World Population Day-Erakina

Introduction

World population day is celebrated on July 11 annually. It was the event by United Nations Development Programme 1989 by Governing Council. This event was inspired by the public interest on 11 July 1987, the day population reached 5 billion. This event was for public interest and social awareness on various issues like family planning, poverty, human rights, and maternal health. Since 1987, the world population is close to 8 billion now and dealing with the environmental impact on human rights. A lot of countries are suffering from population issues.

World Population

History & facts around World Population Day

The world population reached 7 billion in 2011. Now it is expected to reach 8 billion in 2022.  It has become a critical problem as the crisis of depleting the world’s resources is creating an unsustainable situation. Health problems are rising related to pregnancy or childbirth, and it becomes essential to consider family planning, maternal health, and gender equality. Although medical advancements have improved and controlled maternal and child mortality, women are still dying during childbirth. Gender discrimination also remains along with violence. Climate change and other factors have resulted in the forcible displacement of around a population of 100 million worldwide.

The high rising population is giving rise to heinous crimes, and child trafficking due to strenuous social conditions. A large amount of the population is lacking education and other basic necessities for survival.

It is noted that the population issues are not uniform in all countries. People in poor countries have 20 years shorter life expectancy than in developed or richer countries. The lack of information or education results in unplanned childbirth which is about 1/3rd of the population. The growth in the world population is about 83 million every year. But it is not uniform in every part of the world. The population of Europe is shrinking while in Africa it is increasing. Monaco is the independent state which is the second smallest but with the densest population, 68212 people per square mile.

There is a dramatic growth in population from the year 2011(7 billion) and is expected to reach 10.9 billion by 2100. Increasing fertility rates, accelerating migration, and increasing urbanization have gradually added to this growth. From the 1970s to date, life expectancy has changed (4.5 children to 2.5 children per woman on average). On the other hand, global lifespans have risen from 64.6 years (1990) to 72.6 years (2019). Urbanization and migration are accelerated, and more people are living in urban areas than rural areas. This trend is affecting employment, economic development, income distribution, and social protections. This is also affecting other factors to sustain like access to health care, sanitation, education, housing, food, water, and power supply. 

World Population

Importance of World Population Day

When we have a good and comfortable lifestyle and live in developed countries, population issues may not be visible or affect us. A higher population needs a higher amount of food, power, or anything else which is required for human sustenance. The struggle for survival increases along with continuous efforts to balance the population and energy production, ultimately contributing to climatic change. So, the challenges of the high population come or affect us in another way. World Population Day is to make us aware of our surroundings and act accordingly for a better future.

Paying attention to World Population Day

• Education or information is very important when we need to understand a problem and look for solutions. United Nations Population Fund is the leading UN agency involved in managing population issues. There are a lot of resources to understand and gain information.

•  Awareness and sharing the information is the next step for us to manage a problem collectively. You may not be directly affected but it is impacting parts of the world on a large scale. Sharing the information will make people aware and get a better understanding. The awareness will make people manage or follow steps to avoid it or help in restricting the population. Social media is a good platform, and you can use #worldpopulationday.

• Many NGOs or non-profit organizations are working together on this issue. They educate women,      mainly the poor and homeless on family planning, contraception, and health. Donations also help the poor and the homeless for a better life and survival.

World Population Day Celebration

It is celebrated across the world by organizing several events and activities like conferences, educational workshops, contests to encourage public participation, and TV and radio programs to spread awareness and highlight the critical issues and ways to address them. 

World Population Day

World Population Day Themes

• 2022: A world of 8 billion: Towards a resilient future for all – Harnessing opportunities and ensuring rights and choices for all”.
• 2021: Rights and Choices are the Answer: Whether baby boom or bust, the solution to shifting fertility rates lies in prioritizing all people’s reproductive health and rights.
• 2020: How to safeguard the health and rights of women and girls now
• 2019: No specific theme was chosen this year. However, the focus was on maternal health
• 2018: Family Planning is a Human Right
• 2017: Family Planning: Empowering People, Developing Nations
• 2016: Investing in teenage girls
• 2015: Vulnerable Populations in Emergencies
• 2014: ‘A time to reflect on population trends and related issues’ and ‘Investing in Young People’
• 2013: Focus is on Adolescent Pregnancy
• 2012: Universal Access to Reproductive Health Services
• 2011: 7 billion Actions
• 2010: Be Counted: Say What You Need
• 2009: Fight Poverty: Educate Girls
• 2008: Plan Your Family, Plan Your Future
• 2007: Men at Work
• 2006: Being Young is Tough
• 2005: Equality Empowers
• 2004: ICPD at 10
• 2003: 1,000,000,000 adolescents
• 2002: Poverty, Population and Development
• 2001: Population, Environment, and Development
• 2000: Saving Women’s Lives
• 1999: Start the Count-up to the Day of Six Billion
• 1998: Approaching the Six Billion
• 1997: Adolescent Reproductive Health Care
• 1996: Reproductive Health and AIDS 

Conclusion

The UN Population Division works with United Nations programs, agencies, and bodies across the globe to implement population-related projects and conferences. The population division shares population projections and analysis and addresses development issues. These projections are used by governments across the world to plan and address housing and basic amenities.

 The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) actively addresses family planning, usage of contraceptives, sexual health, and maternal health topics by funding many projects and awareness campaigns. There are many regions and societies across the world where these topics are still considered taboo and for that, they work closely with government agencies, non-government organizations religious leaders, and community workers to widen the reach and improve awareness.

Amrita Vishwas

Date:01/07/2022