mer., 22 mai 2013 21:23:43 +0000 mer., 22 mai 2013 21:23:43 +0000 http://www.unfpa.org UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund, is an international development agency that promotes the right of every woman, man and child to enjoy a life of health and equal opportunity. UNFPA supports countries in using population data for policies and programmes to reduce poverty and to ensure that every pregnancy is wanted, every birth is safe, every young person is free of HIV/AIDS, and every girl and woman is treated with dignity and respect. UNFPA – because everyone counts. en-us serrano@unfpa.org (Alvaro Serrano) gruber@unfpa.org (Kimberly Gruber) http://www.unfpa.org/images/unfpalogoxs.gif http://www.unfpa.org 80 36 The world's largest international source of funding for population and reproductive health programmes http://www.unfpa.org/public/cache/offonce/home/news/pid/13965;jsessionid=50F9FEC076D76ECC15113520E0547022.jahia01 SUVA, Fiji — If alarming rates of violence against women are to be effectively addressed, the status of women needs to be elevated.  UNFPA Executive Director Dr. Babatunde Osotimehin emphasized the fundamental, often unacknowledged, contributions of women – to families, communities and economies – during the launch of the Pacific Regional ICPD Review report. The persistence of alarming rates of gender-based violence is one of the critical issues in the region. http://www.unfpa.org/public/cache/offonce/home/news/pid/13696;jsessionid=50F9FEC076D76ECC15113520E0547022.jahia01 BANGUI, Central African Republic — Fierce fighting between rebel troops and Central African armed forces beginning in March has left widespread insecurity in the country. Cases of collective sexual violence and massive looting of public offices, housing and health facilities were reported, resulting in a massive internal displacement of populations and a drastic shortage of essential medicines, medical equipment and supplies in health centres meant to welcome and provide care to many victims of this crisis. http://www.unfpa.org/public/cache/offonce/home/news/pid/13697;jsessionid=50F9FEC076D76ECC15113520E0547022.jahia01 UNITED NATIONS, New York — In an increasingly interconnected world, more individuals than ever before are leaving their homes to begin a new life somewhere else. Since 1990 the number of migrants has increased from 155 million to around 214 million, with women making up an increasing proportion of that total. http://www.unfpa.org/public/cache/offonce/home/news/pid/13683;jsessionid=50F9FEC076D76ECC15113520E0547022.jahia01 YANGON — The Myanmar Government with support from UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund, undertook a pilot census exercise from 30 March to 10 April to prepare for a nationwide census in 2014, the country's first in 30 years. One hundred schoolteachers trained to be enumerators visited thousands of homes and questioned residents in selected villages in 20 townships across the country representing a cross-section of Myanmar's diverse geographic and ethnic mix. http://www.unfpa.org/public/cache/offonce/home/news/pid/13810;jsessionid=50F9FEC076D76ECC15113520E0547022.jahia01 UNITED NATIONS, New York— The United Nations and partners called for renewed attention to the Millennium Development Goals as the target date for their achievement approached. Friday, 5 April 2013 kicked off the countdown of the last 1,000 days. UNFPA marked this milestone with a variety of activities to amplify awareness and accelerate action on the MDGs. http://www.unfpa.org/public/cache/offonce/home/news/pid/13673;jsessionid=50F9FEC076D76ECC15113520E0547022.jahia01 For the first time since independence in 1991, one of Kyrgyzstan’s regions succeeded in reducing maternal mortality to zero: in the north-western Talas region, not a single woman died during 2012 while being pregnant or as a result of giving birth. http://www.unfpa.org/public/cache/offonce/home/news/pid/13669;jsessionid=50F9FEC076D76ECC15113520E0547022.jahia01 With the target for achieving the Millennium Development Goals just 1,000 days away, considerable attention is focussing on target 5b: universal access to reproductive health. This target, which was added in 2007, is the one that lags farthest behind. It is also a target whose achievement is pivotal to reaching UNFPA’s vision of a world in which every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth