UNFPA Press Conference: World Population Report 2024 - 15 April 2024
/
56:35
/
MP4
/
3.3 GB

Edited News , Press Conferences | UNFPA

UNFPA Press Conference: World Population Report 2024 - 15 April 2024

STORYLINE

Racism, sexism and other forms of discrimination continue to block gains in sexual and reproductive health for women and girls - UNFPA

Despite significant progress in sexual and reproductive health rights worldwide over the past three decades, countless women and girls remain marginalized due to their identities and geographical circumstances.

“The world made zero progress in saving women from preventable deaths in pregnancy and childbirth,” said Dr. Natalia Kanem, Executive Director of the UN sexual and reproductive health agency, UNFPA, at the launch of the 2024 State of World Population report at the United Nations in Geneva.

The report, "Interwoven Lives, Threads of Hope: Ending Inequalities in sexual and reproductive health and rights,” is being released today.

“One woman in four cannot make her own health care decisions. One woman in four cannot say no to sex. And nearly 1 in 10 are unable to make their own choices about whether or not to use contraception,” Ms. Kanem said at an embargoed briefing on Monday. The statistics paint a stark picture. Women and girls living in poverty, belonging to ethnic, racial, or indigenous minority groups, or residing in conflict-ridden areas, are disproportionately affected by the lack of access to essential healthcare services.

“We have, for the first time, data on whether women's bodily autonomy is strengthening over time and in 40 percent of countries with data it is actually diminishing. Why? One important reason our report shows is that we have not prioritized reaching those furthest behind,” said the UNFPA Executive Director.

The report underscores the persistent barriers faced by women and girls, exacerbated by racism, sexism, and other forms of discrimination.

“When we look at ethnic disparities, we see that the groups that have benefited the most are those that had the fewest barriers to begin with. Access to modern contraceptives varies by race, refugee and migration status, education, and location,” Ms. Kanem reported. “While gender-based violence, sadly, is pervasive everywhere, risk increases based on age and sexual orientation.”

Ms. Kanem added that “indigenous women are routinely denied culturally appropriate maternal health care. As a result, these groups are much more likely, and in some places it's six times more likely, to die during pregnancy or childbirth. Women and young people with disabilities, migrants, people living with HIV and gender diverse people continue to experience discrimination and exclusion when they seek sexual and reproductive health care.”

The report found that women of African descent across the Americas are more likely to die when giving birth than white women.

Improvements in health care access have primarily benefit wealthier women, and those who belong to ethnic groups that already had better access to health care. Women and girls with disabilities, migrants and refugees, ethnic minorities, LGBTQIA+ people, people living with HIV all face greater sexual and reproductive health risks.

“For the one billion people estimated to experience disability in their lifetime, for the 700 million people living in extreme poverty, for the 160 million women with an unmet need for contraception and so many more,” said Ms. Kanem, “these inequalities should not be politicized. They should not be used as an accusation of bias, nor should they be points of division.”

Millions of women and girls remain far behind, and progress is slowing on key measures, according to UNFPA. More than half of all preventable maternal deaths – nearly 500 deaths per day – are estimated to occur in countries with humanitarian crises and conflict.

“It is indeed the responsibility of men to be champions of women's reproductive rights, of everyone's reproductive rights. And while we have seen progress in terms of, for example, women legislators and parliamentarians increasing in governments overall, it's nowhere near the parity and women are half of the world's population,” Ms. Kanem told reporters.

-ends-

STORY: UNFPA Annual Report launch

TRT: 3:27”

SOURCE: UNTV CH

RESTRICTIONS: NONE

LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / NATS

ASPECT RATIO: 16:9

DATELINE: 15 April 2024 GENEVA, SWITZERLAND

1. Med shot: UN flag alley

2. Wide shot: speakers at the podium

3.SOUNDBITE (English) Dr. Natalia Kanem, UNFPA Executive Director: “The world made zero progress in saving women from preventable deaths in pregnancy and childbirth. One woman in four cannot make her own health care decisions. One woman in four cannot say no to sex. And nearly 1 in 10 are unable to make their own choices about whether or not to use contraception.”

4. Med shot: Technical staff in control room with cameraman and photographer in front

5. SOUNDBITE (English) – Dr. Natalia Kanem, UNFPA Executive Director: “We have, for the first time, data on whether women's bodily autonomy is strengthening over time and in 40% of countries with data it is actually diminishing. Why? One important reason our report shows is that we have not prioritized reaching those furthest behind.”

6. Close up: Photographer next to screen with speaker

7. SOUNDBITE (English) – Dr. Natalia Kanem, UNFPA Executive Director: “When we look at ethnic disparities, we see that the groups that have benefited the most are those that had the fewest barriers to begin with. Access to modern contraceptives varies by race, refugee and migration status, education, and location. And while gender-based violence, sadly, is pervasive everywhere, risk increases based on age and sexual orientation.”

8. Med shot: Journalists in press room

9. SOUNDBITE (English) - Dr. Natalia Kanem, UNFPA Executive Director: “Indigenous women are routinely denied culturally appropriate maternal health care. As a result, these groups are much more likely, and in some places it's six times more likely, to die during pregnancy or childbirth. Women and young people with disabilities, migrants, people living with HIV and gender diverse people continue to experience discrimination and exclusion when they seek sexual and reproductive health care.”

10. Close up: Journalist listening

11. SOUNDBITE (English) - Dr. Natalia Kanem, UNFPA Executive Director: “For the 1 billion people estimated to experience disability in their lifetime, for the 700 million people living in extreme poverty, for the 160 million women with an unmet need for contraception and so many more. These inequalities should not be politicized. They should not be used as an accusation of bias, nor should they be points of division.”

