For too long, efforts to reduce maternal mortality stalled, in part because the facts underlying the problem --and the best strategies to address it --were poorly understood. This report documents UNFPA's efforts to address maternal mortality using a strategic and practical evidence-based approach in a region where data has been scarce,and where too many women have died. Increasing access to emergency obstetric care is central to this approach.

From 1998 - 2002 the European Commission, UNFPA and European and local NGOs came together under the Initiative for Reproductive Health in Asia (RHI) to improve the RH of vulnerable populations in 7 countries in South and Southeast Asia. This publication presents the activities, experiences and lessons learned over the course of the first phase of this innovative programme.

Partnering with men is emerging as an important strategy for improving reproductive health. This new publication offers guidance on effective and gender-sensitive ways to engage men in the reproductive and sexual health of themselves and their partners. It includes examples of successful strategies and programming as well as lessons learned. A checklist summarizing key points makes this programme advisory note an especially useful tool for both designing and evaluating projects.

This joint stocktaking report highlights the importance of knowing the features of different AIDS epidemics in order to contain or reverse them. It argues for expanded paediatric AIDS testing and treatment as well as prevention of mother-to-child transmission and new infections among adolescents and young people. It also advocates for expanded protection and care for the approximately 15 million children globally who have lost either one or both of their parents due to AIDS, sparking greater attention to the needs of all vulnerable young.