NOORDWIJK, The Netherlands—The ICPD International Conference on Human Rights ended here today with recommendations on how to ensure equality and protect the rights of every person.

CAIRO—On the eve of the 20th anniversary of the International Conference on Population and Development Programme, more than 350 delegates from across the Arab region have returned to Cairo, where it was held in 1994, to review its Programme of Action and chart the Arab population and development agenda beyond 2014.

DAMASCUS--- Sitting in her bed at the intensive care unit of the Obstetric University Hospital, Dania Kadra considers herself lucky to be alive and to have safely delivered her baby boy.

UNITED NATIONS, New York—Dr. Babatunde Osotimehin, the Executive Director of UNFPA, warmly welcomed the report of the High-Level Panel of Eminent Persons on the Post-2015 Development Agenda that was presented today to the United Nations Secretary-General. 

KUALA LUMPUR—A new level of partnership that will bring a significant boost in investment to family planning services in 13 countries, with a focus on vulnerable groups, was launched by UNFPA and the International Planned Parenthood Federation  today at Women Deliver.

UNITED NATIONS, New York—UNFPA will launch two new initiatives that will increase access to family planning and improve maternal health in some of the most-hard-to-reach areas around the world, including post-conflict and post-disaster countries.

UNITED NATIONS, New York—Countries around the world will mark the first-ever International Day to End Obstetric Fistula, 23 May, with a variety of events to raise awareness of this neglected health and human rights challenge.

UNITED NATIONS, New York—An academic institution affiliated with the Al-Azhar University in Egypt and a public health advocate from Uganda were announced yesterday as winners of the 2013 United Nations Population Award.

GENEVA — UNFPA accepted today a donation of $5 million from the Government of Kuwait to respond to the urgent needs of displaced people in Syria and of refugees in neighboring countries.

AMMAN—The international community should urgently increase its support to refugees and displaced persons fleeing the Syrian crisis, said Dr. Babatunde Osotimehin, Executive Director of UNFPA,  following visits to Syrian refugee camps in Türkiye and Jordan.

UNITED NATIONS, New York—Fewer girls are subjected to the life-threatening practice of female genital mutilation/cutting according to new data from the United Nations, released on 6 February, the International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation.

ADDIS ABABA—Meeting at the African Union Summit, Heads of State and Government made new commitments to speed-up the reduction of maternal death and disability in the continent.