Note to Correspondents

UN Population Fund to Launch ‘The State of World Population 2004’ 15 September

Highlights Progress, Challenges 10 Years after Landmark Population Consensus

Countries have made real progress in carrying out the 20-year action plan of the 1994 International Conference on Population and Development in Cairo, which links poverty alleviation to women’s empowerment and universal access to reproductive health.  But after 10 years, efforts to reduce maternal deaths, prevent HIV/AIDS and meet the needs of young people and the poor are hampered by a shortfall of funds pledged by donor governments, according to The State of World Population 2004 report by UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund.  The report includes evidence from 169 countries.  UNFPA will launch the annual flagship publication in London and other cities worldwide on 15 September.

This year’s report, The Cairo Consensus at Ten:  Population, Reproductive Health and the Global Effort to End Poverty, examines countries’ achievements and constraints in implementing the Cairo consensus, including efforts to improve the quality and reach of reproductive health programmes, promote women’s rights, improve maternal and child health and strengthen HIV prevention efforts.  UNFPA’s report makes the case that mobilizing political will and increased funding by the international community is crucial if countries are to maintain and build on the gains of the past decade.

The report is under embargo until 12 GMT on 15 September.  Journalists may access the embargoed report and related materials -- a summary, press release, features, charts and photos -- on the web before then by requesting a password from Abubakar Dungus, dungus@unfpa.org.

UNFPA Executive Director Thoraya Ahmed Obaid will launch the report at a press conference in London at 11 a.m. on 15 September, at the Foreign Press Association, 11 Carlton House Terrace, London.  For information, contact Peter Robbs, tel:  +44 (1480) 465-328, e-mail:  peter.robbs@ukonline.co.uk.

In New York, Safiye Cagar, UNFPA’s new Director of Information, and Jill Sheffield, President of Family Care International, will present the report at the Spokesman’s noon briefing at United Secretariat room-226.  For information, contact:  Micol Zarb, tel.:  +1 212 297-5042, e-mail:  zarb@unfpa.org; Omar Gharzeddine, tel.:  +1 212 297-5028, e-mail:  gharzeddine@unfpa.org.

In Washington, D.C., Stan Bernstein, senior researcher and policy adviser for the report, will present it at a briefing with United States Representative Carolyn Maloney (New York); Timothy E. Wirth, President of the United Nations Foundation; at 10 a.m. at the National Press Club.  Contact Sarah Craven, tel.:  +1 202 326-8713, e-mail:  craven@unfpa.org for information.

Other launch events are scheduled in Berlin, Brussels, Budapest, Copenhagen, Dublin, Geneva, The Hague, Helsinki, Lisbon, Luxembourg, Madrid, Melbourne, Oslo, Ottawa, Paris, Prague, Rome, Stockholm, Tokyo, Vienna, Warsaw, Wellington and the capitals of many countries where UNFPA has programmes.  For information, contact: Micol Zarb, tel.:  +1 212 297-5042, e-mail:  zarb@unfpa.org; Omar Gharzeddine, tel.: +1 212 297-5028, e-mail:  gharzeddine@unfpa.org.

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