dim., 12 févr. 2012 16:51:09 +0000 dim., 12 févr. 2012 16:51:09 +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/home/news/pid/10017 BERLIN -- The paramount challenge of this century is to meet the needs of 7 billion human beings now – and the billions to come – while protecting the intricate balance of nature that sustains life, UNFPA Executive Director Dr. Babatunde Osotimehin said in a speech at an international conference on development policy and population. In addition to swiftly shifting to a green economy, the world needs to invest in people and address population dynamics through human-rights based policies that are practical and effective, the Executive Director said, outlining three critical actions.   http://www.unfpa.org/public/home/news/pid/10016 "We at UNFPA continue to emphasize that people and the principle of equity must be kept at the centre of sustainable development. It means recognizing the need to invest in women and young people and promoting human rights. It means increasing equity to build a world of opportunity for all," said UNFPA Executive Director, Dr. Babatunde Osotimehin, at CDU/CSU Conference on sustainable development in Berlin. http://www.unfpa.org/public/home/news/pid/9981 "On the International Day of Zero Tolerance to Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting, I call on the global community to join us in this critical effort. Together, we can end FGM/C in one generation and help millions of girls and women to live healthier, fuller lives, and reach their potential," states UNFPA Executive Director, Dr. Babatunde Osotimehin, in his message on 6 February 2012. http://www.unfpa.org/public/home/news/pid/9976 UNITED NATIONS, New York— Almost 2,000 communities across Africa have abandoned female genital mutilation/cutting in 2011. This brought the total number of communities renouncing the practice to 8,000 over the last few years, according to new findings by UNFPA and UNICEF, the United Nations Children’s Fund. http://www.unfpa.org/public/home/news/pid/9968 GADARIF, Sudan — When Ahfad University for Women in Omdurman began offering a course in community development in the 1990s meant for mature, illiterate women farmers, the main goal was to expand the students’ role in the economic life of their communities. But over the years, many such courses have expanded to touch on more intimate subjects, including reproductive health, early marriage and even female genital mutilation/cutting, a longstanding tradition in the area.   http://www.unfpa.org/public/home/news/pid/9964 ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia — In a ceremony of poetry, drama and music, the Buremudaytu and Argoba districts in the Afar region officially abandoned female genital mutilation/cutting earlier this month. The event– attended by government and religious leaders, clan elders, former circumcisers and other community officials – was a remarkable achievement in an area where an extreme form of FGM/C (see box below) was almost universally practiced for centuries. The districts of Amibara, Awash Fentale and Gewane officially stopped cutting in December 2010. http://www.unfpa.org/public/home/news/pid/9946 "UNFPA’s main focus in 2012 is on implementing the revised Strategic Plan and ensuring that we consistently deliver high-impact country programmes with sharp focus, renewed energy and increased efficiency and relevance," stated UNFPA Executive Director Babatunde Osotimehin at the UNDP/UNFPA/UNOPS Executive Board First Regular Session 2012. http://www.unfpa.org/public/home/news/pid/9961 UNITED NATIONS, New York – The next three years are critical for the global development agenda, UNFPA Executive Director Dr. Babatunde Osotimehin declared today at the UNFPA Executive Board's first formal session of the year. http://www.unfpa.org/public/home/news/pid/9935 PATA, Senegal -- As Senegal edges closer to becoming the first African country to fully abandon the practice of female genital mutilation/cutting, younger women are supporting campaigns to change social norms surrounding the practice. In Pata, a village in the Kolda region of southeastern Senegal near the Gambian border, a celebration in November drew a huge crowd to formally announce the decision of 69 communities in Kolda to stop cutting.   http://www.unfpa.org/public/home/news/pid/9931 UNITED NATIONS, New York/SANTA CLARA, California—The high number of unnecessary deaths during pregnancy and childbirth is unacceptable for Intel Corporation and UNFPA. http://www.unfpa.org/public/home/news/pid/9903 DAVOS, Switzerland – Each January this Swiss resort village becomes a dynamic centre of world attention as some of its most important leaders and thinkers gather to share ideas at the World Economic Forum. This year, for the first time, a UNFPA Executive Director is attending. Dr. Babatunde Osotimehin’s presence there seems particularly apt, since the annual theme is ‘The Great Transformation: Shaping New Models’ and UNFPA spent a good part of last year building awareness about the possibilities inherent in a world of 7 billion, a milestone that was reached last October. http://www.unfpa.org/public/home/news/pid/10005 UNITED NATIONS, New York – UNFPA and others, including the G77 and the European Union, called for more emphasis on population dynamics, gender equity and reproductive health in the first round of negotiations on the outcome document that is expected to be adopted at Rio+ 20. In a prepared statement about the draft, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon pointed to the fundamental importance of considering population as an element of sustainability. http://www.unfpa.org/public/home/news/pid/9866 KABUL — In mid-December, Maliha walked for five days to reach Faizabad, the capital of Badakhshan, in northeastern Afghanistan, to receive her award as best midwife in the province. She felt proud as she went onstage to be honoured for her work in her community health clinic. http://www.unfpa.org/public/home/news/pid/9821 UNITED NATIONS, New York—UNFPA has joined Tokyo FM Radio and other Japanese partners, including the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare; Sanrio, maker of the popular 'Hello Kitty' doll; UNIQLO, the global clothing company; and Japan Airlines in the Hellosmile Project—a worldwide effort to prevent cervical cancer. http://www.unfpa.org/public/home/news/pid/9804 SARAJEVO, Bosnia and Herzegovina — In this capital city, preparations are under way for a nationwide population and housing census—the first to be held in the country in more than 20 years.