HA NOI, 11 July 2011 – At a press conference organized today in Hanoi to commemorate the 2011 World Population Day, the Ministry of Health (MOH) and the United Nations (UN) in Viet Nam launched a national campaign called "7 Billion Actions" to draw attention throughout the year to the significance of the world population reaching 7 billion by the end of October.
“A world of 7 billion is both a challenge and an opportunity,” emphasized United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Executive Director, Dr. Babatunde Osotimehin at the global campaign. “Globally, people are living longer, healthier lives and choosing to have smaller families. But reducing inequities and finding ways to ensure the well-being of people alive today – as well as the generations that will follow – require new ways of thinking and unprecedented global cooperation,” he said.
According to the medium projection of the UN Population Division, world population will reach 8 billion by 2025, 9 billion by 2043, and then 10 billion by 2083. But these projections are contingent on access to family planning and the rights of women, men and young people to make their own choices about childbearing.
Currently about 78 million people are added to the global population each year, thus increasing demand for natural resources and putting increased pressure on our planet. “While poverty, inequality and increased stress on resources represent major challenges, the world is more interconnected than ever before, creating enormous possibilities. We now have new and unprecedented capacity to share information and ideas, and engage communities across the globe to solve problems that affect us,” added the UNFPA Executive Director.
There are seven topics identified, at the global level, for The World at 7 Billion campaign:
1. Poverty and Inequality: Breaking the Cycle
2. Women and Girls: Empowerment and Progress
3. Young People: Forging the Future
4. Reproductive Health and Rights: The Facts of Life
5. Environment: Healthy Planet, Healthy People
6. Ageing: An Unprecedented Challenge
7. Urbanization: Planning for Growth
In Viet Nam, the population growth rate has declined from 1.7 percent in the period of 1989-1999 to 1.2 percent in 1999-2009. This confirms the fact that the country’s fertility rate has been steadily declining over the past 20 years. However, the sex ratio at birth imbalance, population ageing and access to sexual and reproductive health services for young people are among the emerging population issues that need to be addressed now and in the coming years.
“By partnering with the United Nations in Viet Nam on the 7 billion action campaign, we are able to help make a difference in the lives of community members throughout the country. In a world of 7 billion, we are all in this together and are counting on each other. Working together, incremental actions will create exponential results,” said Dr. Duong Quoc Trong, General Director of General Office for Population and Family Planning at the press conference.
As the most interconnected population, adolescents and youth are already transforming society, politics and culture. “By more actively engaging women and young people, we can build a better future for all generations. As we approach a world population of 7 billion, each one of us is an equal part of this major milestone. Our small individual actions, multiplied across the world, can lead to change that is exponential,” said Ms Mandeep Janeja, Acting Representative of UNFPA in Viet Nam.
Today on World Population Day, join us to create a more just and sustainable world. Visit www.7billionactions.org to become part of this global movement. Together we are 7 billion people counting on each other.
