<p>It is important that we continue to move forward with the collective wisdom that working in the field of population and development is about people and putting people first.</p>

<p class="bodytext">It is an honour to join you today for the launch of your campaign, Mr. Secretary-General, to end violence against women. And I am honoured to be speaking on behalf of the United Nations system. This campaign represents the recognition at the highest level that eliminating violence against women is a priority for the world today. It is a human rights requirement.</p>

Happy New Year! It is always a pleasure to address you as members of the Executive Board. My colleagues and I extend a warm welcome to you, Ambassador Jean-Marie Ehouzou of Benin, as the new President, and to the other members of the new Bureau and pledge our continued cooperation.

<p>UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund, joins the Secretary-General in saying that words cannot express our sense of shock, outrage and anger at the terrorist attack on United Nations offices in Algiers on Tuesday.</p>

<p class="bodytext">UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund, joins the Secretary-General in saying that words cannot express our sense of shock, outrage and anger at the terrorist attack on United Nations offices in Algiers on Tuesday.</p>

<p align="left">Today UNFPA joins the rest of the United Nations system and other partners in calling for dignity and justice for all. This is especially important for girls and women, who continue to be subjected to unacceptable and appalling levels of discrimination and violence.</p>

<p align="left" class="bodytext">Today, on World AIDS Day, we are called upon to be leaders in the fight against AIDS. Where there is strong and committed leadership, the response is more effective.</p>

<p align="left">The right to live free of violence and discrimination is the right of every human being.</p>

<p>It is a great honour to join you for the 50th anniversary of CELADE/CEPAL, the Latin American and Caribbean Demographic Center. I would like to express our appreciation to the Executive Secretary of CEPAL for his continuous and unfaltering support to CELADE, based on his deep understanding and commitment to demography as an input into development.</p>

<p align="left"> <span class="bodytext"> <strong>UNITED NATIONS, New York</strong> — Today on the International Day of Older Persons, UNFPA joins the worldwide celebration of longevity and acknowledges the contributions of older persons to their families, communities and societies.</span> </p>

<p align="left" class="bodytext">On this International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples, I would like to make a special call on Governments, bilateral and multilateral agencies, as well as civil society organizations, to support development policies and programmes, including population and reproductive health programmes that take into account the rights, needs, culture and traditions of indigenous peoples.</p>

<p> <span class="bodytext">UNFPA is focused on the field and results. But most importantly, we are focused on people, particularly women and youth so they can live in freedom from fear and want.</span> </p>