Rwanda: A Transformative Journey to Reach Zero Preventable Maternal Deaths in Rwanda

Rwanda has undergone a remarkable journey in tackling its high maternal mortality rate over the past decade. From an alarming 1071 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births in 2010,… Read more »

Africa: Defying Tradition, Championing Rights

"Is [female genital mutilation] religious?" Under a tree in the quiet village of Dalocha Woreda in Central Ethiopia region, Nuritu Sirbar, the Head of the Dalocha district Women… Read more »

Africa: Long Road in a Short Time - Ending FGM Calls for Immediate Action

"A woman is a full circle; within her is the power to create, nurture, and transform." Read more »

Ethiopia: Reviving Tigray's Health System to Prevent Maternal Deaths

On November 22nd, 2023, for the first time in over a year after the conflict, surgeons at Adi Daero Primary Hospital started to bring life into the world again. Forty-year-old… Read more »

Ethiopia: Beskeshe - Creating a Space to Empower Young Girls

Hana and Mertnesh, both 14-year-old girls, attend Bule Hora Elementary School, in the Oromia region. They share a special bond as members of Her Space, Beskeshe in the local… Read more »

Mozambique: How Family Planning Is Changing the Lives of Youth in Communities Caught in Attacks in Northern Mozambique

Early in the morning, queues begin to form outside Lichinga Health Centre as medical staff prepare to treat patients, while nearby, mentors encourage people to test for HIV and… Read more »

Ethiopia: 'Putting My Pieces Back Together' - Azeb's Journey of Recovery With UNFPA's Support After Being Gang Raped

"My name is Azeb*. I am 33 and I live in the Mambuk IDP (Internally Displaced Persons) camp in the Benishangul Gumuz region, Ethiopia. Me and my family had to flee an armed attack… Read more »

Southern Africa: Raising Our Hands Together - Toward an Aids-Free Future

The young girls and boys raised their arms and stomped their feet during the opening of the 22nd International Conference on AIDS and Sexually Transmitted Infections (ICASA), their… Read more »

Africa: UNFPA Adds Voice to Call to End Aids and New HIV Infections At One of the Largest International Conferences

The 22nd International Conference on AIDS and Sexually Transmitted Infections (ICASA) opened with a resounding call from key development partners - including UNFPA, the United… Read more »

Africa: Looking At Africa's Future Through the Lens of Progress, Evidence and Foresight

A reflection on a decade of commitment, collaboration, and African resilience Read more »

Africa: Africa's Triumph - a Decade of Progress and Challenges in Pursuit of the ICPD Vision

Africa has made significant strides towards realizing the vision of the landmark International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD), for a continent that puts individual… Read more »

Africa: The African Population Experts Committee Meeting Kicks Off

The Department of Health, Humanitarian Affairs and Social Development of the African Union Commission (AUC), in collaboration with UNFPA, the United Nations sexual and reproductive… Read more »

Mozambique: 'I Encouraged My Daughter to Use Contraceptives' - Reducing Unplanned Teen Pregnancies in Mozambique

When Eulina João, 19, became a mother at the tender age of 17, she lacked crucial knowledge about sexual and reproductive health. She believes her life could have taken a… Read more »

Africa: Youth Leaders Innovate to Pave the Way for Ending Female Genital Mutilation and Child Marriage By 2030

In a powerful gathering of innovative minds, UNFPA, the United Nations sexual and reproductive health agency, in collaboration with the UNFPA-UNICEF Joint Programme on the… Read more »

Kenya: Young SRHR Advocates Stand Up to Fake News and Stigma

The majority of young people living with HIV, 60 per cent of the global total, are in Eastern and Southern Africa and only 70 per cent in 12 countries in the region have access to… Read more »

Africa: Spotlight Initiative Endorses Call to End FGM in Current Generation

With the backing of the African Union, UNFPA, UNICEF and the Spotlight Initiative Africa Regional programme, the 2nd International Conference on Female Genital Mutilation brought… Read more »

Africa: The Digital Space Is the New Frontier for Gender-Based Violence

Today (International Day of the Girl Child, 11 October 2023: Digital Generation. Our Generation.), 77 million adolescent girls in East and Southern Africa encapsulate boundless… Read more »

Africa: Empowering Girls Today for a Better Tomorrow - UNFPA's Mandate On International Day of the Girl Child

By Shudufhadzo Musida, Former Miss South Africa and UNFPA Regional Champion Read more »

Lesotho: Services Without Stigma - Halting HIV's Spread in Lesotho Through Non-Discriminatory Care

Since the height of the HIV/AIDS epidemic, the rate of the virus's spread has slowed significantly, with new infections down 59 per cent from 1995. But that hasn't stopped it from… Read more »

Africa: Empowering Young African Women and Girls in the Digital Age for a Mentally Resilient Future

By Shudufhadzo Musida, Miss South Africa 2020 and Regional Champion for UNFPA East and Southern Africa, to commemorate World Mental Health Day Read more »

Ethiopia: Defying Conflict and Child Marriage to Champion Girls' Education and Rights in Ethiopia

"I was very scared when I first entered the safe house. I was lonely and didn't leave my room for a month," said Ms. Alemtsehay*, now 18. Read more »

Congo-Kinshasa: Portable Ultrasounds Give Pregnant Women a Ray of Hope Amid Crisis in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

"Most of the women here have never had an ultrasound scan in their lives - even though on average they've already given birth more than five times," said Charmante Sibamza, a… Read more »

Congo-Kinshasa: An Inside Look At Life-Saving Mobile Clinics in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the health and protection needs of women and girls are soaring. Read more »

Ethiopia: War, Pregnancy and Hope - Setyelem's Harrowing Journey of Giving Birth in Ethiopia

ATAYE, Amhara Region, Ethiopia--Mother-of-two Setyelem, 29, had been diligent about going for antenatal check-ups during her first two pregnancies. But during her third pregnancy… Read more »

Africa: Five Things You Need to Know About Consent to Sex

Everyone has the right to make their own choices about their bodies. Yet millions of people are denied their right to say no to sex - or yes to the choice of a marriage partner or… Read more »