UNFPA in the News
The excerpts below are from media stories. UNFPA is not responsible for the accuracy or content of independent media reports displayed for reference purposes only. The Fund does not necessarily endorse or approve of the views expressed.
30Jan/13Off

UNITED ARAB EMIRATES: Eastern Mediterranean Region Commits to Maternal Health

Emirates News Agency on 30 January reported on a UN-convened high-level meeting on saving the lives of mothers and children in the Eastern Mediterranean region. Participants agreed to accelerate progress on improving maternal and child health between now and the end of 2015. They also committed to reducing the gap between current funding levels and those required if the region is to meet Millennium Development Goals 4 and 5 on reducing maternal and child mortality. UNFPA co-organized the meeting with UNICEF and WHO. The three organizing agencies were represented by Dr. Ala Alwan, Regional Director for the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region who said, "WHO, UNICEF and UNFPA will work together across the region to support countries in taking these commitments forward.”

13Dec/10Off

UAE: Youth Train For AIDS Awareness

The National reported on 13 December that a six-day training workshop for young people was under way in the UAE to educate them about reproductive health and protection from HIV/AIDS. Y-Peer, an international youth-to-youth initiative pioneered by UNFPA, wants to establish a national network of trainers who will spread the message of prevention. Read: The National

19Apr/10Off

UAE: Minister Opens Workshop on Role of Nurses in Blood Transfusion and Patients’ Safety

WAM reported on 19 April that WHO, in cooperation with the Ministry of Health, began a 3-day workshop about the role of nurses and midwives in blood transfusion and patients' safety. The workshop is organized for the first time in Mediterranean, Africa and South East Asia region being organized by WHO, UAE Ministry of Health, Blood Transfusion and Research Centre in Sharjah, UAE Nursing and Midwifery Council, UAE Nursing Society, Thalassaemia International Federation, International Confederation of Midwives, World Federation of Haemophilia and UNFPA. Read: WAM

8Mar/10Off

COVERAGE ON INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY AND BEIJING+15

IPS published, on 8 March, excerpts of an interview with Irina Bokova, who was recently elected director-general of UNESCO. The article focused on gender empowerment as part of UNESCO’s agenda and beyond, noting that she joins a number of women heads of UN agencies, including UNFPA Executive Director Thoraya Ahmed Obaid. “My election as director-general is perhaps more indicative of the trend that competent and qualified women have a better chance of competing for these very high level posts now than ever before," said Ms. Bokova. Read: IPS

IRNA (Iran) and The Yemen Observer (Yemen) and Oslobodjenje (Bosnia-Herzegovina) and Khovar (Tajikistan) published UNFPA Executive Director Thoraya Ahmed Obaid's statement marking International Women's Day on 7 and 8 March. In the statement, Ms. Obaid said, “UNFPA remains fully committed to working with partners to advance women’s empowerment, gender equality and reproductive health and rights. With ideas spreading faster than ever, here is an idea whose time has come: We stand a better chance of solving the world’s problems if men and women join together as equal partners in finding innovative solutions.” Read: IRNA and Yemen Observer and in Russian: Khovar

UN News Centre and Xinhua (China) reported on 5 March and IPS reported on 7 March that, at an event in New York, Thoraya Ahmed Obaid, Executive Director of UNFPA, said that people are critical agents of change in all cultures, who must be engaged to promote the rights of women and protect them from violence. Discriminatory attitudes and harmful practices are deeply rooted and are often stronger than the laws banning them, she said in a keynote speech at “2020 VISION, Mobilizing for Women’s Rights and Eliminating Violence Against Women,” which was organized by the Women’s Learning Partnership and the Social Research journal at The New School for Social Research. Read: UN News Centre

The Huffington Post (United States) published a blog on 5 March by television producer and writer Tamar Abrams marking International Women’s Day with a call to end maternal mortality. Maternal deaths in developing countries could be slashed by 70% and newborn deaths cut nearly in half if the world doubled investment in family planning and pregnancy-related care, according to a report released two months ago by the Guttmacher Institute and UNFPA. The new report, Adding It Up: The Costs and Benefits of Investing in Family Planning and Maternal and Newborn Health, found that investments in family planning boost the overall effectiveness of every dollar spent on the provision of pregnancy-related and newborn health care. Read: The Huffington Post

BANGLADESH: The New Nation reported on 8 march that, to celebrate the 100 years of the International Women's Day, Channel i will air a special programme on the status of women in Bangladesh. Assistant Representative of the UNFPADr. Nur Mohammad and Assistant Professor of Gender and Women Studies of Dhaka University Prof Imtiaz will take part in the discussion. Read: The New Nation

BELARUS: BELTA reported on 2 March on remarks by Tatyana Haplichnik, UNFPA Programme Analyst at a press conference on the eve of the International women's day conducted within the framework of the Global Campaign of the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon. Unite to end violence against women'. UN representatives, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the territorial center of social services took part in the media event. Read in Russian: BELTA

MOZAMBIQUE: Daily Notícias reported on 6 March that UNFPA reiterates its support to women’s empowerment. It quoted UNFPA Executive Director, Thoraya Ahmed Obaid as saying that the organization “remains fully committed to working with partners to advance women’s empowerment, gender equality and reproductive health and rights”. The article highlighted some challenges faced by women, namely deaths due to complications of pregnancies and childbirth, forced marriages and unequal treatment.

PARAGUAY: La Nacion reported on 8 March on maternal health in Paraguay and around the world as  Thoraya Ahmed Obaid, Executive Director of UNFPA, called for eradication of maternal mortality in her statement on International Women's Day. In Paraguay, the death of a woman  means that at least 3 children are left without a mother. Considering the total fertility rate, this represents about 350 children who lose their mothers every year. Read in Spanish: La Nación

TANZANIA: The Guardian, The Citizen and The Daily News reported on 6-8 March on International Women's Day, with stories refelcting on gains and losses and calling for more action to protect women's rights in Tanzania and around the world since the 1995 Bejing Platform of Action. In an op-ed in The Guardian, UNFPA representative Julitta Onabanjo called for solidarity with Tanzanian women, and pledged UNFPA's continued support for efforts to promote women's rights and combat the disproportionate burden of poverty borne by women in the country. In addition, a symposium was held at the UN offices in Dar es Salaam to mark the 15th anniversary of the Bejing Platform of Action. Ms. Onabanjo told symposium participants that the symposium was organized to improve understanding of the Beijing Platform. “We want you to know that what importance it has today for the young people in this country, and what you can do to address and advocate for girls and women in this country.”

