Statements and speeches
Statement
On the Brink of Sweeping Change for Women, Girls, Gender Equality and HIV
18 July 2010
<p>Ms. Purnima Mane, UNFPA Deputy Executive Director (Programme), made a statement at the ' Universal Access for Women and Girls - 2010 A Year Not to Forget' event in the XVIII International AIDS Conference. "I like to think that we are on the brink of sweeping change for women and girls. "'Bleak’ no longer conveys where we are today in the AIDS epidemic, nor does it capture the progress or promising trajectory for women and girls. Gains are evident in treatment coverage, drug safety and effectiveness," said Ms. Mane.</p>
Learn moreStatement
The Fight Against HIV/AIDS: Facts, Figures and Parliamentary Action
18 July 2010
<p>Ms. Purnima Mane, Deputy Executive Director (Programme) UNFPA, delivered a Keynote Address at Parliamentary Side Event on the Integration of SRHR and HIV/AIDS European Parliamentary Forum on Population and Development in XVIII International AIDS Conference in Vienna. "We now know that there are a finite set of mutually reinforcing responses to HIV that can work, and we now recognize that these responses are integrally linked with those of sexual and reproductive health," she stated.</p>
Learn moreStatement
Stepping Out of the Shadows
18 July 2010
Delegates, colleagues, and friends, I want to warmly welcome each and every one of you. This event marks the engagement of the Women ARISE coalition in this XVIIIth International AIDS Conference. I…
Learn moreStatement
Partnership with UN Organizations and Other Development Actors: Strategies, Mechanisms, Value-added and Sustainability
12 July 2010
UNFPA Executive Director Thoraya Ahmed Obaid gave a presentation in in the ECOSOC Operational Activities Segment: Dialogue with the Executive Heads of the United Nations Funds and Programmes about partnerships with UN organizations and other development actors. She stated that "partnerships add value to our work because a holistic approach with broad based support is more likely to succeed. The mandates of UN agencies are varied and they complement each other as do the strengths and roles of governments, civil society and the private sector."
Learn moreStatement
Everyone Counts - World Population Day 2010
11 July 2010
<p>As we commemorate World Population Day, "Everyone Counts" is a theme that speaks to the inherent value and dignity of each human being.</p> <p> </p>
Learn moreOpinion
For Everyone to Count, They Must be Counted
11 July 2010
Every country counts its people. The numbers tell decision-makers about current and future needs. "Everyone counts" is the theme for this year's World Population Day. If people and their characteristics aren't counted, governments can't plan. If identification is not granted, it is impossible to track progress over a lifetime. If a birth certificate indicates a need for schooling, that informs the education system. If death records specify, to the extent possible, cause of death, health systems can be oriented to meet actual needs. If death records specify causes related to HIV/AIDS and other infectious diseases, pregnancy and childbirth, specific health services can be prioritized. Government planning depends on local and regional information that is supplemented by interviews with the groups most concerned. Such data makes it possible to meet real needs.
Learn moreStatement
Working in Partnership Across Sectors
07 July 2010
<p>UNFPA Executive Director Thoraya Ahmed Obaid was the Keynote Speaker in the Ninth International Society for Third-Sector Research (ISTR) Conference in Istanbul. In her address Dr. Obaid highlighted the importance of partnerships in development work. "For UNFPA partnering with civil society is not just about tapping different capacities – it is about exchanging perspectives, building respect for different types of knowledge, recognizing the power of diversity and making the invisible communities become visible with a clear voice", she concluded.</p>
Learn moreStatement
UNFPA Contribution and Collaboration to Achieve Universal Access to Reproductive Health
06 July 2010
<p>Distinguished Delegates, Colleagues, Ladies and Gentlemen,</p> <p>It is a great pleasure to be here and to participate in this panel. We know that it’s only by working together as colleagues and partners, maximizing our complementarities, that sustainable progress can be made in the countdown to 2015.</p> <p>Today a sense of urgency has translated into renewed momentum among governments and development partners to demonstrate leadership and decisive action in relation to global health and to achieve the health-related Millennium Development Goals.</p>
Learn moreStatement
Statement of UNFPA Executive Director, Thoraya Ahmed Obaid, on the Newly Established UN Women
06 July 2010
<p>UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund, welcomes the establishment of UN Women, the new entity for gender equality and women's empowerment. The Fund looks forward to supporting and working closely with UN Women as gender equality and women's empowerment are critical to the achievement of international development goals and the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development.</p>
Learn moreStatement
Addressing Culture, Gender and Human Rights to Achieve the MDGs
01 July 2010
<p>Good afternoon. I am so pleased to be on this panel with such strong leaders and I thank all of you for coming.</p> <p>Distinguished Delegates,<br/> Colleagues and friends,</p> <p>As my friend and colleague UNDP Administrator Helen Clark has just stated, and as UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay has underlined, human rights are not only at the very heart of the Millennium Development Goals; human rights are at the heart of all development in all sectors. Together we need to keep human rights beating strong if we want to achieve the MDGs and keep the promise of 2015.</p>
Learn moreStatement
G-8 Muskoka Initiative on Maternal, Newborn and Child Health
27 June 2010
<p>NEW YORK — UNFPA welcomes the commitment by Group of 8 leaders in the Muskoka Initiative at the G-8 Summit to accelerate efforts to improve maternal and child health.</p> <p>Even though the number of women who die from preventable causes during pregnancy and childbirth seems to be declining, far too many mothers still die every day, which has a devastating impact on families, communities and nations. Given the wealth and technology of the 21st century, no woman should die giving life.</p>
Learn moreStatement
2010 Annual Session UNDP/UNFPA Executive Board
21 June 2010
<p>GENEVA - On Monday, 21 June, UNFPA Executive Director Thoraya Ahmed Obaid spoke at the opening of the annual session of the UNDP/UNFPA Executive Board. She outlined progress in 2009 and said, "The world can no longer afford to allow women to be last in line. Throughout history, women have delivered for the families, communities and nations. Now it is time for the world to deliver to women."</p> <p> </p>
Learn more