Sun, 22 Nov 2009 08:48:45 +0000 Sun, 22 Nov 2009 08:48:45 +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/News/pid/4318 Every day, women and girls are subject to domestic violence, exploitation, sexual violence, trafficking, honour crimes, harmful traditional practices, such as bride burning and early marriages, and other forms of violence against their bodies, minds and human dignity. In the 16 days leading up to Human Rights Day and every day, let us come together to demand an end to the most pervasive yet least reported human rights abuse in the world. http://www.unfpa.org/public/News/pid/4376 KAMPALA — The largest conference on family planning in fifteen years concluded yesterday with nearly 1,300 international experts, policy makers and representatives of civil society reaffirming their commitment to family planning and to revitalizing it by sharing research findings and best practices. http://www.unfpa.org/public/News/pid/4259 LONDON - Women bear the disproportionate burden of climate change, but have so far been largely overlooked in the debate about how to address problems of rising seas, droughts, melting glaciers and extreme weather, concludes The State of World Population 2009, released today by UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund. http://www.unfpa.org/public/News/pid/4316 NEW YORK — Many young people are already living in cultures that are changing rapidly in response to a degraded environment. And they are also the ones who will have to grapple with the increasing challenges climate change will present in the coming decades. http://www.unfpa.org/public/News/pid/4315 QUANG TRI PROVINCE, Viet Nam — Life has never been easy for Nguyen Thi Lanh, 51, and Nguyen Duc Phi, 52. After enduring years of war, they married in 1977 and a year later had their first baby. “We were very poor at that time,” Lanh explains. “My husband had to take care of his family because his mother had died. We hardly had rice to feed our child, and we had to rebuild our house, which had collapsed during the war.” http://www.unfpa.org/public/News/pid/4314 AMACHUMA CHICO, Bolivia — On the steep slopes leading down from the Huayna Potosi and Chacaltaya mountains lies a string of tiny communities where families eke out a meager living by keeping llamas, sheep and chickens and by growing small crops of potatoes and oca, a perennial plant grown in the central and southern Andes. http://www.unfpa.org/public/News/pid/4291 Today I will talk about expanding engagement and partnership at the community level in service delivery of sexual and reproductive health programmes by Faith-Based Organizations (FBOs). I will not address the issue of youth perspective because this would be another keynote address by itself. This issue requires more knowledge and understanding especially as the youth culture has two poles – religiosity and progressive activism and young people have a special culture of their own. I would suggest that young people from diverse institutions including FBOs should be the ones to address their own perspective on culture and religion. http://www.unfpa.org/public/News/pid/4270 KAMPALA - Over 1,200 leading policymakers, researchers, academics and health professionals from 59 countries will meet in Kampala, Uganda, from 15 to 18 November, where they will share the latest scientific findings and refocus the world’s attention on family planning’s contribution to development. http://www.unfpa.org/public/News/pid/4264 ISTANBUL – Decision-makers and government officials from 20 countries in Eastern Europe and Central Asia have pledged to step up the fight against needless deaths and suffering resulting from pregnancy and childbirth. In a Statement of Commitment issued in Istanbul late last night, delegates to a high-level meeting recognized that investment in the health and rights of women is smart economics, especially during a financial crisis, and that family planning is one of the most cost-effective investments in reducing the maternal deaths that continue to affect the region.   http://www.unfpa.org/public/News/pid/4262 MUHURA, Rwanda — When school lets out in the little village of Muhura, waves of children in bright blue or tan uniforms stream out along the dirt roadside in waves, running toward the soccer field, playing tag or stopping to stare at the rare sight of a vehicle passing by. http://www.unfpa.org/public/News/pid/4210 NEW YORK — In Ethiopia, 22,000 women and girls die each year as a result of complications during pregnancy or childbirth, and more than 500,000 suffer from pregnancy-related disabilities. That means that one out of every 27 Ethiopian women will end up dying from straining to give life. Reducing the high maternal mortality ratio is one of the greatest public health challenges facing the country. http://www.unfpa.org/public/News/pid/4187 UNITED NATIONS, New York — In a new report to be issued on Wednesday, 18 November, UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund, will show how people, especially empowered women, could make a difference in the fight against climate change. http://www.unfpa.org/public/News/pid/4162 NEW YORK — The definitive story behind the 1994 International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) and how it has changed the world over the course of the last 15 years is detailed in the newly released book, Creating a New Consensus on Population. http://www.unfpa.org/public/News/pid/4123 Thoraya Ahmed Obaid, the Executive Director of UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund, today expressed deep sadness at the loss of lives of some United Nations staff and Afghan people in today’s attacks in Kabul. She extended her heartfelt sympathies to all of the families and friends of the dead or wounded. Appealing to parliam... http://www.unfpa.org/public/News/pid/4122 ADDIS ABABA — Lawmakers from 115 countries reaffirmed their support today to the principles and goals of the 1994 Cairo International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) and underlined the indispensable role of its Programme of Action in achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). They also committed to supporting accessible and affordable health services that promote family planning, HIV prevention and the health and well-being of women and girls.