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Faith-Based Organizations from All Continents Create Global Network to Fight Maternal Death, AIDS, Poverty
ISTANBUL, Turkey, 21 October 2008 —More than 75 religious leaders and representatives of Hindu, Buddhist, Sikh, Jewish, Christian and Muslim faith-based organizations today formed a global interfaith network to strengthen cooperation against the global urgencies of maternal death, AIDS and poverty.

Donor Support for Contraceptives Stagnates Despite Rising Global Demand
UNITED NATIONS, New York, 02 October 2008 —Donor contributions for contraceptives and condoms for HIV prevention amounted to $223 million in 2007—a mere 5 per cent increase over the 2006 total of $212 million, according to a new analysis by UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund. This is despite a growing unmet need for such supplies, as more couples use modern methods of contraception and world population continues to increase.

Joint Statement on Maternal and Newborn Health
Today, 25 September 2008, as world leaders gather for the High-Level Event on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), we jointly pledge to intensify our support to countries to achieve Millennium Development Goal 5 “To Improve Maternal Health” – the MDG showing the least progress.

UNFPA Strengthens Partnership with UNHCR
GENEVA, 30 April 2008 —UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund, and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) signed an agreement here today to strengthen their combined efforts to respond to the sexual and reproductive health needs of populations displaced by crisis.

New Film Series Takes on Culture of Silence on Violence Against Women
UNITED NATIONS, Geneva, 17 April 2008 — This is an unfortunate anniversary. Fourteen years ago, in April 1994, news got out that ethnic violence in Kigali was spreading throughout Rwanda.

UNFPA Scales Up Efforts to Save Millions of Women
UNITED NATIONS, New York, 14 February — A new thematic fund for maternal health has been created to boost global efforts to reduce the number of women dying in pregnancy and childbirth.

Europeans of the Year Award Donates €32,000 to UNFPA
BRUSSELS, 27 November — UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund, has been named the beneficiary of the 2007 ‘Europeans of the Year’ awards gala held at the Palais d'Egmont here tonight.

World Health, Development Agencies Welcome International Health Partnership Launched Today in London
NEW YORK/LONDON, 5 September 2007 —Several of the world’s leading development and health agencies have welcomed the International Health Partnership launched today in London as renewed hope of saving millions of lives in developing countries.

New Effort to Save Lives of Mothers and Newborns in Bangladesh Gains Support from UK, EC and UN Agencies
DHAKA, Bangladesh, 11 June 2007 — The United Kingdom, the European Commission (EC) and three United Nations agencies are assisting Bangladesh in a major new effort to save lives and improve the health and well-being of mothers and newborns.

Investing in Sexual and Reproductive Health Key to Global Health Security, UNFPA Head Tells World Health Assembly
UNITED NATIONS, Geneva, 15 May 2007 — Governments have to increase investment in sexual and reproductive health to strengthen health systems and ensure international health security. Massive investment is also required to train health personnel at all levels, said Thoraya Ahmed Obaid, Executive Director of UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund.

Celebrity Gathering Spotlights 'End Fistula' Campaign
BRUSSELS, Belgium, 26 April 2007—Singer and actress Natalie Imbruglia, television personality Goedele Liekens, high-level politicians and individuals from the Belgian fashion and media scene gathered this evening to rally support for the Campaign to End Fistula, a global effort to address a devastating injury of childbearing that affects more than 2 million women and girls.

Women's Well-being Key to Afghanistan's Future, UNFPA Leader Stresses
KABUL, Afghanistan, 25 April 2007 — “No nation can be developed when women die while giving birth,” Thoraya Ahmed Obaid, Executive Director of UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund, declared today in an appeal for increased international support for the well-being of Afghanistan’s women.

The Prime Minister of Tanzania Calls on Regional Leaders to Increase Health Spending to 15 Per Cent of National Budgets and to Strive for Achieving Health MDGs
DAR ES SALAAM, Tanzania, 17 April 2007 — More than 300 delegates gathered at the first-ever assembly of The Partnership for Maternal, Newborn & Child Health. Hosted by the Government of Tanzania, the Partners’ Forum (17-20 April 2007) declared today that action is urgently required, if high rates of unjust deaths of mothers, babies and children in poor countries are to be reversed.

Women Fall Victims as Family Planning Resources Dwindle, Warns UNFPA
UNITED NATIONS, New York, 10 April 2007 — The drastic decline in funding for family planning has created victims in the developing parts of the world, said Thoraya Ahmed Obaid, Executive Director of UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund. The proportion of funds allocated to family planning in all population assistance has dropped from 55 per cent in 1995 to 9 per cent in 2004, said Ms. Obaid. This represents a fall from $723 million in 1995 to $442 million in 2004 in absolute dollar terms.

