The World Population Day is a global annual recurrence set for the 11th of July established by the then-Governing Council of the United Nations in 1989. The ONU General Assembly made it official in December 1990 by resolution 45/216. The idea of inaugurating a new celebration arises due to the World population reaching 5 billion people in 1987 and the subsequent establishment of the Five Billion Day. Today the population exceeds 7 billions and it grows by about 100 million people every 14 months. The World Population is exploding, it has never grown so rapidly. According to statistics, it is expected to reach 9.7 billion people in 2050, and could reach 11 billion people around 2100.
The main objective of the recurrence is to raise people's awareness about several challenges affecting the population. The annual day focuses on health, gender equality, environment, development, human rights and importance of family planning. This Day highlights the issue of overpopulation and its consequences, such as environmental deterioration, as well.
The event represents an opportunity to enrich our knowledge on several topics and to reflect on progress achieved in the field of human rights. It is particularly relevant to the topic of woman status, especially in patriarchal states. However, questions regarding gender inequalities, lack of protection towards pregnant women, are crucial in more developed societies. Moreover, in the last year, women's status has been threatened by a new global challenge; the Covid-19 Pandemic. Restrictions implemented by national governments in order to contrast the Pandemic, have limited women's access to contraceptives and caused an increase in domestic violence perpetrated against women.
World Population Day is an opportunity to remember that we all share the same world. It’s about unity between mankind facing the same challenges. As said previously, overpopulation influences lack of food or drinkable water, deforestation, unemployment, lack of teachers, hygienic conditions, pollution, price rise, refugee crisis due to environmental issues, pandemics...It’s those challenges that the World Population Day aims to discuss.
However, acknowledging that we are one, nor that our world is not adapted to overpopulation, is not an end in itself. The World Population Day seeks to trigger debate on one of the several issues raised by overpopulation, so that everyone can take action in a specific field. This international day is about realizing that since we all face the same challenges, we all have interest in solving and preventing such crises.
Every year, the United Nations decides to emphasize debate of one aspect of world population. In 2021, the theme was the impact of Covid-19 on fertility, and more generally on sexual and reproductive health and reproductive behaviour. We will now deepend the issues of refugees and the environment.
In view of the above, increasing people’s consciousness about population issues is essential in order to promote sustainable development. Within this framework, young people play a key role, since they constitute the main means and resources to achieve a new development model. Every year, every day, people as individuals, organizations, make an effort in this regard. It is possible to make the difference, thus to protect our Planet its inhabitants throw individual collective small actions. Are you wondering what you could do to make the World a better place? First of all, increase your knowledge about the topic. Take advantage of the World Population Day to be more aware and informed about population issues. You may read articles on the internet, read books, listen to broadcasts, watch youtube videos, and so on. Once you have informed yourself, spread the world. After all, as already highlighted, the World Population Day is aimed to increase people's awareness on population issues and to make them reflect. Fighting against indifference, active citizenship are the most powerful available means we have.
The main question, still unresolved, is: Will we be able to ensure prosperity and development, and be sustainable at the same time?