Statements and speeches
Statement
Statement by Diene Keita, Executive Director, UNFPA, on the fourth anniversary of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine
24 February 2026
Four years of relentless bombing, displacement, family separation and economic uncertainty take their toll on women, girls and young people.
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UNFPA Statement on the Escalating Crisis for Women and Girls in South Sudan
14 February 2026
The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) is deeply alarmed by the escalation of violence in Jonglei State, South Sudan, and the grave impact it is having on women and girls.
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Over four million girls still at risk of female genital mutilation: UN leaders call for sustained commitment and investment to end FGM
06 February 2026
Joint Statement by the UNFPA Executive Director, UNICEF Executive Director, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, UN Women Executive Director, WHO Director-General, and UNESCO Director-General on…
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Statement by Ms. Diene Keita Executive Director, UNFPA at the First Regular Session of the Executive Board of UNDP, UNFPA and UNOPS
04 February 2026
I warmly congratulate you, Ambassador Cornel Feruță, on your election as President of the Executive Board. I look forward to working closely with you and with the Bureau: Ambassadors Brian Wallace of Jamaica, Jonibek Hikmat of Tajikistan, Chola Milambo of Zambia, and Lauri Voionmaa of Finland.
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Statement by Ms. Diene Keita Executive Director, UNFPA at the First Regular Session of the Executive Board Joint segment on UN80
02 February 2026
UNFPA fully supports the Secretary-General’s vision of a more agile, integrated, and effective UN, and, as the Board is aware, we are already implementing reforms aligned with UN80 priorities.
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High-Level Panel Discussion: Honouring the Legacy of Dikembe Mutombo A Call to Action for Africa’s Health, Education, Sports and Quality of Life
16 January 2026
Dikembe Mutombo was known to the world as a legendary athlete – a champion on the basketball court. But for the people of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and to the women and girls whose lives he touched, he was something greater than that. He was a healer, a bridge, and a man of profound humanity. I had the privilege of knowing Dikembe Mutombo. His remarkable legacy holds a special place in my heart.
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Statement by the Inter-Agency Standing Committee: Revoke planned international NGO ban, humanitarian leaders urge Israeli authorities
31 December 2025
We urge the Israeli authorities to reconsider their plan to ban many of the international NGOs operating in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT).
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Human rights – essential and endangered
10 December 2025
Around the world, we see progress in realizing human rights, including sexual and reproductive health and rights. These rights are foundational to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals. Yet, progress has been uneven, and in some cases, it is being reversed.
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Making all spaces safe for persons with disabilities
03 December 2025
The full inclusion and safety of people with disabilities is indispensable to creating a more equitable world, free from harm, including in the digital realm.
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Amid disruptions and funding cuts, we must commit to an AIDS-free future, Statement by UNFPA Executive Director Ms. Diene Keita
01 December 2025
Progress on HIV prevention is the surest path to an AIDS-free generation. Medical and public policy breakthroughs have accelerated the possibilities for protecting against HIV infection and towards expanding rights and choices for people around the world. Groundbreaking new medications have broadened prevention options so people can choose what works best to safeguard themselves. More countries are beginning to embed HIV prevention in national health systems.
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Call to action: UNiTE to end digital violence against all women and girls
25 November 2025
Discrimination against women and girls, and violence as its gravest manifestation, remains alarmingly high in every sphere of their lives, across physical and digital spaces alike. Each year, 245 million women and girls aged 15 and older experience physical and/or sexual violence perpetrated by a current or former intimate partner.
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Remarks by Ms. Diene Keita, UNFPA Executive Director, on the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women
25 November 2025
It is an honour to be here with you to kick off the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence and to draw attention to the urgent issue of digital violence.
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