<p>In his second speech to the Executive Board, Dr. Babatunde Osotimehin outlined his preliminary vision for moving UNFPA forward.</p>

"To harness opportunities for development, the voices of young migrants must be heard so that policies and programmes can be developed to maximize the benefits of migration for those who migrate and for their countries of origin and destination," stated Ms. Purnima Mane, UNFPA Deputy Executive Director (Programme), at Global Migration Group (GMG) Symposium in New York.

<p>"<span>Everyone understands in their heart that human rights violations of a young girl are a tragedy. What is not fully understood is that investing in young people, especially adolescent girls, and promoting their rights can have a tremendous positive effect on the development of their communities and nations," stated UNFPA Deputy Executive Director Mari Simonen at G8/20 Global Parliamentarians Summit on Girls and Population in Paris.</span> </p>

"Evidence shows that investing in young people, reproductive health and gender equality can speed up economic growth and improve countries’ prospects for sustainable development," stated Ms. Safiye Cagar, Director of UNFPA Information and External Relations Division on behlaf of UNFPA Executive Director Babatunde Osotimehin at the IV LDC Conference in Istanbul.

The current global shortage of some 350,000 professional midwives means that women and their newborns die from complications that could have been easily prevented by a health worker with the right skills, the right equipment and the right support. Midwives are the unsung heroes of maternal and newborn health", states UNFPA Executive Director Babatunde Osotimehin on the International Day of the Midwife.

"Girls are the unexpected solution to many of the world’s most pressing problems, provided that we invest in them and promote their rights," stated UNFPA Executive Director Babatunde Osotimehin at Commission on Population and Development side-event titled 'Putting Girls First'.

"It is not only right to invest in family planning - it is also sound economics. Investing in family planning as part of comprehensive sexual and reproductive health package is one of the most cost-effective health interventions. It actually saves money from other health and public expenses," stated Ms. Purnima Mane, UNFPA Deputy Executive Director (Programme), at Commission on Population and Development side-event “Family Planning: Key to Saving Lives”.

<p>"As our population approaches 7 billion, every person particularly adolescents and young people should be able to enjoy human rights and human dignity. Every person should have the opportunity to make the most of his or her potential," stated UNFPA Executive Director Babatunde Osotimehin at the 44th session of the United Nations Commission on  Population and Development.</p>

"When girls are educated and healthy, and can avoid early marriage, unwanted pregnancy and HIV, they can contribute fully to society," states UNFPA Executive Director Babatunde Osotimehin in his message on the International Women's Day 2011.

UNFPA Executive Director Babatunde Osotimehin spoke at a ministerial meeting, hosted by the UN Adolescent Girls Task Force, during the 55th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women. Dr. Osotimehin stated that adolescent girl is "the unexpected solution to many of the world’s most pressing problems, provided we join efforts to unleash their power and potential."

Ms. Purnima Mane, UNFPA Deputy Executive Director (Programme),spoke at the launch Nepal's National Action Plan on women, peace and security. Ms. Mane congratulated Nepal and pledged that, to realize the goals of the plan, "UNFPA will continue to expand its partnership with the government of Nepal."

<p>Ms. Purnima Mane, UNFPA Deputy Executive Director (Programme), spoke at an expert meeting on Maximizing the Development Impact of Remittances, in Geneva, stating that "to maximize the development benefits of remittances from women migrants, we need sex disaggregated data and gender-sensitive research on the sending, use and impact of remittances. We need to reduce the costs associated with migration, and improve the financial literacy and entrepreneurship skills of migrants and their families."</p>