World Population day is an annual event, observed on the 11th of July every year. This event seeks to raise awareness of global population issues such as the importance of family planning, gender equality, poverty, maternal health and human rights.
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.
Source: http://mataku.co/world-population-day-wishes
UNFPA works with many partners, both within and outside the United Nations system, including Governments, non-governmental organizations, civil society, faith-based organizations, religious leaders and others, to achieve its mission. To better respond to local needs, UNFPA increasingly devotes resources to country-led efforts, placing emphasis on country-focused and country-led implementation to achieve improved results, at the same time addressing mutual accountability and strengthening harmonization and alignment.
The theme for the 2016 World Population Day was: ‘Investing in teenage girls.’ Teenage girls around the world face enormous challenges. In many societies they are considered to be ready for marriage and motherhood by their communities or parents. Many are forced from school, damaging their future prospects. These challenges are exacerbated among marginalized girls, such as members of ethnic minorities or those living in poverty or remote areas. Marginalized girls are vulnerable to poor reproductive health and more likely to become mothers while still children themselves. They have a right to understand and control their own bodies and shape their own lives. When teenage girls are empowered, when they know about their rights and are given the tools to succeed, they become agents of positive change in their communities.
Source: http://www.samakal.net/2016/07/11/7122
UNFPA’s programmes aim to end child marriage, curb adolescent pregnancy, and to empower girls to make informed choices about their health and lives. In 2015 alone, UNFPA programmes helped 11.2 million girls between ages 10 and 19 gain access to sexual and reproductive health services and information.