TURKEY: Today's Zaman published an op-ed 7 March by Gülay Aslantepe, ILO Ankara office director and Maurizio Busatti, IOM Turkey representative, co-chairs of the United Nations Turkey Gender Thematic Group on progress toward the Bejing goals in Turkey, and on UN agencies’ work in the country, noting that  UNFPA Turkey is working with the national government to improve reporting, complaint and enforcement systems for women’s rights. Its activities are focused on strengthening capacities at both national and local levels for monitoring, protecting and enforcing the rights of women and children. Read: Today's Zaman

UAE: Gulf News published a column by Sanya Nayeem, the Deputy Readers Editor, marking International Women's Day. She noted that, according to the UNFPA(UNFPA), women currently constitute over two-thirds of the illiterate adult population worldwide. They also represent 70 per cent of the planet's poor — a reality that became more severe after the recent global economic crisis. Read: Gulf News

1Feb/10Off

UAE: Dubai Health Authority Begins Vital Training Programme in Healthcare Research Methodology

AME Info reported on 1 February a new training programme implemented by the Dubai Health Authority (DHA). Essa Kazim, CEO of Health Policy and Strategy at the DHA, highlighted that the training is being conducted by highly-qualified professionals who have vast experience in research, health policy, healthcare finance and health economics and have previously worked in organisations such as The Johns Hopkins School of Public Health, The World Bank, the Population Council, UNICEF and UNFPA . Read: AME Info

16Nov/09Off

COVERAGE OF LAUNCH OF 2009 STATE OF THE WORLD POPULATION REPORT (SWOP): FACING A CHANGING WORLD, WOMEN, POPULATION AND CLIMATE

AFP (France) reported 18 November on the launch of the 2009 State of the World Population Report (SWOP). The Spanish version misrepresented the report’s emphasis on family planning and UNFPA’s work as “population control.” "Slower population growth... would help build social resilience to climate change's impacts and would contribute to a reduction of greenhouse-gas emissions in the future," UNFPA said. Read: AFP and in Spanish: AFP

The Associated Press (United States) reported 18 November on the release of the SWOP report, misrepresenting UNFPA’s work, and the report’s findings, claiming that “The U.N. Population Fund acknowledged it had no proof of the effect that population control would have on climate change.”  Read: Associated Press and in Spanish: Associated Press

BBC (UK) reported 18 November that women in developing countries will be the most vulnerable to climate change, a report from UNFPA has warned. "[There] are fundamental questions about how climate change will affect women, men, boys and girls differently around the world, and indeed within nations, and how individual behaviour can undermine or contribute to the global effort to cool our warming world," UNFPA executive director Thoraya Ahmed Obaid said. Read: BBC and in Spanish: BBC

BBC (UK) reported 18 November that UNFPAs Executive Director Thoraya Obaid told the BBC that the annual figures showed the continent's population had doubled in the last 27 years.  "Africa countries are all growing fast... because there is large number of women who have no access to planning their families," she said. Read: BBC

BBC (UK) included the question “Do children contribute to climate change” as the subject for debate in its 18 November “Africa Have Your Say” segment. Read: BBC

CNN International reported 18 November that UNFPA warns that it is women in the developing world who are bearing the brunt of the worsening and accelerating impact of climate change. “Women are on the front lines of many societies buffeted by climate change -- and research indicates they tend to be more vulnerable to these impacts," said the report's lead author, Robert Engelman. Read: CNN

IPS reported 20 November on the Global Forum For Health Research, noting that UNFPA’s State of World Population 2009 report, released Nov. 18, states that climate change threatens to aggravate poverty. "Poor households are especially vulnerable to climate change because their marginal income provides little or no access to health services or other safety nets to protect against the threats from changing conditions and because they lack the resources to relocate when crises strike. Some of the possible direct threats that climate change could pose on the region's poor include death and illness resulting from extreme heat, unusual cold, infectious diseases and malnutrition," says the report. Read: IPS

IPS reported 19 November that UNFPA’s report, subtitled "Facing a changing world: women, population and climate", attempts to move the focus of climate change debates away from the”‘what” and the “where” to the “who.” The report finds that members of poor households are especially vulnerable, as many live in rural areas and depend on the land and sea for their livelihoods. Their scant income provides little security to protect them against threats from changing conditions, and limited access to health services. Bunmi Makinwa, director of the UNFPA regional office for Sub-Saharan Africa, spoke to IPS about three challenges likely to exacerbate the effects of climate change for African populations. Read: IPS

IPS reported 18 November that a new U.N. report on the hazards of climate change brings a fresh human perspective to an ongoing wide-ranging debate that has focused primarily on energy efficiency and industrial carbon emissions. Climate change is much more than greenhouse-gas emissions, says the study by UNFPA, it is also population dynamics, poverty and gender equity. Read: IPS

Nature reported 18 November that providing access to contraception for 215 million women, mainly in developing countries, would help to stabilize population growth and significantly reduce the effects of climate change, UNFPA says in a new report. The State of the World Population 2009 report says that population levels will affect countries' abilities to adapt to the immediate effects of climate change, although the longer-term influence of population growth on climate change will depend on future economic, technological and consumption trends. Read: Nature

Reuters reported 18 November that In its 2009 state of the world population report, UNFPA said the world's poor are the most vulnerable to climate change and the majority of the 1.5 billion people living on $1.0 a day or less are women. Read: Reuters and in Spanish: Reuters

