Dr. Catherine Euvrard, Director of Communications and Scientific Relations at Roussel Uclaf and a 1994 Feminist of the Year, was presented with les Insignes de Chevalier dans l'Ordre National de la Legion d'Honneur (the sign of the Knight in the Order of Legion of Honor) by former French Minister of Research Hubert Curien at a June ceremony in Paris.
The Chevalier dans l'Ordre National de la Legion d'Honneur was created by Napoleon Bonaparte in 1802, and is a much coveted award in France.
Euvrard received this highest distinction for forging new alliances between basic scientific and industrial research and for her leadership in promoting equal opportunities for women at Roussel Uclaf, the French pharmaceutical firm which developed RU486.
In his presentation of the award, Curien also recognized Euvrard's important role in the RU 486 saga. Since 1984, Euvrard has been involved in the scientific development of RU 486, dissemination of information about the compound worldwide, and negotiations to in&troduce RU 486 to the 'United States. In January, Euvrard was placed in charge of RU 486 for Roussel Uclaf.
In accepting the les Insignes de Chevalier dans l'Ordre National de la Legion d'Honneur distinction, Euvrard challenged the role men have played in restricting women's access to RU 486 and to abortion. Said Euvrard, "Why is it that an exclusively female situation is dealt with essentially by men, and too often with such confidence and so much ignorance of the reality of the lives of women confronted with the anguish of an unwanted pregnancy and the guilt associated with ending that pregnancy?"
Euvrard's address also noted the importance of equal opportunity policies to the advancement of women and to human resource management in the corporate world. Between 1990 and 1994, Euvrard initiated a series of companywide programs at Roussel Uclaf to encourage equal opportunities for women and to end wage inequalities. As a result of this initiative, the percentage of women managers grew from 28.1% in 1990 to 34.8% in 1994 and the wage gap between female and male workers was reduced.
In her remarks, Euvrard cited the plight of women under religious fundamentalism in Algeria as evidence of the obstacles women face and the imperative need for recognition of women's rights.
Euvrard, who holds a doctorate in pharmacology, joined Roussel Uclaf in 1977 to direct their Neurobiochemistry Laboratory. She assumed the post of Director of Scientific Relations in 1982. In this capacity, she created the l'Institut Scientifique Roussel, which promotes relationships between Roussel Uclaf and the international scientific community, and established branches of the Institute in Italy, India, Great Britain, and Spain.
In 1987, Euvrard was appointed to head Roussel Uclaf's Communications Department and in 1988 joined Roussel Uclaf's Executive Committee. Euvrard is the highest ranking woman at Roussel Uclaf, a multi-national pharmaceutical firm with subsidiaries in 29 countries.
Euvrard, along with Dr. Edouard Sakiz, former CEO and current Chair of the Board of Supervisors of Roussel Uclaf, received a Feminist of the Year award last year for helping to break the logjam on introduction of RU 486 to the United States and for working to expand employment opportunities for women at Roussel Uclaf.
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