safe, and every young person’s potential fulfilled. http://www.unfpa.org/public/cache/offonce/home/news/pid/13663;jsessionid=50F9FEC076D76ECC15113520E0547022.jahia01 NEW YORK -- A new study by the Guttmacher Institute has confirmed that women’s ability to use contraceptives, and to determine whether and when to have children, enhances their education and employment chances. This, in turn, improves their income, family stability, mental health and happiness, as well as the well-being of their children. http://www.unfpa.org/public/cache/offonce/home/news/pid/13634;jsessionid=50F9FEC076D76ECC15113520E0547022.jahia01 NEW YORK -- Throughout the first week of the Commission on the Status of Women, UNFPA highlighted numerous issues related to violence against women and girls, the theme of this year’s session. UNFPA-hosted events from 6-8 March addressed the pressing need for and difficulty of collecting accurate data on the issue; the importance of involving men and boys; child marriage; and a global joint initiative to provide critical services for survivors of violence. http://www.unfpa.org/public/cache/offonce/home/news/pid/13644;jsessionid=50F9FEC076D76ECC15113520E0547022.jahia01 UNFPA Executive Director Dr. Babatunde Osotimehin urged that young people be given space and opportunities to contribute to national development in Botswana. Dr. Osotimehin made this call at a discussion with youths during his recent visit to the country. http://www.unfpa.org/public/cache/offonce/home/news/pid/13552;jsessionid=50F9FEC076D76ECC15113520E0547022.jahia01 NEW YORK -- On day two of the Commission for the Status of Women, the halls of United Nations headquarters were filled with government officials, and representatives of the UN, civil society, media and the private sector. An unprecedented 6,000 representatives of civil society registered to attend the UN meeting this year — a preponderance of them women. In the official proceedings and numerous side events participants reviewed progress, shared experiences and best practices, analysed gaps and challenges and discussed priority actions to accelerate progress on violence against women, the theme of this year's Commission. http://www.unfpa.org/public/cache/offonce/home/news/pid/13607;jsessionid=50F9FEC076D76ECC15113520E0547022.jahia01 NEW YORK— Just after his first week in office, Ahmad Alhendawi, newly appointed United Nations Envoy for Youth, met with UNFPA Executive Director Dr. Babatunde Osotimehin to discuss shared priorities around young people in the years to come. As incoming co-chair of the United Nations Inter-Agency Network on Youth Development, UNFPA will work very closely with the UN Envoy, which is a new position. http://www.unfpa.org/public/cache/offonce/home/news/pid/13166;jsessionid=50F9FEC076D76ECC15113520E0547022.jahia01 While the International Day of Zero Tolerance for FGM/C has been observed for over 20 years, 2013 was the first year of the day received official UN recognition. To mark the occasion, and to spread the word about strategies that are having an impact on the ground, UNFPA, UNICEF and the UK’s Department of International Development (DFID) assembled a virtual panel moderated by Maggie O’Kane from the Guardian. http://www.unfpa.org/public/cache/offonce/home/news/pid/12686;jsessionid=50F9FEC076D76ECC15113520E0547022.jahia01 DUBAI — Delegates at a United Nations-convened high-level meeting on saving the lives of mothers and children in the Eastern Mediterranean Region today agreed to urgently accelerate progress on improving maternal and child health between now and the end of 2015. They also committed to reduce the gap between current funding levels and those required if the Region is to meet Millennium Development Goals 4 and 5 on reducing maternal and child mortality. http://www.unfpa.org/public/cache/offonce/home/news/pid/13044;jsessionid=50F9FEC076D76ECC15113520E0547022.jahia01 OSLO — World leaders called for accelerating efforts to save the lives of women and children in the coming decade at a high-level meeting that discussed perspectives and results on progress in global health. Global health – especially maternal and child health – is a prerequisite for achieving the Millenium Development Goals and sustainable development. As such, it needs to be reflected prominently in the discussion around the Millenium Development Goals on the debate about post-2015 priorities.