UN News Centre reported 18 November that the UNFPA report warned that the poor depend more on agriculture for their livelihoods, risking hunger and loss of income when droughts strike, rains become unpredictable and hurricanes move with unprecedented force. Read: UN News Centre

UPI reported 18 November that the SWOP says educational and healthcare programmes for women and girls can help since they tend to lead to smaller and healthier families that lower the overall growth of greenhouse emissions. "With the possibility of a climate catastrophe on the horizon, we cannot afford to relegate the world's 3.4 billion women and girls to the role of victim," UNFPA Executive Director Thoraya Ahmed  Obaid said. "Wouldn't it make more sense to have 3.4 billion agents for change?" Read: UPI

Voice of America (United States) reported 18 November that the report warns that women, especially in poor countries, are most vulnerable to the effects of climate change, especially in agricultural communities. Drought and erratic rainfall force women to work harder to secure food for their households. Girls often

Xinhua (China) reported 18 November that the UNFPA report warned that the poor depend more on agriculture for their livelihoods, risking hunger  and loss of income when droughts strike, rains become  unpredictable and hurricanes move with unprecedented force. Read: Xinhua

AFRICA: The South African Civil Society Information Service published analysis 19 November by Saliem Fakir, as UNFPA released its "State of the World Population 2009" report on the 18 November. It chose to take up a politically delicate topic, the relationship between climate change, population stabilization and the importance of gender. The fundamental question it seeks to address is: how much of a threat is the growth in population to the world and how much of this increase will lead to a spike in green house gas (GHG) emissions? Read: The South African Civil Society Information Service

LATIN AMERICA: Multiple Media outlets reported 16– 22 on the regional launch of the State of World Population 2009 Report, which took place at the United Nations Information Centre  in Mexico City, and was organized by the United Nations Population Fund Mexico’s office. Regional Director of UNFPA for Latin America and The Caribbean emphasized the importance of investing in public policies on population issues and an education system that take into account the impact of climatic change. Robert Engelman, Vice President of the Worldwatch Institute and main author of the report also spoke on the importance of accounting for women in the fight against global warming. Read in Spanish: EFE, EFE, Clave Digital (Dominican Republic), La Jornada (Mexico), Once TV (Mexico), ABC (Paraguay), ABC (Paraguay), CIMAC (Mexico), El Espectador (Mexico), El Nuevo Empresario (Mexico) and Ellas Virtual (Panama)

ARGENTINA: Multiple media outlets reported 18 – 22 November on the launch of the State of the World Population report, and comments by Eleanor Fuar of UNFPA. Read in Spanish: Infobae, Diario Norte, Télam, Clarín, Pagína 12, Diario del Cuyo, Red Hum, Rio Negro, El Liberal

AUSTRALIA/PACIFIC: Radio Australia reported 18 November that UNFPA has put out its annual State of the World Population report, which focuses on the human dimensions of climate change, and in particular its effects on women. Globally, the report highlights persistently high levels of maternal mortality, and it warns that changes in the earth's climate will only add to the burden for the poor. It singles out some of Australia's closest neighbours - East Timor and Papua New Guinea - where high numbers of women die in childbirth. Read: Radio Australia

AUSTRALIA: The Australian reported 20 November that investing in birth control to reduce population growth could be more effective in cutting greenhouse gas emissions than building wind turbines or nuclear power stations, according to a UN report. Taking action to prevent one billion births by 2050 would save as much carbon dioxide as constructing two million giant wind turbines. The UNFPA predicts the global population could reach 10.5 billion by 2050, up from 6.8 billion today, unless urgent action is taken to reduce fertility rates.

AUSTRALIA: Canberra Times published a column 19 November by Eileen Kelly, noting United Nations' Population Fund issued its 2009 report State of World Population which categorically states that family planning and sexual and reproductive health care can change the course of climate change.

AUSTRALIA: GMagazine reported 19 November women are more vulnerable to the effects of climate change, bearing the disproportionate burden of a warming planet, according to a report released by UNFPA. Read: GMagazine

AUSTRALIA: AAP reported 18 November that women are more vulnerable to climate change than men and will continue to bear the brunt of extreme weather conditions unless more is done to educate and empower them, a report has found.  The State of World Population 2009 report, released by UNFPA, says women have been overlooked in discussions on how to combat rising seas, drought and melting glaciers. Read: AAP

AUSTRALIA: The Sydney Morning Herald reported 18 November that, braking the rise in Earth's population would be a major help in the fight against global warming, according to an unprecedented UN report that draws a link between demographic pressure and climate change. "Slower population growth... would help build social resilience to climate change's impacts and would contribute to a reduction of greenhouse-gas emissions in the future," the UNFPA says. Read: Sydney Morning Herald

BANGLADESH: The Independent reported 20 November that the UNFPA report on the state of the world population this year finds that women bear the brunt of climate change more than men do, but the fact has so far been largely overlooked in the debate about how to address problems of rising seas, worsening storms and severe droughts. Representative in Bangladesh Arthur Erken said that poor women in poor countries like Bangladesh were among the hardest hit by climate change, even though they contributed least to it."The poor are especially vulnerable to the effects of climate change, and the majority of the 1.5 billion people living on $1 a day or less are women. The poor are more likely to depend on agriculture for a living and therefore risk going hungry or losing their livelihoods when droughts strike, rains become unpredictable and hurricanes move with unprecedented force," he explained. Read: The Independent

BANGLADESH: The Financial Express reported 18 November that Bangladesh's present population is 162.2 million and may rise to 222.5 million by 2050 at the current growth rate of 1.4 percent, according to the latest count by UN agency UNFPA.  UNFPA representative Arthur Erken, executive director of Bangladesh Centre for Advanced Studies Dr. Atiq Rahman, DGFP director general Mohammad Abdul Qayyum, former adviser of caretaker government Rasheda K Chowdhury and Health and Family Welfare Ministry secretary Shaikh Altaf Ali unveiled the report. Read: The Financial Express