UNFPA Sends Emergency Supplies to Solomon Islands to Enable Pregnant Women to Deliver Safely
SUVA, Fiji, 09 April 2007— To ensure that expectant mothers affected by last week’s earthquake and tsunami can deliver their babies in a safe and clean environment, UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund, has sent emergency reproductive health kits and equipment to the Solomon Islands.

New Population Projections Underline Urgency of Family Planning Needs in Developing Nations
UNITED NATIONS, New York, 13 March 2007 — New world population projections for the year 2050 by the United Nations are yet another wake-up call to the urgency of giving couples the means to exercise their human right to freely determine the sizes of their families, said Thoraya Ahmed Obaid, Executive Director of UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund.

New Studies Show How Violence Against Women Can Be Stopped
UNITED NATIONS, New York, 26 February 2007 — Rape in Mauritania, domestic violence in Mexico and Romania, child marriage in Bangladesh, and female genital mutilation/cutting in Kenya are just a few of the abuses visited on women and girls explored in a new United Nations Population Fund report released today in New York.

UNFPA Warns of New Trends in Female Genital Mutilation
UNITED NATIONS, New York, 5 February 2007 — UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund, today warned against the “medicalization” of female genital mutilation/cutting. This tendency, according to UNFPA Executive Director Thoraya Ahmed Obaid, arises from increased awareness of the health risks associated with the practice. Ms. Obaid also warned of a trend of subjecting younger and younger girls to the practice in order to avoid their complaints or refusal to participate.

Record Number of Countries Contribute Record Amount to UNFPA in 2006
UNITED NATIONS, New York, 15 January 2007 — In 2006, 180 countries around the world contributed a total of $360 million to the regular resources of UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund. This was the highest number of donor nations and the largest amount of contributions to UNFPA since the organization began its operations in 1969.

EC and UNFPA to Boost Zimbabwe's HIV Prevention Efforts
HARARE, Zimbabwe, 10 January 2007 — The European Commission and UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund, have committed 5.66 million euros to support the behavioural change component of Zimbabwe’s new national strategic plan on HIV and AIDS.

Major European Commission Contribution to Facilitate Afghanistan's First Ever Census
UNITED NATIONS, New York, 7 December 2006 — The European Commission has contributed 15 million euros to UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund, to help organize Afghanistan’s first full population census that will provide primary information on the number and characteristics of the country’s population. The only previous census, attempted in 1979, was interrupted by the outbreak of hostilities and never completed.

Media advisory - Global Parliamentarians to Assess Progress on Population and Development Goals
BANGKOK, Thailand, 14 November 2006 — On 21-22 November, 180 legislators and ministers from 103 countries will hold a dialogue in Bangkok on strategies for achieving the UN’s Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and those agreed at the 1994 International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD).

UNFPA Calls on Leaders to End Violence Against Women
UNITED NATIONS, New York, 9 October 2006 — Violence against women is a serious human rights violation and an affront to women’s freedom at large, UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund, said today. Widespread impunity not only encourages further abuses and suffering, it also sends the signal that male violence against women is acceptable or normal, said UNFPA Executive Director, Thoraya Ahmed Obaid, welcoming a new in-depth report released today by the United Nations Secretary-General.

More Women Using Lifesaving Health Services One Year After Pakistan Quake
MUZAFFARABAD, Pakistan, 6 October 2006 — Many mothers and children in areas hit by last year’s earthquake in Pakistan have better access to health care than before the disaster, as a result of joint efforts to restore services. Most survivors of the 8 October 2005 disaster, including the estimated 5,000 women who give birth each month, still face a range of threats to their health.

New Report Calls on World Leaders to Protect Human Rights of Female Migrants
LONDON/NEW YORK, 6 September 2006 — Today, half of all international migrants—95 million—are women and girls. Yet, despite substantial contributions to both their families at home and communities abroad, the needs of migrant women continue to be overlooked and ignored.

Young People Move More Now Than Ever
LONDON /NEW YORK, 6 September 2006 — Young people from developing countries are increasingly on the move and represent a third of all international migrants. They come from all types of backgrounds, and cross borders for many reasons. Their journeys are often marked with hope and success, but also with disillusionment and despair.

Pregnant Women Must Get Urgent Access to Health Care in Occupied Palestinian Territory, Says UNFPA
UNITED NATIONS, New York, 30 August 2006 — UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund, expresses its deep concern about recent reports of delays at Israeli checkpoints of women in labour, which have resulted in forced roadside births, and even death of some women and infants. It urges that civilians with urgent needs should have access to health facilities and that humanitarian organizations be allowed to work freely to alleviate the suffering of the people, especially women and children.