hosted by the network's main...
until his death. His other son Peter Heyward was a lawyer in Washington DC.