Leaders and communities must focus on and stand up for the rights of teenage girls, particularly those who are poor, out of school, exploited, or subjected to harmful traditional practices, the United Nations has said, marking World Population Day with a call to bolster the success of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development by investing in better opportunities for teen girls.

Despite significant gains made in reducing poverty and improving opportunity and well-being for many people around

Tracking the movements of refugees and migrants across the globe has been at the heart of Bela Hovy’s work for the past 20 years.

Despite bold efforts, responses to the large movements of refugees and migrants – which will continue or possibly increase due to such issues as conflict, poverty and disasters – have been largely inadequate, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said today in a new report, calling for the adoption of a global compact on responsibility-sharing that collectively ensures the human rights, safety and dignity of all refugees and migrants.

“Away from the daily headlines and stark images, strains are quietly accumulating on refugees and

Africa is a young continent. However, the region and its population are ageing. As Africa’s population continues to grow, so does the number of older people. Overall, the number of people aged 60 years or over in the region is projected to increase by of 63 per cent, from 64.4 million in 2015 to 105.4 million in 2030.

While people over the age of 60 play a vital role in African society, they experience economic and social exclusion, poverty, discrimination, violence and abuse.

The world is currently experiencing one of the highest number of migrants and refugees ever recorded, some searching for better economic opportunities, others seeking safety from conflict and crises.

Addressing the opening of the 2016 session of the Commission on Population and Development, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today underscored the importance of that body’s role in advancing the new global development agenda.

“This Commission has a proud tradition of focusing on people,” he said, stressing that the body addresses issues related to the timeless opening words of the UN Charter: ‘We the Peoples.’

Above all, people are at the heart of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, he said of the 15-year vision unanimously adopted last year by

In 2015, the number of international migrants reached 244 million, which equals an increase of 71 million compared to 2000. At the same time, millions of people are fleeing severe conditions at home to seek refuge and safety abroad.

The number of international migrants -- persons living in a country other than where they were born -- reached 244 million in 2015 for the world as a whole, a 41 per cent increase compared to 2000, according to new data presented by the United Nations today. This figure includes almost 20 million refugees.

In November, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon announced a roadmap to address the issues on migrants and refugees. In response, the General Assembly decided to convene a high-level meeting on large movements of migrants and refugees on 19 September 2016.