<p>All girls deserve to grow up free from harmful practices that endanger their health and well-being.</p>

<p>Remarks of UNFPA Executive Director Dr. Babatunde Osotimehim at the Joint Meeting of the Executive Boards<br/> of UNDP/UNFPA, UNICEF, UN Women and WFP: "Mainstreaming gender through the work of the agencies<br/> and envisaged collaboration with UN Women"</p>

<p>Dr. Babatunde Osotimehin addressed the Executive Board for the first time as the Executive Director of the United Nations Population Fund.</p>

Ms. Purnima Mane, UNFPA Deputy Executive Director (Programme), spoke on World AIDS Day at the Light for Rights event in New York. "The light of “human rights and equality” allows people living with HIV to access information, treatment and care, enabling them to live the healthy, free productive lives they fully deserve," she stated.

<p>In her message on World AIDS Day 2010, UNFPA Executive Director Thoraya Ahmed Obaid welcomes the good news from UNAIDS showing that the epidemic is changing course: "We now have more reason than ever to dream of a world with zero new HIV infections, zero AIDS-related deaths, and zero discrimination.'"</p>

<p>UNFPA Executive Director Thoraya Ahmed Obaid joins UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and other leaders in condemning violence against women and calling for stronger action to end impunity:</p> <p>"Every woman has the right to live in dignity—free of fear, coercion, violence and discrimination. Every woman has the right to health, including sexual and reproductive health. Yet, for hundreds of millions of girls and women worldwide, these human rights are denied."</p>

<p>UNFPA Executive Director Thoraya Ahmed Obaid gave a keynote presentation at he 32nd Annual Forum of Parliamentarians for Global Action, in Istanbul. Ms. Obaid highlighted in her address that "when women are educated and healthy, and their rights are protected by law, they can reach their full potential and fully contribute to the development and security of their families, communities and nations."</p>

<p>Purnima Mane ,UNFPA Deputy Executive Director (Programme), gave a keynote lecture at the Leiden University College Research Centre, in Hague. Ms. Mane reminded in the lecture that "in all regions of the world, there are women standing up for peace and justice in very dangerous and difficult circumstances.".</p>

<p>UNFPA Excutive Director Thoraya Ahmed Obaid launched the State of World Population report in London stating that "it is time to tear down the false barriers between crisis, recovery and development. Investing in development softens the impact of crisis and natural disaster, and whatever is invested during humanitarian response can become a solid foundation for development and rebuilding a society."</p>

<p>Thoraya Ahmed Obaid, UNFPA Executive Director, spoke at a luncheon on the International Day of Older Persons in New York emphasizing that "while we must acknowledge the contributions that older persons make, we must also recognize their vulnerability. Older persons are among the most vulnerable members of society, and their rights and needs have to be addressed."</p>

<p>UNFPA Executive Director Thoraya Ahmed Obaid gave a keynote presentation at a seminar on traditional values and international human rights.</p> <p>Ms. Obaid highlighted that "positive values exist in all countries and in all cultures, and there is a clear need to support communities as they work together to examine, contest, and negotiate around their own values and practices as they relate to human rights."</p> <p>The seminar was organized in in Geneva, Switzerland, by Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human RIghts.</p>

<p>UNFPA Executive Director Thoraya Ahmed Obaid received an MDG Lifetime Achievement Award for for her "exceptional achievements and lifelong contributions to the betterment of humanity." Ms. Obaid received the award in a ceremony held on the eve of the MDG Summit in New York.</p>