Dr. Natalia Kanem, the outgoing Executive Director of UNFPA, sits down with UN News to reflect on her eight years of leading the UN sexual and reproductive health agency, changing the future for women and girls around the world.

During her recent visit to Bangladesh, UNFPA Executive Director Dr. Natalia Kanem met transgender people affected by a lack of access to urgent care during floods and cyclones in the district of Gaibandha, in the far northwest of the country.

In this video, she explains how important it is to ensure that LGBTQIA+ people receive the same relief as everyone else, especially during humanitarian crises.

Learn more about how UNFPA is supporting health for all in all settings. 

During her recent visit to Bangladesh, UNFPA Executive Director Dr. Natalia Kanem met three young women who are helping mothers deliver their babies safely in the district of Gaibandha, in the far northwest of the country.

In this video, she explains how midwives are making a difference in this remote area, with support from UNFPA, the United Nations sexual and reproductive health agency.

Learn more about how UNFPA supports midwifery around the world.

Six years after her last visit, Dr. Natalia Kanem, UNFPA Executive Director, returned to Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh to meet with Rohingya refugee women and girls and hear about their needs.

See what she saw and find out more about the life-saving services provided by UNFPA—the United Nations sexual and reproductive health agency. 

Women in the remote villages of Sô-Ava, Benin have limited access to reproductive health care and maternity wards.

A boat clinic, supported by UNFPA—the United Nations sexual and reproductive health agency—helps deliver the services they need.

Watch UNFPA Executive Director Dr. Natalia Kanem’s visit to the clinic to see how UNFPA is working to ensure rights and choices for all women and girls, no matter where they live.

"At any moment, just logging on may trigger a flood of harassment and abuse."

See why UNFPA Executive Director Dr. Natalia Kanem supports survivors of violence who are stepping up to stop the misuse and abuse and to make technology safe for everyone.

The climate crisis is an emergency for everyone, but women and girls are paying a heavy price.

Climate change leads to more unintended pregnancies, more child marriages, more women dying during childbirth, more violence and more exploitation.

As world leaders gather for COP28, UNFPA Executive Director Dr. Natalia Kanem calls on them to protect the sexual and reproductive health and rights of vulnerable women and girls.

Learn more here.