Some 340 million new cases of sexually transmitted infections, excluding HIV, occur each year. This technical publication outlines the main issues involved in diagnosis and treatment of these infections, which cause serious health problems and also increase vulnerability to HIV. The publication also describes associated challenges for programming and implications for reproductive health policy.

Countries are making real progress in carrying out a bold global action plan that links poverty alleviation to women's rights and universal access to reproductive health. Ten years into the new era opened by the 1994 International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) in Cairo, the quality and reach of family planning programmes have improved, safe motherhood and HIV prevention efforts are being scaled up, and governments embrace the ICPD Programme of Action as an essential blueprint for realizing development goals.

This booklet provides a snapshot of UNFPA's programming efforts to advance gender equality and empower women. It reports on activities undertaken in six priority areas, based on contributions from the global, regional and country levels over the course of two years (2007-2008).