BANGLADESH: The New Nation reported 18 November on the Dhaka release of the SWOP report, which found that women bear the disproportionate burden of climate change. Poor women in poor countries like Bangladesh are among the hardest hit by climate change even though they contributed the least to it.   Arthur Erken, UNFPA representative in Bangladesh gave the welcome speech while Shaikh Altaf Ali, Secretary, Ministry of Health, Family Planning and Welfare was present as the chief guest. Read: The New Nation

BANGLADESH: The Daily Star reported 18 November climate change may reverse the hard-earned development gains of the past and the progress towards achieving the millennium development goals (MDGs), said the UNFPA in its 'State of the World Population 2009' report. The climatic change also threatens to exacerbate the gap between the rich and the poor and amplify the inequalities between the men and women, says the report titled “Facing a changing world: women, population and climate.” Read: The Daily Star

BELARUS: Belta.by, and Naviny.by, reported 18 – 19 November on the release of the SWOP report in Minsk. Read in Russan: Belta.by (19 November), Naviny.by, Naviny.by

BOLIVIA: Multiple media outlets reported 18 – 22 November on the release of the 2009 SWOP report, including statements by UNFPA representative in Bolivia, Jaime Nadal-Roig, marking the launch. Read in Spanish: EFE, EFE, EABolivia.com, AFP, Los Tiempos, Los Tiempos, La Razon, Erbol, Jornada, Cambio, El Ciudadano, and ADN

BURUNDI: Le Renouveau du Burundi reported 16 November that climate change has negative consequences on population. In Burundi, we have sometimes dryness and sometimes inundation in some areas of the country. Many houses or social infrastructures are destroyed and people, especially women and children are victims. They suffer of hungry and diseases and what is worse is that the government hasn’t enough means to secure them, said the Chief of Cabinet of the Ministry of Water, Environment, Territory and Urbanism.

CAMBODIA: The Phnom Penh Post and Radio ABC Australia (Australia) Khmer service reported 20 November on the release of the 2009 SWOP report in Cambodia. “Women manage households and care for family members, which often limits their mobility and increases their vulnerability”, said Alice Levisay, UNFPA Representative. Read in Khmer: Radio ABC Australia

CANADA: The CBC reported 18 November that The State of World Population report, an annual document presented by UNFPA, said making condoms and reproductive education more widely available could help curb emissions by slowing population growth. Thoraya Ahmed Obaid, the UNFPA’s executive director, told a news conference in London that global warming could be catastrophic for people in poor countries, particularly women.  "We have now reached a point where humanity is approaching the brink of disaster," she said. Read: CBC

CAPE VERDE: Multiple media outlets reported 18 November on an event marking the release of the 2009 SWOP chaired by the UNFPA Representative in Cape Verde Ms Petra Lantz, who called special attention of journalist on the human dimension of the climate change, focusing on the fact that the more vulnerable people, especially women and children, are most affect in the changing world, due to the climate change. Read in Portuguese: Expreso das Ilhas, Infopress, Nhaterra, RTC

CHINA: China Radio International reported 18 November that UNPFA warns in its annual report that family planning, reproductive health care and gender relations could influence future climate change and affect how humanity adapts to rising seas, worsening storms and severe droughts. This year's State of World Population report concludes that international climate-change agreements and national policies are more likely to succeed if they take into account population dynamics, relationships between the sexes, women's well-being and access to services or opportunities. Read: China Radio International

COLOMBIA: El Pais reported 18 November on the release of the SWOP report and the impact of climate change in Colombia. Read in Spanish: El Pais

REPUBLIC OF CONGO (Brazzaville): Les Depeches de Brazzaville and Congo-Site reported 19 November on the release of the 2009 SWOP report in Congo. Read in French: Depeches de Brazzaville and Congo-Site

COSTA RICA: La Nacion, La Prensa Libre, Diario Extra and El Diario de Nuestra Pais reported 18-20 November on the SWOP launch, and the report’s implications for the world, as well as for Costa Rica. Read in Spanish: La Nacion, Prensa Libre, Diario Extra

CUBA: Juventud Libre reported 18 November on the launch of the SWOP report, which points out that, more than a technical question regarding industry and energy efficientcy, climate change affects people, and is shaped by individuals’ behavior. Read in Spanish: Juventud Libre

DENMARK: The Copenhagen Post reported 20 November that family planning and access to contraception are key proponents of fighting climate change, according to Minister for Development Cooperation Ulla Tørnæs. Tørnæs was speaking at the University of Copenhagen in connection with the launch of the latest ‘State of World Population’ report from UNFPA. Read: The Copenhagen Post

EGYPT: Daily News Egypt published an op-ed by Caroline Boin, Project Director at International Policy Network on 22 November, mischaracterizing UNFPA’s mission as dedicated to population control: “Rehash old fears and update them with the alarmist topic du jour - that's the recipe for the United Nations Population Fund's annual report dedicated to climate change. Its State of World Population 2009 correctly points out that poor women will be the most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. But it focuses on old-fashioned population control instead of real ways to empower women against poverty and climate change.” Read: Daily News Egypt

EL SALVADOR: La Prensa Grafica reported 18 – 19 November on the release of the SWOP report and its implications for El Salvador. Read in Spanish: La Prensa GráficaLa Prensa GráficaLa Prensa GráficaLa Prensa Gráfica

ETHIOPIA: Ethiopian News published a column 20 November by Yilma Bekele, responding to a radio report in which UNFPA was discussing the state of human population growth. According to them there are eighty-two and half million Ethiopians. Plenty of us if you ask me. On the other hand the Ethiopian government count shows seventy-three point nine million Ethiopians. Quiet a discrepancy wouldn’t you say. We are talking about eight point six million Abeshas an accounted for. Read: Ethiopian News

GABON: Gabon Page and L’Union reported 16-20 November on the release of the 2009 SWOP report, which was attended by State of the World Population 2009 by Ms Mariama Darboe Diop, UNFPA deputy director. Read in French: Gabon Page and L’Union

