Statements and speeches
Statement
Statement by UNFPA Executive Director, Diene Keita on the Attack Against a Humanitarian Convoy in Kherson Region, Ukraine
14 October 2025
UNFPA strongly condemns today’s attack on a United Nations humanitarian convoy in the Kherson region of Ukraine. The convoy, clearly marked and operating under the coordination of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), was delivering essential aid to residents on the front lines in the Bilozerka area of Kherson, when it came under drone and artillery fire.
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Opening Remarks by UNFPA Executive Director Ms. Diene Keita at the World Health Summit Keynote Session: Women’s Health – Global Wealth: Catalyzing Returns on Bold Investments
14 October 2025
Every single day, over 700 women die from preventable causes related to pregnancy and childbirth. That’s one woman lost every two minutes – needlessly. Each year, cervical and breast cancer claim the lives of more than 1 million women.
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UNFPA Statement on Repeated Attacks Against El Fasher Maternity Hospital, Sudan
09 October 2025
NEW YORK, 9 October 2025 - UNFPA condemns in the strongest terms the repeated attacks on El Fasher Maternity Hospital in El Fasher, capital of North Darfur, Sudan, the latest of which struck the…
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Girls are on the front lines of crisis – and of their future
08 October 2025
Every girl has the right to embrace who she is and choose who she wants to become. On her path to adulthood, she must be protected, respected and allowed to flourish, her aspirations for her future heard and encouraged, her rights and choices protected.
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Panel Remarks by Ms. Diene Keita, UNFPA Executive Director, at the UNGA80 High-Level Meeting: 30th Anniversary of the World Programme of Action for Youth
26 September 2025
In practice, it means, among other things, access to sexual and reproductive health services and protection against gender-based violence, including technology-assisted gender-based violence (TGBV), and harmful practices. It means putting their rights and choices first.
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Opening Remarks by Ms. Diene Keita, UNFPA Executive Director, at the UNGA80 Side Event: The Political Economy of Implementing Primary Health Care: Key Policy Shifts
25 September 2025
When we think of primary health care, our minds turn to Kazakhstan—to Alma-Ata, where the bold vision for primary health care was born in 1978, and to Astana, where the commitment was renewed in 2018. We are reminded that health begins not in hospitals, but in communities, in families, in the daily lives of people across the life course.
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Opening Remarks by Ms. Diene Keita, UNFPA Executive Director at the UNGA80 Side Event: Scaling What Works: From Local Success to Global Impact
25 September 2025
Life-changing solutions exist, but too often, they don't reach those who need them most. This event is about bridging that gap. We’re here to explore how to unlock the capital, partnerships, and political will to scale what works.
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Opening Remarks by Ms. Diene Keita, UNFPA Executive Director, at the UNGA80 Side Event: The Role of the Private Sector in Advancing Women’s Health “Spotlight on Menopause”
24 September 2025
By 2030, more than one billion women will be postmenopausal. Their health and contributions will profoundly shape families, communities, and economies.
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Remarks by Ms. Diene Keita, UNFPA Executive Director, at the UNGA80 Side Event: Building Resilience for Women and Girls in the Face of Climate Change and Conflict
24 September 2025
As the mothers of your nations, you are in a unique and powerful position to influence national agendas, champion legal reforms, and mobilize public support for the protection and the empowerment of women, girls and young people.
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Opening Remarks by Ms. Diene Keita, UNFPA Executive Director, at the UNGA80 High-Level Meeting on Beijing+30
22 September 2025
Mr. Secretary-General, Madam President, Excellencies, esteemed colleagues, Thirty years ago in Beijing, the world pledged to achieve gender equality and women’s empowerment. One year earlier, at the…
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Opening Remarks by Ms. Diene Keita, UNFPA Executive Director, at the UNGA80 Side Event: Uniting Efforts on Non-Communicable Diseases and Maternal Health
22 September 2025
It is a privilege to welcome you to UNFPA, and to have so many distinguished guests join us on the eve of the General Debate and the High-Level Meeting on Non-Communicable Diseases – seminal moments for global health.
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Attacks on Gaza City are destroying health and protection services for pregnant women and survivors of violence
15 September 2025
Intensified bombardment and ground operations in Gaza City are forcing families to flee yet again, with nowhere safe left to turn. Thousands of women and girls are being forced to risk their lives on unsafe roads at prohibitive cost, only to reach overcrowded areas with no food, healthcare, shelter, clean water or sanitation.
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