This booklet provides a snapshot of UNFPA's programming efforts to advance gender equality and empower women. It reports on activities undertaken in six priority areas, based on contributions from the global, regional and country levels over the course of two years (2007-2008).

In addition to providing a list of essential reproductive health supplies, this guidebook outlines the steps necessary for including reproductive health medicines on country-level lists of essential medicines. It also highlights the consequences of poor reproductive health and the importance of devoting resources to its betterment and reviews the concept of essential medicines lists and their significance.

The aim of this guide is to equip its users with key messages, evidence and actions that can be used to advocate effectively to prevent HIV in girls and young women. It focuses on three goals that the global community increasingly recognizes as important components of the response to the epidemic: improving the accessibility of sexual and reproductive health services for girls and young women; expanding socio-economic opportunities; and ending child marriage. In turn, collectively the goals are divided into a total of 10 key messages.