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“I am now that annoying friend who goes to parties and hands condoms to my friends,” Jennifer, 22, says with a laugh. An intern with ,  a partner of , the United Nations sexual and reproductive health agency, Jennifer says she doesn’t want her friends to get sexually transmitted infections. She also encourages people to get sexual health checks and shares information about health, rights and choices. Jennifer, who lives in Mexico City, learned about such issues from a UNFPA programme called SAFETEEN First – a initiative supported by and taught in workshops by Mexico Vivo. Here, UNFPA goes behind the scenes with Jennifer and other young leaders to illustrate how they’re making a difference in their communities in Mexico.

 (FGM), a practice that involves altering or injuring the female genitalia for non-medical reasons, is internationally recognized as a violation of human rights. Unfortunately, a lot of myths and misinformation about FGM still exist that perpetuate the practice. So, where is it practiced? What are the consequences? And are men against it? .

Let , tell you the facts as she reacts to real online comments about . 

As Ukraine enters the fourth year of Russia’s full-scale invasion, pregnant women – especially those living closer to front-line zones – continue to face the consequences of war. One initiative that will make an important difference: bomb-proof maternity wards. , the United Nations sexual and reproductive health agency, is supporting the construction of new, reinforced underground maternity and newborn units. These specialist units, designed within a bomb shelter, will ensure that women can give birth in safer conditions despite ongoing attacks.

In 2023, paramilitary forces entered the town of Geneina in West Darfur, Sudan and people fled. When that happened, 41-year-old Daralssalam was nine months pregnant and went into labour on the side of the road. The fighters "made no distinction between men, women or children", says crying as she recalls the violence. "Everyone was killed or raped." When she gave birth, fighters surrounded her. "A fighter took my baby and cut the umbilical cord," she says. They separated the baby's legs to check its genitals. "If it was a boy, they would kill it." Fortunately, the baby was a girl. The war between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) continues to displace millions. has visited displacement camps in Sudan, Chad and the Central African Republic, hearing the stories of women and girls living in war.

A fragile has provided temporary relief, but the humanitarian crisis remains severe. Women and girls are urging the international community to ensure lasting peace and continued support from agencies like UNFPA. 

Nestor Owomuhangi, UNFPA Representative in Palestine, stresses the need for . 

works to ensure that every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe, and every young person has guaranteed access to sexual and reproductive health services and rights.

Adolescent girls in Gaza face overwhelming challenges, including displacement, trauma, and a lack of basic resources, but initiatives offering psychosocial support and education provide hope for their recovery and future.

Georgi Wahba, 53, a prominent advocate against female genital mutilation (FGM) in Upper Egypt, highlights the widespread nature of the practice despite it being outlawed. In his village, 96% of ever-married women aged 15 to 49 have undergone FGM. Wahba organizes sessions as part of the United Nations Population Fund’s () ‘Generation Dialogues’ project, which aims to change harmful practices by involving families in discussions about social norms. Funded by Norway, the initiative has engaged over 350 community members, training them to communicate effectively about FGM. Wahba emphasizes the importance of individual understanding and encourages community members to think critically about longstanding customs.

80,000 people, including 1,230 pregnant women, need humanitarian assistance after the devastating earthquake in Vanuatu. “It pains me to see this vibrant country battered by yet another natural disaster,” says Dr. Natalia Kanem, who recently visited the Pacific island. See .

The new year offers hope for peace, safety, and better futures, with 2024 teaching us lessons to create an improved reproductive health system in 2025.

Gender-based violence violates human rights, particularly for women and girls in situations of crisis, conflict, and displacement.

The climate crisis is severely impacting Chad, where residents face devastating flooding. "Everything I own is under water," said one displaced individual. Since July 2024, the Chari River has overflowed, affecting all 23 provinces, displacing over 13,000 people. With more than 1 million women and girls in need of sexual and reproductive health services, UNFPA’s response is critical, but due to severe underfunding, many lack access to essential care and protection services amidst the crisis.

Tradition, chastity, and marriageability are some of the reasons often cited for the prevalence of female genital mutilation among women and girls in Egypt. However, the real driving forces behind this harmful practice are gender bias, misogyny, and inequality. Meet several individuals—including grandmothers, fathers, farmers, teachers, and shopkeepers—who have recognized female genital mutilation as a form of gender-based violence and have committed to putting an end to it. Read on to discover how these people have become catalysts for change within their communities.

Nearly 50 mothers and their children are killed every day in Gaza, and aid has drastically decreased, raising fears of famine. Parents tell the United Nations Population Fund () of their urgent need to give birth safely, find food, and keep their children warm amid ongoing violence. Jawaher went into labor while fleeing violence in Gaza City, enduring two days before reaching a hospital to give birth safely. With 80% of Gaza facing evacuation orders and 130 births expected daily, her situation is increasingly common. UN efforts to deliver aid have been severely hindered. Despite UNFPA's commitment to women and girls, essential aid is at its lowest level in 11 months, leaving many Palestinians without basic necessities.

Three women: from Sudan, from Ukraine, and from the Democratic Republic of the Congo share their stories of surviving wartime rape and domestic violence to find safety and support in clinics run by the (UNFPA) and partners. A staggering 70 percent of women in conflict zones are subjected to gender-based violence. Maria, a Ukrainian woman, fled her home due to the war, but was forced to return to an abusive partner, enduring further trauma. Now on the road to healing, Maria says she is profoundly grateful to the people who listened, and cared. “They simply looked me in the eyes, extended a hand and said, ‘Hold on, hold my hand, and I’ll help you.” UNFPA's efforts are critical in addressing the urgent needs of these survivors, offering healthcare, counseling, and protection services to rebuild their lives.