Nineteen years ago, the United Nations established World Population Day to affirm people’s basic human right to plan their families. The Millenium Development Goals (MDGs) included commitments from 189 countries to halve poverty by 2015, reduce child and maternal deaths, curb the spread of HIV/AIDS, advance gender equality and promote sustainable development. If we are to achieve any of these, we must promote women’s rights and invest in educating people of all ages and in all countries about reproductive health, family planning and safe pregnancies and birth practices.

The choices we make as individuals and couples alter the future of our
communities and our world. Population and development are inextricably linked. As our awareness of the true cost of energy
and food resources increases, we must also recognize that both developed and developing countries alike will be impacted by issues such
as poverty and access to reproductive health services in terms of what
is possible for a sustainable future.

Read a statement from the executive director of the UN Population Fund on the occasion of 2008 World Population Day. Take action.