<p>UNFPA Executive Director Thoraya Ahmed Obaid updated the Executive Board on the commemoration of the 15th anniversary of the International Conference on Population and Development and other recent progress on issues ranging from maternal health to population and climate change.</p>

<p>UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund, today reaffirmed its support for comprehensive sexuality education as an essential component of efforts to protect the health and rights of young people.</p>

<p>Non-governmental organizations and UNFPA are united in many ways, UNFPA Executive Director Thoraya Ahmed Obaid told the NGO Forum on Sexual and Reproductive Health and Development in Berlin. "We are joined together by a common cause for health, rights and the future. We are united in our quest for human rights, justice, equality and equity."</p>

<p>It is often said that young people are our future. They are our present, too. It is today, and not tomorrow, that we must invest in young people and include them in solving the great challenges of our times.</p>

<p>When we talk about culture, we acknowledge that for the majority of the world’s people, faith—in its varied and heterogeneous forms—constitutes an important part of cultures. We also know that there is much in the basic tenets of all religions that bring people together rather than keep them apart.</p>

<p>As we commemorate World Population Day, the global financial and economic crisis threatens to reverse hard-won gains in education and health in developing countries. Among those hardest hit are women and girls. This is why the theme of this year’s World Population Day focuses on investing in women.</p>

<p>In the midst of the worst global economic crisis in generations, we must find the most effective ways to continue progress towards achieving the Millennium Development Goals. There is no better path than the focus of this year’s World Population Day: investing in women and girls.</p>

<p>Today, as we commemorate World Population Day, the global financial and economic crisis threatens to reverse hard-won gains in education and health in developing countries. Among those hardest hit are women and girls. This is why the theme of this year’s World Population Day focuses on investing in women.</p>

<p>It has been a long while since I visited the World Bank so it is wonderful to be with you and with many friends here. I thank you all for coming.</p>

<p>Together, we are called to move forward as we face uncertain times and tremendous challenges, UNFPA Executive Director Thoraya A. Obaid told the Executive Board at the 2009 Annual Session. "We are called to align our values, commitments and resources to build a sustainable future and reach common ground for action," she said.</p>

The presence of a midwife at birth can mean the difference between life and death. <p> <span>Having a skilled professional at birth protects the life of the mother and the child by recognizing problems early, when the situation can still be controlled, and by intervening quickly.</span> </p>

<p>The Commission on Population and Development reaffirmed the centrality of the ICPD Programme of Action and Key Actions to the achievement of internationally agreed development goals, according to the closing statement by Thoraya Ahmed Obaid.</p>