Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, writing in the October 31 edition of the International Herald Tribune, had this to say regarding the global population, "Throughout the world, young people and women have taken to the streets. They are demanding their rights and a greater voice in economic and political life, 'women and young people make up more than two-thirds of the global population,' they are the world's next emerging economy. We must listen to them. We must do all we can to meet their needs and create opportunities, from maternal health care to jobs."
The lead department charged with population and development issues is the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).
Its executive director, Babatunde Osotimehin, feels the 1994 International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) that was held in Cairo, Egypt, has never been more relevant than it is today. The conference set forth a 20-year Programme of Action that believed that population trends were inextricably linked to reproductive health, poverty, production and consumption, and the environment.
In The State of World Population 2011 report, Mr. Osotimehin stated that in all of these issues "universal rights are paramount...the rights issue is what drives everything."
The UNFPA focuses its attention on achieving the goals of the ICPD as well as the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) target of universal reproductive health by 2015.
There have been some success stories in these areas. In developing countries like Bangladesh, for example, the executive director of UNFPA expressed his feeling that the role of women should be the department's central focus and making sure that the ICPD principles are reinforced. Mr. Osotimehin reiterates the fact that maternal health care is a priority and that "every pregnancy is wanted and that every child is born with care, and in dignity." The country is achieving success in meeting some of the targets of the MDGs, and they are moving forward in educating girls and empowering them to make good decisions.
In Mexico, a middle-income country as described in The State of World Population 2011 report, the UNFPA is helping the Mexican Government in handling its migration issue -- particularly with many people moving into the cities. The UNFPA wants to be sure that life for these people improve, and does not decline.
The U.N. department also is mindful of making sure the same services are available to young women, such as education, in order for them to continue in their personal development.
The UNFPA's work goes a long way towards fulfilling the goals of the MDGs in areas of poverty, gender and maternal health.
In 2010 alone, the department provided and supported one hundred and twenty-three countries. However, this support requires huge financial commitments; this makes U.S. funding to the U.N. an absolute priority.
As the UNFPA Report made maternal health a priority, another U.N department does so as well- the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
With the assistance of UNDP, Eritrea is well on its way to achieving a 75% reduction in maternal mortality that would allow the country to achieve the mark set forth in MDG 5 (Maternal Health) by 2015.
UNDP is also assisting in the training of individuals as birth attendants, which helps to lower the maternal mortality rate.
Collaborating with its fellow U.N. departments like the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), World Health Organization (WHO), UNFPA, and the Government of Eritrea, the UNDP has made a real difference in saving the lives of many women all as a direct consequence of the work of the U.N.
MOVING FORWARD
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