News and Events

Statement on the Occasion of World Population Day 2009
Thoraya Ahmed Obaid, Executive Director of United Nations Population Fund, UNFPA

11 July 2009

Today, as we commemorate World Population Day, the global financial and economic crisis threatens to reverse hard-won gains in education and health in developing countries. Among those hardest hit are women and girls. This is why the theme of this year's World Population Day focuses on investing in women. Even before the crisis, women and girls represented the majority of the world's poor. Now they are falling deeper into poverty and face increased health risks, especially if they are pregnant.

Today, complications of pregnancy and childbirth are leading killers of women in the developing world. And maternal mortality represents the largest health inequity in the world. This health gap will only deepen unless we increase social investments, maintain health gains and expand efforts to save more women's lives.

Access to reproductive health, in particular family planning and maternal health services, helps women and girls avoid unwanted or early pregnancy, unsafe abortions, as well as pregnancy-related disabilities. This means that women stay healthier, are more productive, and have more opportunities for education, training and employment, which, in turn, benefits entire families, communities and nations.

And investments in reproductive health are cost-effective. An investment in contraceptive services can be recouped four times over-and sometimes dramatically more over the long-term-by reducing the need for public spending on health, education and other social services. It is estimated that family planning alone could reduce the number of maternal deaths by as much as 40 per cent.

Education is important for everyone, but it is especially significant for girls and women. This is true not only because education is an entry point to other opportunities, but also because the educational achievements of women can have ripple effects within the family and across generations. Investing in girls' education is one of the most effective ways to reduce poverty. Investments in secondary school education for girls yields especially high dividends.

Women's educational level greatly influences reproductive health. Higher the education, the more the probability of early pregnancy reduces and the use of health services such as antenatal visits and, assisted deliveries increases. In Nepal, less than one third of women with no education receive antenatal care from skilled births attendants while three times more of those with SLC (School Leaving Certificate) access this service. About 1 in 12 women with no education are estimated to have deliveries in hospitals, about 3 in 4 of those with the secondary education and above enjoy safe delivery in health facilities.

UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund, remains committed to supporting countries to advance women's empowerment, gender equality and sexual and reproductive health.

Today, on World Population Day, I call on all leaders to make the health and rights of women a political and development priority. Investing in women and girls will set the stage not only for economic recovery, but also for long-term economic growth that reduces inequity and poverty. There is no smarter investment in troubled times.

For more information contact Anna Adhikari, Communications Consultant at adhikari@unfpa.org

In Nepali

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