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”It is hard to not be aware that we are an integral part of this world and that we have to do something. My job is to pass on this information.” -- Catarina Furtado

Profile

Catarina Furtado was born August 25, 1972, in Lisbon, Portugal. With early dreams of becoming a ballerina, Catarina's father, renowned television reporter Joaquim Furtado, wanted Catarina to follow in his footsteps and pirouette into journalism. After graduating from Escola de Danca do Conservatorio Nacional de Lisboa in 1990, a dance school in Lisbon, Catarina followed her father's wishes, and studied journalism at CENJOR, in Portugal.

Today, Catarina Furtado is one of Portugal's most popular celebrities. She has done a variety of work for Portugal's leading media companies such as RTP, SIC, Radio Comercial, and Antena 3, as a host, interviewer, actress, and spokesperson.
Though her beauty and ever-present charm helped the beautiful Catarina get in front of the camera, it was her intelligence and poise that helped keep her there.
A champion of women’s rights, Catarina Furtado was nominated by Associaçao para o Planeamento da Família (APF) to be a UNFPA Goodwill Ambassador.

Activities

10 June 2005. UNFPA Goodwill Ambassador Becomes Youngest Portuguese to Win National Honour

10 December 2001. UNFPA Gives New Meaning to My Life, Says Actress

May-July 2001. Actress Catarina Furtado Visits Mozambique

March 1999. Catarina Furtado and the Portuguese family planning association, Associação para o Planeamento da Famîlia (APF), held a press conference to introduce the Cara a Cara exhibition on reproductive rights. The exhibit was created to be placed in schools and government institutions. In addition to endorsing the exhibition, Ms. Furtado recorded several public service announcements for APF that aired on all major Portuguese TV stations. The PSAs highlighted sexual and reproductive health problems in developing countries that need to be addressed.

Priorities

Youth pregnancy, HIV/AIDS, FGM