Gender equality, employment and youth problems were high on the agenda of the national workshop held in Issyk-Kul, Kyrgyzstan, on June 19-21. The workshop was organized within the framework of the ILO/ Netherlands project on boosting youth employment. For the first time ever it brought together all partner institutions that would be involved in the project implementation in 2007-2009. Aside from the ILO tripartite constituents, the workshop was attended by representatives of the presidential administration, the state migration and employment committee, the youth labour exchange, the state agency on technical and vocational training, the state agency on physical culture, sports, youth policy and protection of children, and national gender experts.

"In this 21st century no woman should die giving life. It is unacceptable that one woman dies every minute during pregnancy and childbirth when proven interventions exist. Millions of lives are at stake, and we must act now.

At the midway point in the timeline to achieve the Millennium Development Goals, it is time to accelerate investments in women’s health and rights. It is time for governments to make reproductive health a priority."

MACAO, China—Confronting the unprecedented ageing of their populations, many Asian governments are formulating plans to meet the economic, social and health needs of older people. But growing recognition of the challenges ahead is not yet matched by adequate policies, particularly in less-developed countries.

An increased sense of urgency was evident here this week as delegates from two dozen countries met to review progress since a global conference on ageing in Madrid in 2002.