<p>Women’s participation in decision-making is crucial to a more effective response to HIV and AIDS.</p>

<p>In the absence of medical vaccine to prevent HIV, we have to use sexuality education as a ‘social vaccine’, Thoraya Ahmed Obaid, Executive Director of UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund, said Friday.</p>

<p>UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund, and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) have agreed to extend their collaboration in health promotion programmes around the world.</p>

<p>More than 140 countries worldwide will observe World Population Day on 11 July by emphasizing the importance of family planning for the well-being of families, communities and nations, and by underlining the need to further integrate such services into national development plans.</p>

<p>Life-saving care for women remains a critical need as Myanmar recovers from Cyclone Nargis, UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund, stressed today as agencies jointly asked for donor support.</p>

<p>UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund, today welcomed the renewed endorsement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by the Group of Eight (G-8), and particularly their commitment to maternal and reproductive health as means to achieving these goals.</p>

<p>The Group of Eight (G-8) should seriously factor in population issues when it deliberates on food security, climate change and maternal health during its upcoming Summit , said UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund, at a global meeting of lawmakers here today.</p>

<p>UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund, welcomed last week’s call by the United Nations Security Council for an immediate halt of all acts of sexual violence against women in conflict situations.</p>

<p class="bodytext"> <strong>UNITED NATIONS, New York</strong> – World leaders attending a high-level meeting on HIV/AIDS here this week should pay more attention to women and youth, especially those living with HIV and AIDS, and seek their expert advice in responding to the epidemic. In addition, interventions addressing AIDS and sexual and reproductive health should be integrated in order to become mutually reinforcing, according to UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund.</p>

<p> <strong>YOKOHAMA, Japan</strong> – Stronger health systems, improved maternal and child health, and effective prevention of AIDS and other infectious diseases are essential to African development, more than 40 heads of State agreed today.</p>

<p> <strong>TOKYO</strong>—UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund, has urged leaders gathering for the Fourth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD IV) to commit to swifter action to end maternal death and promote women’s rights, to speed up poverty reduction in Africa.</p>

<p class="bodytext"> <strong>BANGKOK/NEW YORK</strong>—UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund, is mobilizing life-saving reproductive health supplies to help China respond to the deadly earthquake in Sichuan Province.</p>