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XINING, China, 26 September 2019 – UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund launched a three-year project in Xining for achieving universal access to sexual and reproductive health and rights for vulnerable populations including ethnic minorities in remote rural areas of China.

The project, led by China National Health Commission (NHC) and UNFPA with support from  the Danish Government, will be implemented by China Family Planning Association (CFPA) in four counties of two northwestern provinces, including Yushu, Chengduo, and Nangqian Counties of Yushu Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in Qinghai, and Yonghe County of Linfen Prefecture in Shanxi. It aims to contribute to poverty eradication and increase availability and utilization of integrated, rights-based, gender sensitive reproductive health services for women and young people of vulnerable populations. It will cover maternal health and family planning services, sexually transmitted infections and HIV/AIDS prevention, cervical cancer prevention, diagnosis and treatment.

Dr. Babatunde Ahonsi, UNFPA Representative in China said in the opening ceremony that the project is a concrete follow up to the Programme of Action of International Conference on Population and Development in 1994, which put sexual and reproductive health and rights, gender equality and women’s empowerment the center for sustainable development. The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development reaffirmed that sexual and reproductive health and rights are critical to ending poverty, securing good health and well-being, realizing gender equality and achieving the 17 Sustainable Development Goals.

“It would be critical to improve sexual and reproductive health among vulnerable populations in remote, less developed, and ethnic minority areas in Qinghai and Shanxi Provinces, especially among women of reproductive age and young people. It makes a difference to the individual women and girls, their families, the communities and the country’s development,” he added.

Ms. Merve Yalcin, a Political Officer in Royal Danish Embassy in Beijing said  the government of Denmark is a strong partner of the Sustainable Development Goals. It aims to secure sexual and reproductive health and rights for all girls and women.

Mr. Wang Pei’an, Vice President of CFPA pointed Chinese government has always attached great importance to family planning and reproductive health. Since 1998, UNFPA and CFPA have cooperated in peer education among adolescents and youths, prevention sexually transmitted infections and HIV/AID Samong migrant populations and high-risk groups, and culturally sensitive reproductive health and maternal and child health promotion projects in ethnic minority areas.

Since inception in 1969, UNFPA has led 50-year multilateral efforts to ensure universal access to sexual and reproductive health. UNFPA recognizes the vast potential of Healthy China 2030 as an accelerator to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, and is committed to ensure universal access to sexual and reproductive health and rights, through  cooperation with national and international partners. This year marks the 40th anniversary of cooperation between UNFPA and China.