GERMANY: Spiegel reported 20 November that, with the world struggling to come up with an agreement ahead of December's Climate Change Summit in Copenhagen, one important fact has been overlooked: Women are hit hardest by the extreme weather shifts, according to a new UN report. “Poor women in poor countries are among the hardest hit by climate change, even though they contributed the least to it," wrote UNFPA Executive Director Thoraya Ahmed Obaid in a press statement. Read: Spiegel

GHANA: GNA reported 18 November that the 2009 state of the World Population Report, has revealed that the earth surface continues to warm up due to human activities with temperatures increasing by 0.74 degree Celsius within the past two centuries. Ms Thoraya Obaid, UNFPA Executive Director in a speech read on her behalf, by Mr Jude Edochie, UNFPA Country Representative in Ghana, said poor women in poor countries were among the hardest hit by climate change even though they contributed the least to it. Read: GNA

GUATEMALA: Cerigua reported 18 - 19 November on the release of the SWOP report, emphasizing the importance of including women in efforts to combat climate change.” Read: Cerigua (19 November), Cerigua (18 November)

INDIA: Express Buzz and The Australian reported 20 November that, days ahead of the 190-country Copenhagen summit on climate-change, Union Minister for Environment and Forests Jairam Ramesh said it was unlikely that the conference come out with anything substantial. “Do not expect much from this round of discussions in Copenhagen. It looks like the negotiations would continue. “The single most important cause of emissions is beef eating,'' Mr Ramesh said during a speech to launch the UNFPA state of the world population report. Read: Express Buzz

INDIA: Over 25 newspapers in English, Hindi, Oriya and Marathi covered the release of SWOP 09 in India. The news also appeared on media websites and various satellite television channels. Doordarshan - India’s national TV network - telecast a 30-minute interview with Nesim Tumkaya, UNFPA Representative. To view the interviews on YouTube, visit india.unfpa.org.

INDIA: Hindustan Times reported 20 November on remarks by state health secretary S.R. Mohanty and UNFPA State Programme Coordinator Prakash Deo marking the release of the SWOP report, as the two called for renewed attention to climate change and investment in family welfare programmes.

INDIA: The Hindustan published, on 20 November, an interview with UNFPA representative Nesim Tumkaya on the impact of climate change on India and issues related to population and family planning.

INDIA: The Pioneer reported 20 November that Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh trashed a United Nation's report from the same platform that he released it from. The UNFPA’s State of World Population 2009 report, which the minister had released, suggested taking population dynamics into account to ensure success of international climate change agreements. However, Ramesh said the two could not be linked and India needed to take on the propaganda that her population leads to emissions. "Brand population has been termed as the biggest culprit in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions but there is now abundant evidence to show that climate change is not related in any way to population growth. A billion people do not need be higher emitters," he emphasised.

INDIA: The Pioneer reported 20 November that the release of the SWOP report was coordinated by UNFPA along with the Indian Red Cross Society Odisha State Branch (IRCS OSB). Principal Secretary of State Forest & Environment Department Upendra Nath Behera, who released the report, said despite the large population in our country, we consume less power compared to some other developed countries. Nevertheless, it is still our responsibility to ensure we do our part to arrest climate change.

INDIA: The Times of India reported 20 November that India is going to be the world's most populous country in the next 40 years,  according to the 2009 SWOP report. Read: The Times of India

INDIA: Kalinga Times reported 19 November that family planning, reproductive health care and gender relations could influence the future course of climate change and affect how humanity adapts to rising seas, worsening storms and severe droughts, according to The State of World Population 2009, published by UNFPA. Read: Kalinga Times

INDIA: PTI reported 19 November that Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot expressed concern over climate change and called for a collective endeavour by countries all over the world to control the global phenomenon. "Climate change is taking place rapidly and collective efforts are needed to control it," Gehlot said venting his anxieties after releasing the new UNPFA report here on the effects of climate change. Read: PTI

INDIA: MyNews.in reported 19 November on India’s low expectations for the upcoming global summit on climate change, noting that UNFPA – like the reports of other UN organization has focused extensively on climate change. Read: MyNews.in

INDIA: PTI reported 18 November that, giving a new angle to the climate change, the UNFPA said family planning, reproductive health care and gender relations could influence the future course of climate change and affect how humanity adapts to rising seas, worsening storms and severe droughts. Releasing the report in Mumbai, Vandana Krishna, secretary and commissioner family welfare, public health department, Maharashtra government said that the report clearly questions the current model of development. Read: PTI

INDIA: Zee News reported 18 November that the battle against global warming could be helped if the world slowed population growth by making free condoms and family planning advice more widely available, according to UNFPA. Read: Zee News

INDONESIA: Kompas reported in three articles on 19 November on the launch of the SWOP report in Jakarta, where UNFPA Representative Dr. Zahidul Huque said developing countries contribute about 3% of the global carbon emission but they are the most affected by the climate change. 50% of 240 million Indonesia’s population live on less than $2 per day, making it difficult for them to cope with increased food prices, less clean water, and access health care when sick, and Minister of Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection Linda Amalia Sari said that in their role as nurturers, women can educate children and community members to plant trees and protect the environment.

IRAN: Tehran Times reported 18 November that UNFPA hosted a conference at Tehran University on population and climate change to launch the 2009 SWOP. Read: Tehran Times

IRELAND: Irish Times reported 19 November on the UNFPA report, Facing a Changing World: Women, Population and Climate Change , details how climate change threatens to widen the gap between rich and poor and amplify gender inequalities. Slower population growth in both developed and developing countries may help “ease the task of bringing global emissions into balance with the atmosphere in the long run and enabling more immediate adaptation to change already under way”, the report argues. “For many people – especially poor women in poor countries – climate change is here and now,” said UNFPA director of human resources Sean Hand at the Irish launch of the report in Dublin. “Poor women in poor countries are among the hardest hit by climate change even though they contributed the least to it.” Read: Irish Times

