We work to prevent abortion through family planning, and to help countries provide services for women suffering from the complications of unsafe abortion. Concern for reproductive health starts in childhood and lasts throughout the life-cycle. For example, young girls need to be assured equal access to food, health care, life skills, education, employment, and other opportunities to enable them to have greater control over their lives, their development, and their health, including their future reproductive and sexual health. According to the World Health Organization, emergency contraceptives do not interrupt pregnancy but rather prevent it, and thus their use is not a form of abortion. Women have the right to information and services on emergency contraception just as with all other safe and effective methods of family planning.
Many studies show that sex education promotes responsible attitudes and behaviour.
In 1987, the Economic and Social Council decided to rename it the United Nations Population Fund, but to retain the original abbreviation-acronym.