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>

In this piece, published in the Comment section of the Lancet.com, UNFPA's Executive Director argues for greater investment in the health and education of young people, who now number some 1.8 billion, and comprise a powerful force for development.

<p>"When societies embrace youth as partners, we improve our chances of finding solutions to our most pressing problems", says UNFPA Executive Director, Dr. Babatunde Osotimehin, in his message on the International Youth Day.</p>

<p>In this Huffington Post column, UNFPA Executive Director Dr. Osotimehin Babatunde called upon fellow men to man up!  "Being a real man means saying no to gender-based violence and discrimination, and respecting the rights of girls and women," he said.</p>

<p> </p> <p>Ms. Purnima Mane, UNFPA Deputy Executive Director (Programme), spoke at UN High Level Meeting on Youth dialogue between young leaders and policy decision makers. In her keynote statement she highlighted that "the ability of young people to manage their risks and vulnerability to HIV is not solely a function of individual behavior. It is also dependent on social, political and economic inclusion."</p>

Under the theme, “Women Creating a Safe World,” participants from more than 100 countries gathered in Zurich for the International Women’s Summit organized by the World YWCA.  Delivering a keynote address, Dr. Osotimehin spoke about the importance of young women’s leadership in sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights.

<p>This year, on October 31st, world population reaches 7 billion. This milestone represents a challenge, an opportunity and a call to action.</p>

<p>At a conference, hosted by the Government of Gabon and UN Women. for the first International Widow’s Day, UNFPA Deputy Executive Director Purnima Mane called upon governments, UN Agencies and civil society to uphold their obligation of protecting the human rights of widows.</p>

<p>In his speech delivered in Addis, Dr. Babatunde Osotimehin talked about UNFPA’s Global Programme to enhance Reproductive Health Commodity Security.</p>