<p>Millions of girls around the world are still threatened by genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C), despite a century of efforts to put an end to it. In the 29 countries in Africa and the Middle East where the practice is concentrated, more than 125 million girls and women have been cut.</p>

<p>In his statement to the Executive Board, Dr. Osotimehin laid out the priorities for UNFPA in the year ahead. Topics discussed in his statment include the ICPD beyond 2014 and MDG post 2015 process, thematic areas such as gender equality and women's empowerment, health, adolescents and youth, governance and accountability.</p>

This year marks the 20th anniversary of the Vienna World Conference on Human Rights, which sparked a renewed effort to promote and protect for all people all human rights under the vision that these go hand in hand with development. Full enjoyment of sexual and reproductive health and rights can mean the difference between life and death for hundreds of thousands of women and adolescent girls

<p>It is with deep sadness that I learned of the death of former South African President and anti-apartheid stalwart, Nelson Mandela.  The world has lost a true statesman, a leader and a pragmatic visionary.</p>

Today, as we mark World AIDS Day, we can point to significant progress in the global response to the epidemic on the road to reaching the goals of zero new infections, zero discrimination and zero AIDS-related deaths.

Violence against women and girls is a violation of their fundamental human rights, an affront to human dignity and a serious threat to their health and well-being.

As the United Nations Population Fund's (UNFPA's) The State of World Population 2013: Motherhood in Childhood report succinctly puts it, "When a girl becomes pregnant, her present and future change radically, and rarely for the better."

UNITED NATIONS (IPS) — Imagine an orphanage where over 300 children born out of rape have been abandoned because of the shame and stigma associated with sexual violence. What does the future of these children hold? The story of sexual violence in conflict is as old as war itself. It knows no boundaries – location, ethnicity, religion, or age.

<p>In his remarks during the launch of UNFPA's "The State of World Population 2013", Dr. Osotimehin highlights the aim of this year's report to call for actions that empower girls, uphold their basic human rights, and put them on an equal footing with boys.</p>

Millions of girls around the world are still threatened by genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C), despite a century of efforts to put an end to it. More than 125 million girls and women have been cut in almost 30 countries in Africa and the Middle East. The good news is that these trends can be reversed, and we see encouraging signs of that.

As world leaders reviewed progress towards achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) at the UN General Assembly last month, some observers rightly reminded us that we still have a long way to go. This is particularly true for efforts to save women's and girls' lives and to fulfill their reproductive rights – the aim of MDG 5 on maternal and reproductive health.

"Tomorrow is today aged 10, and it’s a girl. Change her life, change the world," UNFPA Executive Director Dr. Babatunde Osotimehin says in his statement on the International Day of the Girl Child.