World Population Day being observed today

World population is being observed on Monday (July 11) to increase the awareness of people towards the worldwide population issues.

This year the theme of the day is “A world of 8 billion: Towards a resilient future for all – Harnessing opportunities and ensuring rights and choices for all”. 

As the theme suggests, there are 8 billion people living today but not all of them have equal rights and opportunities.

The day seeks to focus attention on the urgency and importance of population issues and was established by the then-Governing Council of the United Nations Development Programme in 1989. 

Overpopulation is a critical concern as the world’s resources are being used up at an unsustainable rate. Besides, the need to guarantee that women have access to family planning, gender equality, and maternal health care is more important than ever because of the expanding population’s impact on maternal health and family planning issues.

On July 11, 1990, the day was first observed in more than 90 nations. Since then, a number of UNFPA national offices as well as other organizations and institutions, in collaboration with governments and civil society, have observed World Population Day. 

Globally, the day is celebrated by organising seminars, discussions, educational sessions, public contests, slogans, workshops, debates, songs, etc.

In the meantime, the Secretary-General of the United Nations (UN) António Guterres turned to his official twitter handle and wrote that “ On World Population Day, let's focus on every person”.

He further stated, “On ensuring our world can support our needs and those of future generations”.

He further added that people should focus on protecting human rights and the ability of all individuals to make informed choices about “whether and when to have children”. 

“On leaving no one behind,” he concluded. 

On #WorldPopulationDay, let's focus on every person.

On ensuring our world can support our needs & those of future generations.

On protecting human rights & the ability of all individuals to make informed choices about whether & when to have children.

On leaving no one behind.

— António Guterres (@antonioguterres) July 11, 2022