Prioritise women’s needs: Envoy

 the needs of women and adolescent girls during conflicts and disasters should be prioritised, a United Nations official says.

Dr Babatunde Osotimehin, the executive director of the UN Population Fund, said most women and adolescent girls faced particular threats as a result of the absence of health and other essential services. 

He said women and adolescent girls faced much greater risk of abuse, sexual exploitation, violence and forced marriage.

“That is why the theme of this World Population Day, “Vulnerable Populations in Emergencies” is intended to highlight the special needs of women and adolescent girls during conflicts and humanitarian disasters,” Osotimehin said. He said one of the priorities of the fund was to empower and safeguard the well-being of women, adolescent girls and young people.

“We work closely with governments, the United Nations, local partners and others on disaster preparedness to ensure that reproductive health is integrated,” he said.