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Introduction |
The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) is the world’s largest source of population assistance -- almost $320 million in 1997. UNFPA works in more than 160 countries throughout the world. The Fund began operations in 1969, spurred by concerns about the "population explosion" and the attendant misery and hardship felt particularly keenly in poorer countries. To date, 171 nations have contributed more than $4 billion to UNFPA. Dr. Nafis Sadik was appointed Executive Director of the Fund by the Secretary-General of the United Nations in 1987; on her appointment, she became the first woman to head one of the major voluntarily-funded United Nations programmes. Dr. Sadik holds the rank of Under-Secretary-General. UNFPA helps developing countries, at their request, to improve reproductive health care and to promote sustainable development. Reproductive health care includes family planning, sexual health, information and counselling, and medical services, all on the basis of individual choice. The Fund also provides data on population and its effects on human rights, quality of life, economic development, and the environment. The International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD), held in Cairo in 1994, marked a revolution in the way population issues are regarded. Population and development are now acknowledged to be inextricably linked and both depend on the empowerment of women. The ICPD Programme of Action recognized this link. It also focused on meeting the needs of individual women and men rather than on simply trying to achieve demographic targets. Critical to this approach is providing women with more choices in life through expanded access to education, health services and employment opportunities. |
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| Foreword | Introduction | UNFPA in 1997 | Programme Priorities | |