Every minute a woman dies from lack of life-saving emergency obstetric care. Addressing this need is the centrepiece of UNFPA's efforts to make motherhood safer. The new Maternal Mortality Update explains the critical importance of timely medical interventions hen complications develop -- as they do in more than 5 per cent of all deliveries. It also documents UNFPA's efforts to reduce maternal mortality throughout the developing world.

The male latex condom is a simple, low-cost device, but because lives depend on it, it has to meet demanding performance requirements. This technical publication includes product specifications and guidelines, developed through consultations with international organizations, donors, NGOS and many in the private sector, including testing laboratories and consumer groups, to ensure quality asurance procedures for the production and procurement of condoms.

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.