German Foundation World Population (DSW)
Berlin (ots)
Eight billion people are an opportunity and not a threat to our world. Whether climate change or economic crises – the answers to the great challenges of our time do not lie in the political control of fertility rates. Rather, what is needed is a human rights-oriented policy that enables the largest generation of young people of all time to lead a self-determined life and gives girls and women the opportunity to make decisions about their own bodies and family planning. That is the key message of the United Nations Population Fund’s (UNFPA) World Population Report 2023, released today. The German summary of the report was presented by the German Foundation for World Population (DSW) together with UNFPA and Development Minister Svenja Schulze.
“8 billion lives, endless possibilities: a plea for rights and free decisions”, under this title the report shows how the fear of an alleged “overpopulation” is pushing politics in the wrong direction, just like that of “underpopulation” or • Aging of individual nations. Whether more or fewer children are to be born, in both cases women’s rights are curtailed and the female body becomes a political instrument.
The size of the population is not the decisive factor for environmental destruction and resource consumption. Rather, it is a wealthy minority that has the largest ecological footprint, while the poorer half of the world’s population hardly contributes to resource consumption and climate change with their consumption. Increasing the birth rate is also not the right remedy against an aging society: In these societies, an economic boost is generated much more effectively by empowering women on the labor market.
“The discussion about too many or too few people in the world obscures the real problems,” emphasizes dr Natalia Kanem, Executive Director of UNFPA. “When we invest in people and their potential, in their rights and choices, all of humanity benefits.”
Development Minister Svenja Schulze: “The right answer to population issues is a policy that strengthens the rights and opportunities of women and girls. If we as humanity want to enable a good life for eight billion, then women and girls worldwide must be given equal rights. You empower women and girls , you strengthen entire societies. This is a key to good development and, as a result, also helps to steer population development in a way that is compatible for the planet and for us humans.”
44 percent of all women worldwide cannot make self-determined decisions about their bodies and family planning. As part of the “Self-determined family planning and reproductive health for all” initiative, the German Development Ministry (BMZ) is making at least 100 million euros available each year. In addition, the BMZ is supporting the UN population fund UNFPA with 47.5 million euros this year.
Experienced how important these investments are Monica Basemera in their daily work for the DSW. She coordinates that in Uganda TeamUp program, which is dedicated to the education and training of young people. “Knowing about your own body is a basic requirement for a self-determined life,” she explains, referring to the still far too high number of teenage pregnancies. “For the girls, this usually means the end of their schooling, which means they lose any chance of a proper education and economic independence.” Access to age-appropriate contraceptives is therefore essential, but unfortunately still not available in many regions. “There are numerous political, social and economic hurdles. But if you enable young people to overcome them, they will positively shape their future and ours.”
Further information
About the DSW
The German Foundation for World Population (DSW) is an international development organization. Its goal is to contribute to sustainable population development. Therefore, she supports young people in making self-determined decisions about their sexuality and contraception. At the same time, she is involved in political decision-making processes in the areas of health, family planning and gender equality at national and international level.
About TeamUp
Together with the three German foundations DSW, Hanns R. Neumann Foundation and Siemens Foundation and with the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), the TeamUp program opens up new future prospects for young people in Uganda. A holistic approach supports them in exploring job opportunities, actively participating in public and political life and leading a healthy and self-determined life.
UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund
UNFPA promotes a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every birth is safe and the potential of every young person is realized.
About the BMZ
The Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) is responsible within the federal government for German development policy. The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations and the Paris Climate Agreement form the framework for our actions. The BMZ pursues a feminist development policy and is fully committed to equal participation of all people in social, political and economic life – regardless of gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, skin color, disability or other characteristics. With the new priority “Health, social security and population policy”, the BMZ will in future work more closely with its partner countries in the health sector. The focus here is on women. Prevention during pregnancy and childbirth support as well as the training and payment of midwives are central, as is education and access to contraceptives.
Press contact
DSW: Nicole Langenbach [email protected] Tel.: +49 511 94373-20
UNFPA: Eddie Wright · [email protected] · Tel.: +1 212 297 2717
BMZ: Nikolai Fichtner [email protected] Tel.: +49 30 18 535-28 70
Press contact:
Nicole Langenbach
press secretary
German Foundation World Population (DSW)
Hindenburgstr. 25 | 30175 Hannover
Phone: 0511 94373-20 | Fax: 0511 94373-73
E-Mail: [email protected]
Internet: www.dsw.org
Original content from: German Foundation for World Population (DSW), transmitted by news aktuell