LAO PDR: The Vientiane Times and the Vientiane Mai reported 20 November that UNFPA Lao PDR in cooperation with the Department of International Cooperation of Ministry of Investment and Planning launch this year's State of World Population report. The launch is chaired by the Vice Minister of Ministry of Planning and Investment and Meiko Labuta, UNFPA Representative, in Lao PDR. The 2009 report, “Facing a changing world: women, population and climate”, puts people at the centre of discussions on climate change. “Climate change is more than an issue of energy efficiency or industrial carbon emissions; it is also an issue of population dynamics, poverty and gender equity,” says UNFPA Executive Director Thoraya Ahmed Obaid

LIBERIA: Multiple media outlets reported 18 November on the launch of the 2009 SWOP report in Monrovia. Read: STAR Radio, The News, Public Agenda, The Monitor

MALDIVES: ISRIA, Minivan News, and Haveeru reported 22 November that Vice President Dr Mohamed Waheed launched UNFPA State of World Population 2009 Report. Speaking at the launching function, the Vice President said while we pursue solutions to both mitigation and adaptation, “we must also address human rights and social issues.” Read: ISRIA, Minivan news, Haveeru

MONGOLIA: Unuudur reported 20 November that UNFPA organized a press conference for journalists to launch the State of World Population Report. Due to the climate change recently in Mongolia the number of natural disasters has been increasing and took the lives of 304 people for the last decade. They also highlighted that women bear the disproportionate burden of climate change, but have so far been largely overlooked in the debate about how to address problems caused by extreme weather events.  Read: Unuudur

NEPAL: The Kathmandu Post and Republica reported 20 November that UNFPA in Nepal has called for a renewed debate and actions to respond to population issues and Nepali women's empowerment in the face of climate change. The call comes with the release of the UNFPA's report on State of World Population 2009. “This is a vital time in Nepal to re-invigorate the debate and identify the actions needed to respond to population issues and women's empowerment in the face of climate change. We hope the report will contribute to the debate,” said UNFPA Representative in Nepal Ian McFarlane. Read: The Kathmandu Post

NICARAGUA: El Nuevo Diario and La Prensa reported 17 – 19 November on the release of the SWOP report, and UNFPA representative Junko Sazaki spoke on the report’s  implications for Nicaragua. Read in Spanish: El Nuevo Diario and La Prensa

PAKISTAN: Multiple media outlets reported 18 - 20 November on the release of the UNFPA SWOP Report and the Pakistan Supplement. Secretary  of Environment, Kamran Lashari said UNFPA's report will be a crucial platform for raising awareness about the significance of climate change as Pakistan works to achieve the Millennium Development Goals. Federal Minister for PopulationWelfare Dr. Firdous Ashiq Awan said that continuouspopulation growth would multiply impacts of climate change aroundthe globe, therefore, engagement of all stakeholders be ensured tocope with this challenge. "Involvement of all the stakeholders including policy makers,decision makers, parliamentarians, civil society and media, in anon-going debate on how to understand, slow down and mitigate the effects of climate change is essential," the Minister said while addressing a report launching ceremony. Daily Times, Daily Times

PANAMA: La Estrella reported 19 - 20  November on the release of the SWOP report, as well as UNFPA Panama representative Laura Flores’ remarks ont  the report’s implications for Panama.  Read in Spanish: La Estrella (20 November) and La Estrella (19 November)

PARAGUAY: Multiple media outlets reported and published UNFPA’s statement 18 – 22 November on the SWOP report release. Read in Spanish: SC Noticias,

PERU: Multiple media outlets reported 18 – 19 November on the release of the SWOP report in Lima, including remarks by UNFPA representative Esteban Caballero Carrizosa.  Read in Spanish: Agencia Press, Andina, RPP

THE PHILIPPINES: GMA News reported 18 November that Suneeta Mukherjee, country representative of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), said women should be empowered by contraceptive use as it ensures their health. “(The debate about women’s use of contraceptives is) not about sex or promiscuity but being able to control their lives," Mukherjee said during the UNFPA launch of its annual State of World Population Report in Pasay City. The report carried the theme: “Facing a changing world: women, population and climate." Read: GMA News

THE PHILIPPINES: Malaya Business Insight reported 18 November that faster population growth aggravates climate change because more people mean more green house gas emissions, according to UNFPA’s State of World Population Report 2009.  As population increases, the study said, economies and consumption outpace the earth’s capacity to adjust, making climate change effects more extreme.  "Green house gas emissions would not be accumulating so hazardously had the number of earth’s inhabitants not increased so rapidly, but remained at 300 million people, the world population of 1,000 years ago, compared with 6.8 billion today," the report said. Read: Malaya Business Insight

THE PHILIPPINES: The Business Mirror reported 18 November that the United Nations has reiterated its warning to countries with rapid population growth such as the Philippines to adopt reproductive-health policies to prevent their populations from suffering a harsher impact of disasters linked to climate change.

UNFPA launched the “State of the World Population” report highlighting women, mostly in poor and developing countries, that it said are the “most vulnerable to suffer from the impact of climate change because they make up the larger share of agricultural work force and do not have much access to income-earning opportunities than men.” Read: The Business Mirror

THE PHILIPPINES: The Philippine Star reported 18 November that women in less developed economies that are less able to cope with the impact of climate change are the most vulnerable to hunger and disease due to the difficult roles they assume in homes, farms and workplaces, according to the annual report of the UNFPA. UNFPA Country Representative for the Philippines Suneeta Mukherjee presented the 2009 State of the World Population Report which focuses this year on population, women and climate change. Read: Philippine Star

PORTUGAL: Multiple media outlets reported 18 - 22 November on the launch of The State of World Population Report 2009, which was hosted by UNFPA Geneva Office Director Alanna Armitage who travels to Portugal solely for this occasion. The presentation is sponsored by the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs and Co-operation (SENEC) João Gomes Cravinho. Health Secretary of State Manuel Pizarro, UNFPA Goodwill Ambassador Catarina Furtado, representatives of foreign embassies in Lisbon, official bodies, NGO’s and members of academic institutions will also attend the event. Some of the coverage distorted UNFPA’s work as promoting “population control.” Read: ISRIA and in Portuguese: PST, Jornal de Noticias, TVi24, Lusa,

