<p> <strong>UNITED NATIONS, New York</strong>— The United States Administration's decision for the fourth consecutive year not to release $34 million appropriated by Congress for UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund, is regrettable, especially when leaders at the World Summit are stressing the need to act together on global concerns, the Fund said today.</p>

<p> <strong>UNITED NATIONS, New York</strong> —Women and young people should be at the top of the world’s agenda, as women’s empowerment and gender equality are at the heart of achieving the Millennium Declaration, according to Thoraya Ahmed Obaid, Executive Director of UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund.</p>

<p> <strong>UNITED NATIONS, New York</strong> — Millions of women and children worldwide will enjoy a better chance of survival thanks to a new global initiative announced at an official side event of the 2005 World Summit.</p>

<p> <strong>UNITED NATIONS, New York</strong> — On the eve of the largest gathering of world leaders in history, a new United Nations report provides further evidence that investing in the health and rights of women and stopping HIV/AIDS will help the world reduce poverty and promote development, UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund, said today.</p>

<p> <strong>AGAME, Benin</strong> — When violence erupted following Togo’s presidential elections, Akpene Adankpo only had time to gather up her five girls before fleeing with her family across the border into neighbouring Benin.</p>

<p> <strong>PHUKET, Thailand</strong> — Migrants living in areas affected by last year's tsunami need better access to maternal and child health services, family planning and information on preventing HIV infection, a UN-supported study has found.</p>

<p> <strong>DAKAR, Senegal</strong>—The increasingly poor nutritional status of pregnant and lactating women in Niger threatens to increase the already high rates of maternal and infant death and illness in regions hard-hit by the ongoing food crisis, according to reports from the Niger office of UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund.</p>

<p> <strong>MEXICO CITY, Mexico</strong>—A report on progress made in meeting the Millennium Development Goals in Latin America and the Caribbean recommends six steps to improve health care and reduce maternal death in the region.</p>

<p> <strong>UNITED NATIONS, New York</strong>—Their stories are as poignant as they are inspiring.</p>

<p> <strong>BANGKOK, Thailand</strong>—Women in Thailand enjoy better reproductive health than 10 years ago, thanks to policies recognizing the links between health and poverty alleviation.</p>

<p> <strong>UNITED NATIONS, New York</strong>—Six decades after the United Nations founders proclaimed their commitment to peace, human rights and the equality of men and women, “it is clearer than ever before that human rights must be at the center of efforts to reduce poverty, discrimination and conflict,” said Thoraya Ahmed Obaid, Executive Director of UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund.</p>

<p> <strong>KOBE, Japan</strong>—Large-scale HIV-prevention efforts linked to treatment could save 6 million Asians from infection in the next five years, participants at a regional AIDS conference were told this week.</p>