Statements and speeches
Statement
Statement by UNFPA Executive Director Dr. Natalia Kanem on the Taliban’s decision to ban Afghan women from working with the United Nations
06 April 2023
UNFPA echoes the UN Secretary-General in strongly condemning the latest decision by the Taliban de facto authorities to ban Afghan women from working with the United Nations in Afghanistan. This…
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Statement by UNFPA Executive Director Dr. Natalia Kanem on World Health Day 2023
04 April 2023
Every two minutes, a woman dies giving birth. As the clock counts down another year, 287,000 more women will meet the same tragic fate. Most of these deaths are preventable. They are not…
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Remarks by UNFPA Executive Director Dr. Natalia Kanem Towards Eliminating Racism and Discrimination Against People of African Descent
29 March 2023
UNFPA is committed to improving the health, wellbeing and lives of Africans and people of African descent, including bodyright, bodily autonomy, sexual and reproductive health and rights, because data show clearly that Black women and girls everywhere are denied their health, their wellbeing and peace of mind, due to both racism and gender-based discrimination.
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Statement by UNFPA Executive Director Dr. Natalia Kanem on the attempted criminalization of homosexuality
28 March 2023
Human rights are inherent to all human beings, and these rights are guaranteed for every person, regardless of gender or sexual orientation.
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Statement by UNFPA Executive Director Dr. Natalia Kanem on International Women’s Day 2023
28 February 2023
Statement by UNFPA Executive Director Dr. Natalia Kanem on International Women’s Day, 8 March 2023.
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World will miss target of ending FGM by 2030 without urgent action – including from men and boys
02 February 2023
Joint Statement by UNFPA Executive Director Dr. Natalia Kanem and UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell on the International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation 2023
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Statement of the Executive Director to the First Regular Session of the Executive Board 2023
02 February 2023
Statement of the Executive Director, Dr. Natalia Kanem, to the First Regular Session of the Executive Board, 2 February 2023.
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UN humanitarian leaders urge Security Council to preserve cross-border aid lifeline to north-west Syria
02 January 2023
United Nations Security Council resolution 2642 – which allows for life-saving humanitarian aid to be delivered to north-west Syria from across the Turkish border – is set to expire in eight days. If the Council fails to extend it, the consequences will be catastrophic for 4.1 million people in non-Government-controlled areas. Most of them are women and children who need assistance just to survive at the peak of winter and amidst a serious cholera outbreak.
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Statement by Principals of the Inter-Agency Standing Committee on Afghanistan, Women’s participation in aid delivery must continue
28 December 2022
The decision by Afghanistan’s de facto authorities to ban women from working in humanitarian non-governmental organizations is a major blow for vulnerable communities, for women, for…
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Taliban banning women from higher education and from working with humanitarian organizations
26 December 2022
Statement by Dr. Natalia Kanem, Executive Director of the United Nations Population Fund, UNFPA
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Remarks by UNFPA Executive Director Dr. Natalia Kanem at the Launch of UNFPA Humanitarian Action Overview 2023
13 December 2022
Remarks by UNFPA Executive Director Dr. Natalia Kanem delivered at the Launch of UNFPA Humanitarian Action Overview, Tuesday 13 December 2022 at 10:00 am EST.
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Remarks by UNFPA Executive Director Dr. Natalia Kanem at the Arria Formula Meeting of the Security Council on the Implementation of the Youth, Peace and Security Agenda
12 December 2022
Remarks by UNFPA Executive Director Dr. Natalia Kanem delivered at the Arria Formula Meeting of the Security Council on the Implementation of the Youth, Peace and Security Agenda, Monday 12 December 2022 at 1:15 pm EST.
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