DUSHANBE, July 9, 2011, Asia-Plus — On occasion of World Population Day, the UNFPA CO in Tajikistan in cooperation with the Agency for Statistics under the President of Tajikistan will hold a news conference on July 11.
Representatives from the UNDP and UNFPA Country Offices in Tajikistan as well as Tajik Agency for Statistics will take part at the news conference that will include a number of interactive presentations of such components of the UNFPA activity as reproductive health, population and development, gender equality. A separate report will be dedicated to the preliminary findings of the 2010 census of population and housing.
World Population Day is an annual event, observed on July 11, which seeks to raise awareness of global population issues. The event was established by the Governing Council of the United Nations Development Programme in 1989. It was inspired by the public interest in Five Billion Day on July 11, 1987, approximately the date on which the world”s population reached five billion people.
Each year UNFPA selects a different theme to rally around. World Population Day 2010, Everyone Counts, underscored the importance of data for development.
This year, as the world population is expected to surpass 7 billion, UNFPA and partners are launching a campaign called 7 Billion Actions. It aims to engage people, spur commitment and spark actions related to the opportunities and challenges presented by a world of 7 billion people.
In many ways a world of 7 billion is an achievement: Globally, people are living longer and healthier lives, and couples are choosing to have fewer children. However, meeting the needs of current and future generations presents daunting challenges as our numbers continue to increase.
Whether we can live together equitably on a healthy planet will depend on the choices and decisions we make now. In a world of 7 billion people, and counting, we need to count each other.
People around the world observe World Population Day in different ways. Many UNFPA Country Offices and other institutions mark the day with celebrations, poster or essay contests, sports events concerts or other activities to bring attention to population issues.