QATAR: Qatar News Agency reported 20 November that the 94-page State of the World Population Report 2009, launched in London, urged world leaders to take into account improved access to family planning services in future discussions such as next month's UN climate change summit in Copenhagen. "There is still time ... to think creatively about population, reproductive health and gender equality and how these might contribute to a just and environmentally sustainable world," said the report. Read: Qatar News Agency

REPUBLIC OF KOREA: The Korea Herald reported 19 November that a report by UNFPA showed that the social and economic gap between the two Koreas is widening. According to the report titled, "The State of World Population 2009: Facing a changing world," South Korea's infant mortality per 1,000 live births was four, whereas North Korea recorded 47. The difference in maternal mortality rate per 100,000 live births was even more severe - 14 for the South and 370 for the North. Read: The Korea Herald

REPUBLIC OF KOREA: The Chosun Ilbo and Yonhap reported 19 November that South Korea still has one of the lowest birthrates in the world, according to a report released by UNFPA, through the Planned Population Federation of Korea (PPFK). The country's total birthrate was 1.22, following last year's lowest rate at 1.2. Read: The Chosun Ilbo

RUSSIA: Reuters reported 18 November that Russia toughened its plans to curb harmful greenhouse gas emissions, in a rare encouraging development before United Nations climate talks, noting that In its 2009 state of the world population report, UNFPA said the world's poor are the most vulnerable to climate change and the majority of the 1.5 billion people living on $1.0 a day or less are women. Read: Reuters

SIERRA LEONE: Awoko reported 20 November that, along with the launch of the SWOP report, and UNFPA in collaboration with the Government of Sierra Leone, civil society and the media has intensified awareness raising campaign on the United Nations International Conference on Population Development in Sierra Leone to mark the 15 anniversary of ICPD.  The UNFPA Country Representative Ratidzai Ndoluvu has reiterated that UNFPA is committed and determined to continue their support to the people and the Government of Sierra Leone in the improvement of health care delivery. Read: Awoko

SOUTH AFRICA: Voice of America reported 18 November that the United Nations says women, especially in less developed countries, are more vulnerable to the effects of climate change. UNFPA delivered the warning in its annual report issued in South Africa.  The Africa director of the UNFPA, Bunmi Makinwa, told reporters in Port Elizabeth women are especially susceptible to the consequences of climate change, which include water and food insecurity, disease and population migration. Read: Voice of America

SPAIN: El Mundo, Europa Press and Notimex (Mexico) reported 18 November on the release of the SWOP report in Madrid, quoting Rogelio Fernández Castilla, director of UNFPA’s division of technical assistance. Read in Spanish: El Mundo, Europa Press and  Notimex

SWITZERLAND: ISRIA reported 20 November that the climate cannot be stabilised merely by technical solutions. Gender equality and the fight against poverty are complementary approaches that also need to be taken into account at the Copenhagen Climate Conference. This is the recommendation of the UN State of the World Population Report which was presented in Bern on Friday, with accompanying comments by SDC director, Mr. Dahinden.  Read: ISRIA

SWITZERLAND: Multiple media outlets reported 18 November on the SWOP launch in Geneva, reporting on remarks by Werner Haug, director of UNFPA’s technical division, on the links among family planning, population growth and climate change. Read in German: SDA, SDA/AFP, SwissInfo, in French: ATS/Romandie, in Portuguese: EFE, in Spanish: EFE and EFE (b)

TANZANIA: The Daily News reported 20 November on key findings from the 2009 SWOP report and remarks by UNFPA Executive Director Thoraya Ahmed Obaid, who called for any treaty resulting from the upcoming global climate conference in Copenhagen, Denmark to take into account individuals’ power to reverse climate change.

TANZANIA: The African, The Daily News and The Guardian reported 18-19 November on the Dar Es Salaam release of the 2009 SWOP report, highlighting the impact of climate change on food scarcity in the country and on women around the world. UNFPA representative Julitta Onabanjo pointed out that women bear disproportionate burdens because they are responsible for the majority of agricultural work, as she argued for greater attention to women’s participation in efforts to combat climate change. Ms. Onabanjo was joined by Minister of State in The Vice President’s Office, Dr. Baltida Burian, in calling for policy change in Tanzania and around the world, beginning with a review of the treatment of gender in Tanzania’s poverty reduction strategies.

TANZANIA: The Citizen reported 16 November that, opening the pre-launching of the State of the World Population Report for 2009 titled: "Facing a Changing World: Women, Population and Climate Change," Dr Julitta Onabanjo, the UNFPA Country Representative, said people have the power to mitigate the effects of the climate change. Read: The Citizen

THAILAND: The Bangkok Post, Newsline and radio stations operated by the Ministry of Education and Chulalongkorn University reported and published interviews with UNFPA officials 18-23 November on the regional launch of the State of the World Population 2009 report. Nobuko Horibe, UNFPA Asia Pacific Regional Director, said slower population growth, for example, would help build social resilience to the impact of climate change and would contribute to a reduction of greenhouse-gas emissions in the future. Read: Bangkok Post

UAE: The National reported 22 November that The latest report on the effects of climate change concludes that those who have done the least to destabilise the environmental balance will suffer the most from its disruption. "Poor women in poor countries are among the hardest hit by climate change," says UNFPA.  Hafedh Chekir, the Arab office director for the UNFPA told The National that he hoped the report's publication would accelerate a policy debate on the problems facing the Arab world. Read: The National

UNITED KINGDOM: The Times reported 20 November that investing in birth control to reduce port predicted that the global population could reach 10.5 billion by 2050, up from 6.8 billion today, unless urgent action was taken to reduce fertility rates. It said that even its mediumgrowth forecast of 2.3 billion more people by 2050, which assumes a fall in average fertility from 2.56 to 2.02 children per woman, would make it much harder to achieve the cuts in carbon emissions needed to prevent catastrophic climate change. UNFPA predicted that population growth could be more effective in cutting greenhouse gas emissions than building wind turbines or nuclear power stations, according to a United Nations report. Read: The Times

