Equality for Women, Sustainable Populations for the World

Washington DC - July 11, 2005

The world’s population has more than doubled in the last half-century and is increasing by nearly 76 million people each year. Poor access to reproductive health services and the low social status of women continue to drive population growth, most of which is taking place in the world’s poorest countries. On the occasion of this World Population Day (July 11), the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) is campaigning to underscore the important issue of gender equality, and PAI joins them in this effort.

Gender equality is critical to improving health, reducing poverty and fostering overall development, but it is not easily achieved. Beyond equal access to education, economic opportunities and decision-making roles, gender equality is about women being equal partners to men in the family and in society. Despite this challenge, gender equality is a cornerstone of major international agreements, including the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) Programme of Action; the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action; and the Millennium Declaration, which includes the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

A further key to gender equality is the ability of women to choose motherhood and to plan their families, a basic human right. Access to reproductive health services, including contraception, helps empower women to make the choices and decisions that affect their lives and thus helps to ensure this most fundamental human right. Without access, women face unintended pregnancies too early, too often and too late in life, often causing an early end to their education, their economic aspirations – and even to their lives.

In recent years, most donor countries have integrated gender equality into their development agendas – and funded the expansion of reproductive health services – as part of their partnership with developing countries. But access to contraception is still far from universal, whether due to a lack of services and supplies, or because women are denied the right to plan their families. Thus it is critical to redouble rather than diminish efforts to strengthen women's rights, improve their status, and to increase access to health care, including contraceptive services. Until a woman can determine the number and spacing of her children, she cannot participate to the best of her abilities in society.

Population Action International (PAI) works to improve individual well-being and preserve global resources by mobilizing political and financial support for population, family planning and reproductive health policies and programs.