<p> <span>"Improving access to sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights is essential for rural women’s empowerment and ability to earn an income and feed themselves and their family," says Dr. Babatunde Osotimehin, UNFPA Executive Director, in his message on the International Women’s Day.</span> </p>

<p>"<span>We at UNFPA continue to emphasize that people and the principle of equity must be kept at the centre of sustainable development. It means recognizing the need to invest in women and young people and promoting human rights. It means increasing equity to build a world of opportunity for all," UNFPA Executive Director, Dr. Babatunde Osotimehin, at CDU/CSU Conference on sustainable development in Berlin.<br/> </span> </p>

<p>"On the International Day of Zero Tolerance to Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting, I call on the global community to join us in this critical effort. Together, we can end FGM/C in one generation and help millions of girls and women to live healthier, fuller lives, and reach their potential," states UNFPA Executive Director, Dr. Babatunde Osotimehin, in his message on 6 February 2012.</p>

<p> </p> <p> <span>"UNFPA’s main focus in 2012 is on implementing the revised Strategic Plan and ensuring that we consistently deliver high-impact country programmes with sharp focus, renewed energy and increased efficiency and relevance," stated UNFPA Executive Director Babatunde Osotimehin at the UNDP/UNFPA/UNOPS Executive Board First Regular Session 2012.<br/> </span> </p>

Dr. Babatunde Osotimehin, Executive Director of UNFPA, recently discussed with Forbes magazine such important population trends as low fertility in some developed countries, managing migration and increasing aging populations, rising urbanization and inequities, violence against women and the exclusion of indigenous people.

<p>"The opportunity to improve health for everyone lies in strengthening integrated services. A key strategy to accelerate progress is forging and cultivating partnerships between the sexual and reproductive health and HIV communities, including networks of people living with HIV," stated UNFPA Executive, Dr. Babatunde Osotimehin, on 2011 World AIDS Day.</p>

<p>"Voluntary family planning allows women and couples to determine the number, timing, and spacing of their children. It is – and has to be - an essential part of integrated reproductive and maternal health programs, because wanted pregnancies are healthier pregnancies," stated UNFPA Executive Director, Dr. Babatunde Osotimehin at the 2011 International Conference on Family Planning in Dakar, Senegal.</p>

<p> </p> <p>"We continue to believe that when women are healthy and educated, and can live free from violence and discrimination, they can participate fully in society and accelerate progress on all fronts," says UNFPA Executive Director, Dr. Babatunde Osotimehin, on the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women.</p>

This commentary by UNFPA Executive Director Babatunde Osotimehin was published by the Guardian on the day that world population is estimated to have passed the 7 billion milestone.

In this commentary, written for the BMJ Blog, UNFPA Executive Director Babatunde Osotimehin explores the tradition of large families in the Horn of Africa and related challenges.

This op-ed by UNFPA Executive Director Babatunde Osotimehin, urging the world to heed important demographic trends, appeared in the 18 October issue of the Financial Times.

<p>"Population aging presents societies with new challenges but also great opportunities. Healthy older workers represent a growing reservoir of unrealized human capital. With the right support the elderly can continue to make vital contributions to their families, communities and nations," states UNFPA Executive Director in his message on the International Day of Older Persons.</p>