<p> <b>SAL, Cape Verde</b> —More than 80 women ministers, parliamentarians and other leaders from sub-Saharan Africa met in Cape Verde last week to address the devastating effects of HIV/AIDS on the region's population, particularly its women.</p>

<p>When Jane Roberts of Redlands, California, sat down at her computer to express her outrage at the United States decision to withdraw $34 million from UNFPA, she had no idea that a campaign had been born.</p>

<p> <b>UNITED NATIONS, New York</b> - The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) has just finished compiling the largest collection of socio-demographic data in Burundi since the beginning of the country's civil war in 1993.</p>

<p class="bodytext"> <b>BRATISLAVA, Slovakia</b> - Trafficking in women and children for forced labour and commercial sexual exploitation is a crime against humanity, and efforts to eliminate it should be an integral part of national policies addressing population, gender and reproductive health issues, an expert meeting agreed here today.</p>

<p> <b>UNITED NATIONS, New York</b> - The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) warmly welcomes today's admission of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste as the 191st Member State of the United Nations.</p>

<p> <b>UNITED NATIONS, New York</b> - Africa recognizes the close links between population policies and development, according to the recent findings of a panel of eminent persons appointed by United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan.</p>

<p> <b>UNITED NATIONS, New York</b> - The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) late on Monday reaffirmed its commitment to the mission and success of the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD).</p>

<p> <b>UNITED NATIONS, New York</b> - The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) warmly welcomes Tuesday's admission of Switzerland as the 190th Member State of the United Nations.</p>

<p> <b>UNITED NATIONS, New York</b> -The Swedish Government yesterday announced its decision to grant a further 20 million Swedish kronor (approximately $2.1 million) to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). The country's contribution for 2002 will thus increase from 165 million Swedish kronor (SKr) to 185 million SKr.</p>

<p class="bodytext"> <b>Johannesburg</b> -The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) today welcomed world leaders' reaffirmation of goals linking poverty eradication and environmental protection to health, including reproductive health, and women's empowerment.</p>

<p class="bodytext"> <b>JOHANNESBURG</b> - Progress towards sustainable development must include progress in ensuring reproductive health and women's rights, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) declared today.</p>

<p class="bodytext"> <b>UNITED NATIONS, New York</b> - The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) has begun work with the Central Statistics Office in Afghanistan on the design of a National Population and Housing Census.</p>