World Population Day 2016 = 11th July (Monday)
In the year of 1989, The Governing Council of the United Nations Development Program announced that 11th July be observed by the international community as ‘World Population Day’. The main purpose of this day is to focus attention or to aware the people on the urgency and importance of population issues. The theme of WPD this year is ‘Investing in teenage girls’.
Today, the population explosion is one of the major concerns of the world because this issue of uncontrolled population growth is causing to other major problems across the world. Some of the major problems of rapid increase of Population in current time are poverty, unemployment, pollution, deforestation etc. There is grievous need to check this eruption and observance of World Population Day is just a step in this direction.
The teenage girls across the world face various challenges. Many are considered by their communities or parents to be ready for marriage and motherhood. Many are forced from school, damaging from their future prospects. Even among these girls who stay in school, access to basic information about their health, human rights and reproductive rights can be hard to come by. These challenges are exacerbated among marginalized girls, such as members of ethnic minorities or those living in poverty or remote areas.
When teenage girls are empowered, when they know about their rights and are given the tools to succeed, they become agents of positive change in their communities.
UNFPA's program aim to close child marriage, curb adolescent pregnancy, and to empower girls to make informed choices about their health. In 2015 alone, UNFPA programmes helped 11.2 million girls between ages 10 and 19 gain access to sexual and reproductive health services and information.
UNFPA Executive Director Dr. Babatunde Osotimehin said that "Leaders and communities must focus on and stand up for the human rights of the most marginalized teenage girls, especially those who are poor, out of school, exploited, or subjected to harmful traditional practices, including child marriage". “Marginalized girls are vulnerable to poor reproductive health and more likely to become mothers while still children themselves. They have a right to understand and control their own bodies and shape their own lives.”
11th July is observed as World Population Day all over the world for the awareness of crucial issues such as the importance of family planning, including gender equality, poverty, maternal health and human rights. The observance of this day is a ray of light towards the growth and development in the current time of ever growing population. This day has been celebrated every year since 1989, year of its declaration.
