UN observes World Population Day

(11 07. 2012) Marking World Population Day on Wednesday, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has called for more to be done to help those who most need access to reproductive health care. “I call for urgent concerted action by Member States to bridge the gap between demand and supply for reproductive health care,” Ban said in a message to mark the Day observed on 11 July. “Reproductive health and rights are integral to sustainable development and poverty reduction. Investing in universal access to reproductive health is a crucial investment in healthy societies and a more sustainable future,” he said. “The world’s population has more than tripled since the United Nations was created in 1945, and keeps growing,” Ban noted. “With more than seven billion people now inhabiting the planet, we face ever greater demands on shared resources and significant challenges to the achievement of internationally agreed development goals.” The theme for this year’s Day is ‘Universal Access to Reproductive Health Services.” It is aimed at highlighting the essential part that reproductive health plays in creating a just and equitable world.
The Executive Director of the UN Population Fund (UNFPA), Babatunde Osotimehin
also released a message for the day saying. “Working for the survival and the well-being of women and girls is a human right imperative. And in order to take advantage of women’s full potential in the development of their nations, they must be able to plan their lives and families” he said.