UNITED NATIONS – Stressing that the empowerment of women is vital to achieving peace and security, improved living standards and respect for human rights, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has underscored the need to support the work of UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund.

“Today, we understand, even better than our founders did, that the empowerment of women is a fundamental condition if we are to make progress towards the goals for which the United Nations was created,” Mr. Ban said at last night’s Americans for UNFPA Gala for the Health and Dignity of Women.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and UNFPA Executive Director Thoraya A. Obaid.

LONDON/GENEVA -- WHO today releases the first guide on age-friendly cities. The guide, which is based on consultations with older people in 33 cities in 22 countries, has identified the key hysical, social and services attributes of age-friendly urban settings. Istanbul, London, Melbourne, Mexico City, Moscow, Nairobi, New Delhi, New York, Rio de Janeiro, Shanghai, and Tokyo were part of the consultation along with many other regional centres and towns.

Message of Thoraya Ahmed Obaid, Executive Director, UNFPA, on the occasion of the International Day of Older Persons.

Today on the International Day of Older Persons, UNFPA joins the worldwide celebration of longevity and acknowledges the contributions of older persons to their families, communities and societies.

UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador witnesses humanitarian crisis.

DAMASCUS – UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador Angelina Jolie has visited Iraq and Syria to see first-hand the plight of hundreds of thousands of families uprooted by the ongoing conflict in Iraq.