|
|
It is now felt that with the rising world population, it is imperative to spare some time for the problems and issues related to population. At present our planet is home to more than 6.7 billion people and demographers predict that by 2050 this volume would increase upto 10.5 billion. This explains why the theme of World Population Day-2008 reads as “Family Planning: It’s a Right; Let’s Make it Real”. This is to spread awareness about the benefits of family planning, including its role in improving maternal health, gender equality and poverty alleviation.
The present secretary general General Ban Ki-moon had once said, “Studies show that family planning has immediate benefits for the lives and health of mothers and their infants,” adding, “On World Population Day, let us focus on the critical importance of family planning if we are to successfully achieve the Millennium Development Goals.” The statement holds true even this year without any change. |
World Population Day is observed worldwide every year on July, 11 in 140 countries emphasizing the need and significance of a planned family for well being of individuals, communities, societies and nations. In 1989, the date was chosen to mark this event on the recommendation of the Governing Council of the United Nations Development Programme the same year. However, it was conceptualized way back in 1968. But, then it aimed at ensuring that “every individual has a basic right to determine freely and responsibly the number and timing of their children”. Now the scene has changed.