12. Wide shot, speakers at podium with photographer

13. SOUNDBITE (English) Dr. Natalia Kanem, UNFPA Executive Director: “It is indeed the responsibility of men to be champions of women's reproductive rights, of everyone's reproductive rights. And while we have seen progress in terms of, for example, women legislators and parliamentarians increasing in governments overall, it's nowhere near the parity and women are half of the world's population.”

14. Wide shot: press room with journalists and speakers at the podium

15. Close up: Journalist typing

16. Close up: Journalist listening


Documents 1
Download Storyline
Download

Audio Files 2
Download UNFPA Press Conference: World Population Report 2024 - 15 April 2024 (Continuity)
Download
Download UNFPA annual Report launch (Edited Story)
Download

Similar Stories

UN Human Rights Spokesperson Elizabeth Throssell on DPRK

1

1

1

Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG

UN Human Rights Spokesperson Elizabeth Throssell on DPRK ENG FRA

New UN Human Rights report finds 10 years of increased suffering repression and fear

The UN Human Rights Office on Friday published a report on the human rights situation in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) since 2014. 

Afghanistan update - UNICEF UNHCR 12 September 2025

1

1

2

Edited News | UNICEF , UNHCR

Afghanistan update - UNICEF UNHCR 12 September 2025 ENG FRA

The ongoing humanitarian response to the devastating Afghanistan earthquake disaster continued on Friday, although essential services have been cut for operational reasons following reinforced Taliban restrictions on women working with the UN, the global body said.

UN Geneva Press Briefing - 12 September 2025

1

1

1

Press Conferences | WIPO , WMO , OHCHR , UNICEF , UNHCR , WHO

UN Geneva Press Briefing - 12 September 2025 ENG FRA

Michele Zaccheo, Chief, UNTV, Radio and Webcast Section, United Nations Information Service (UNIS) in Geneva, chaired the hybrid briefing, which was attended by spokespersons and representatives from the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, United Nations Children's Fund, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, World Health Organization, World Intellectual Property Organization, World Meteorological Organization, and the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights report on DRC at the 60th Human Rights Council

1

1

1

Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights report on DRC at the 60th Human Rights Council ENG FRA

Un nouveau rapport du Haut-Commissariat des Nations Unies aux droits de l'homme sur la République démocratique du Congo évoque le spectre de crimes de guerre et de crimes contre l'humanité dans le Nord et le Sud-Kivu., 

HRC60 Press Conference: Report of the Sudan Fact-Finding Mission - 09 September 2025

2

1

2

Press Conferences , Edited News | HRC

HRC60 Press Conference: Report of the Sudan Fact-Finding Mission - 09 September 2025 ENG FRA

A high-level independent rights probe into the Sudan crisis on Tuesday condemned the many grave crimes committed against civilians by all parties to the war, citing disturbing evidence indicating that they had been “deliberately targeted, displaced and starved”.

Ukraine attacks - health update - WHO

1

1

1

Edited News | WHO

Ukraine attacks - health update - WHO ENG FRA

Ukraine: ‘Relentless’ attacks rattle health system as winter approaches: WHO

Ambulances attacked, chronically ill patients lacking care and no peace in sight: for millions of Ukrainians, the run-up to another winter of war is just the latest life-or-death challenge they face, the UN health agency (WHO) said on Tuesday.

UN Geneva Press Briefing - 09 September 2025

1

1

1

Press Conferences | IFRC , OCHA , WHO , IOM , UNICEF

UN Geneva Press Briefing - 09 September 2025 ENG FRA

Alessandra Vellucci of the United Nations Information Service (UNIS) in Geneva, chaired the hybrid briefing, attended by spokespersons and representatives of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, the World Health Organization, UN Women, the International Organization for Migration, the United Nations Children’s Fund and the International Federation of the Red Cross.

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights presents report on Sri Lanka to 60th HRC

1

1

1

Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights presents report on Sri Lanka to 60th HRC ENG FRA

UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk on Monday delivered his report on Sri Lanka to the 60th session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva.

HRC 60 HC Volker Türk Global update speech

1

1

1

Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG

HRC 60 HC Volker Türk Global update speech ENG FRA

UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk on Monday delivered his global update to the 60th session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva.

DRC: UN report raises spectre of war crimes and crimes against humanity

1

1

1

Edited News | OHCHR

DRC: UN report raises spectre of war crimes and crimes against humanity ENG FRA

A UN report on the Democratic Republic of Congo raises specter of war crimes and crimes against humanity in North and South Kivu, according to UN Human Rights Spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani.

UN Geneva Press Briefing - 05 September 2025

1

1

1

Press Conferences | IFRC , OHCHR

UN Geneva Press Briefing - 05 September 2025 ENG FRA

Alessandra Vellucci, Director of the United Nations Information Service (UNIS) in Geneva, chaired the hybrid briefing, which was attended by spokespersons and representatives from the International Organization for Migration, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, the World Meteorological Organization, the World Health Organization, and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights.

Global air pollution update - WMO 04 September 2025

1

1

1

Edited News | WMO

Global air pollution update - WMO 04 September 2025 ENG FRA

As billions of people continue to breathe polluted air that causes more than 4.5 million premature deaths every year, UN climate experts on Friday highlighted how damaging microscopic smoke particles from wildfires play their part, travelling half-way across the world.