UNITED KINGDOM: The Times published an opinion piece 20 November by Bronwen Maddox arguing, “There are many global problems in which the United States is painted as prime villain; there are not many where Iran is also hailed as the solution. But finding ways to make the world's population grow more slowly is one of those rare cases because of the recurrent coyness of the US about promoting contraception, and the ayatollahs' sure-footedness in doing just that. Suddenly, population control is back in the spotlight, after 30 years in which it has been taboo. This year's State of the World's Population report, by the United Nations Population Fund, does not help as much as it might.” Read: The Times

UNITED KINGDOM: The Times reported 19 November that women have a lower carbon footprint than men but are more vulnerable to the adverse effects of global warming, according to the United Nations’ State of World Population report.  Women drive and fly much less than men and purchase fewer carbon intensive goods. The research found that women in industrialized countries were more likely to buy ecologically friendly and organic foods, were more likely to recycle rubbish and more interested in efficient energy use. Read: The Times

UNITED KINGDOM: Channel 4 reported 18 November that “Do not go forth and multiply” is the conclusion of the UN's world population report, which says educating women may be the key to cutting carbon emissions. The report from UNFPA warns that poor women in developing countries are among the hardest hit by global warming and more likely to die in natural disasters than men. Read: Channel 4

UNITED KINGDOM: AOL News UK reported 18 November that international efforts to tackle climate change are more likely to succeed if women are given access to education and services such as family planning, a UN study has shown.  The report from UNFPA warned that poor women in developing countries were among the hardest hit by global warming and were more likely to die in natural disasters than men. Read: AOL News UK

UNITED KINGDOM: The Earth Times reported 18 November that women must be empowered to combat climate change through better availability of contraception to slowdown population growth, UNFPA said in a new report. The 94-page State of the World Population Report 2009, launched in London, urged world leaders to take into account improved access to family planning services in future discussions such as next month's UN climate change summit in Copenhagen. Read: Earth Times and Earth Times

UNITED KINGDOM: ENS reported 18 November that women are central to global and national efforts to cope with climate change, concludes a new report, "The State of World Population 2009," by the United Nations Population Fund, UNFPA.  Climate change is more than an issue of energy efficiency or industrial carbon emissions; it is also an issue of population dynamics, poverty and gender equity, the report points out. The authors predict that the fight against climate change is more likely to be successful if policies, programmes and treaties take into account the needs, rights and potentials of women. Read: ENS

UNITED KINGDOM: The Telegraph reported 18 November that UNFPA said if women are empowered to take control of their reproductive health they may choose to have fewer children, reducing pressure on resources and the environment. "Slower population growth would help build social resilience to climate change's impacts and would contribute to a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions," it reads.  Read: The Telegraph

UNITED STATES: Women’s eNews published commentary by Anushay Hossain 19 November that climate change is already having a disproportionate impact on women, concluded the UNFPA’s "The State of World Population 2009," which focuses on women, population and climate change, also says that women have been largely overlooked in the debate on how to address climate change-related problems, and that success in combating this concern is more likely if policies, programmes and treaties consider women's rights and needs. Read: Women’s eNews

UNITED STATES: The New Republic reported 19 November, is climate change gender-neutral? Not according to UNFPA, which released a report arguing that women suffer disproportionately from the impacts of global warming. Read: The New Republic

UNITED STATES: Talk Radio News Service reported 18 November that a report entitled: State of World Population 2009, was released today by the UN’s Population Fund (UNFPA). The report says boosting support to women can be the changing factor in tackling global warming. It underscores that better reproductive health care and improved relations between women and men can make or break the fight against climate change. Read: Talk Radio News Service

UNITED STATES: Treehugger reported 18 November that the latest UNFPA report says that an important component in combatting climate change is limiting population growth. Explicitly stating that limits on number of children should not be considered, the report instead says improving women's access to family planning services and contraceptives, and assuring that low income is no barrier to access, is crucial. Read: Treehugger

VIET NAM: Multiple media outlets reported on 19 and 20 November that UNFPA in Viet Nam and the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MONRE) held a ceremony to launch The State of World Population 2009 report, themed “Facing a changing world: Women, Population, Climate”. Addressing the ceremony, Bruce Campbell, UNFPA Representative in Viet Nam, said the whole world was talking about carbon credits, carbon trading and emissions targets, “but hardly anyone has been talking about the people whose activities contribute to those emissions or about those affected by climate change.” He said it was important that the climate change debate is reframed, putting people at the center. “Climate policies that fail to take people, especially women, into account will neither make climate change manageable nor shield anyone from the potentially disastrous impacts,” Read the news in English: Thanh Nien daily, Viet Nam News, Nhan Dan, Viet Nam Communist Party, Viet Nam Net, The Nation and in Vietnamese:An Ninh Thu Do, Bao Dien Tu, Cong An, Cong Thuong, Dat Viet, Family and Society, Hanoi Moi (20 November), Hanoi Moi (19 November), Ho Chi Minh City Women, Industry and Trade, Nhan Dan, Propaganda and Education, Thanh Tra, Viet Nam Communist Party, Viet Nam Plus, VN Media, VNN

YEMEN: Saba Net reported 18 November on the release of the UNFPA State of The World Population Report. Read in Arabic: Saba Net

ZAMBIA: The Post reported 20 November that UNFPA representative Duah Owusu-Sarfo has said the effect of climate change is capable of reversing the hard- earned development gains of the past decades, thus slowing down the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). And tourism minister Catherine Namugala said the increase in population has caused an increase in demand for goods and services. Read: The Post

ZAMBIA: The Lusaka Times reported 19 November that UNFPA Country Representative Duah Owusu-Sarfo says climate change threatens to deepen poverty levels and increase the suffering of already burdened and vulnerable groups of women and children. Mr. Owusu-Sarfo said the impact of climate change reveals that men and women are affected differently and that women are most vulnerable to the suffering brought about by climate change. Read: Lusaka Times