Population Day

Subject: IR

Context:

The United Nations marks World Population Day every year on 11 July, with the aim of spreading awareness on overpopulation, under population, family planning and birth control.

Concept:

• This day was first observed in 1989, after the United Nations Development Program found that the global population had already crossed the five billion mark.
• The UNDP anticipated that overpopulation would become a matter of major concern in the future and with the world’s population currently touching 7.8 billion and expected to reach 8.5 billion by 2030, concerns regarding overpopulation aren’t unfounded.
• In light of the alarming data about women in the pandemic, the United Nations decided that this year, World Population Day will platform awareness of the sexual and reproductive needs and rights of women, particularly during the Covid-19 crisis.
• These rights are inextricably linked to education, awareness, physical safety and financial independence for women.
• A recent study conducted by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in April 2020 revealed that if the lockdown continues for another six months, 47 million women in low and middle-income countries run the risk of not being able to access modern contraceptives, which could result in seven million unintended pregnancies. Moreover, 31 million cases of gender-based violence can be expected in the coming months.