July 11 is World Population Day.
The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) set WPD in order to commemorate July 11 1987 when the global population reached 5 billion.
The theme for this year’s WPD is “25 years of the ICPD: accelerating the promise”.
The ICPD stands for the International Conference on Population and Development which was held in the Egyptian capital of Cairo in September 1994 with representatives from 179 countries in attendance.
With human beings at the centre of socio-economic development and on the basis of the common understanding that the settlement of women’s issues exerts great influence on resolving the issue of world population, the ICPD affirmed that respecting and empowering women and ensuring human reproductive health and rights are matters of key importance in solving the population problem.
At the ICPD, the direction of addressing the population issue shifted from the restriction of population growth to the formulation of policies and action programmes centring on human life.
At present, ever-growing attention is being paid to this issue, and to respect and ensure women’s rights has been brought into a strong focus in redressing the issue.
Although many international agreements such as the Beijing Declaration and Programme of Action and the Asia-Pacific Declaration on Population and Development have been adopted over the past 25 years since the ICPD Programme of Action, people’s demand for reproductive health for all including family planning is yet to be satisfied.
Annually, some 289 thousand women die from complications at the time of pregnancy and delivery across the world. And 13 percent, most of whom are teenage girls, die due to unsafe abortion.
Especially, in the least-developed countries, one out of three pregnant women does not receive proper pregnancy care and more than half of the deliveries take place somewhere outside healthcare facilities and with the help of those who have not been trained as midwives.
Inadequate family planning service results in numerous unwanted pregnancies and 500 000 cervical cancer cases are registered and half of them die every year, and half of the tens of millions of people infected by HIV are women under 24.
In reflection of the realities, the UNFPA set the theme for WPD for this year, which marks the 25th anniversary of the ICPD, in order to urge all governments to commit themselves to accelerating the implementation of ICPD action programme.
More From Pyongyang Times
A spokesman for the Chinese Foreign Ministry at a press conference on November 10 denounced the Japanese prime minister’s reckless
November 16, 2025
A spokesman for the Chinese Foreign Ministry at a press conference on November 10 denounced the Japanese prime minister’s reckless
November 16 is the founding anniversary of UNESCO. A meeting of the preparatory committee for founding UNESCO took place in London
November 16, 2025
November 16 is the founding anniversary of UNESCO. A meeting of the preparatory committee for founding UNESCO took place in London
Thongsavanh Phomvihane, foreign minister of the Lao People's Democratic Republic, visited the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun to pay
November 15, 2025
Thongsavanh Phomvihane, foreign minister of the Lao People's Democratic Republic, visited the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun to pay
Pak Thae Song, premier of the Cabinet of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, met Thongsavanh Phomvihane, foreign minister
November 15, 2025
Pak Thae Song, premier of the Cabinet of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, met Thongsavanh Phomvihane, foreign minister
Kim Jong Un, president of the State Affairs of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, was presented with the credentials of
November 15, 2025
Kim Jong Un, president of the State Affairs of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, was presented with the credentials of
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova denounced the militarist policy of the European Union at a press conference
November 15, 2025
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova denounced the militarist policy of the European Union at a press conference
With the economic recession dragging on in Western countries these days, businesses continue to go bankrupt and accordingly the
November 15, 2025
With the economic recession dragging on in Western countries these days, businesses continue to go bankrupt and accordingly the
Three years have passed since the Fourth Plenary Meeting of the Eighth Central Committee of the Workers’ Party of Korea
November 15, 2025
Three years have passed since the Fourth Plenary Meeting of the Eighth Central Committee of the Workers’ Party of Korea
Dmitri Peskov, the Russian president’s press secretary, accused Europe of fomenting the Ukrainian dispute at a press conference
November 14, 2025
Dmitri Peskov, the Russian president’s press secretary, accused Europe of fomenting the Ukrainian dispute at a press conference
The European regional Juche idea seminar on "Independence, Peace and Social Development" took place in Helsinki, Finland, on
November 14, 2025
The European regional Juche idea seminar on "Independence, Peace and Social Development" took place in Helsinki, Finland, on
A spokesman for the Iranian Foreign Ministry asserted that the US is responsible for the aggressive moves of Israel through an SNS
November 14, 2025
A spokesman for the Iranian Foreign Ministry asserted that the US is responsible for the aggressive moves of Israel through an SNS
The 2025 autumn aesthetic symposium of the urban management sector took place at the Sci-Tech Complex in Pyongyang on November 12.
November 14, 2025
The 2025 autumn aesthetic symposium of the urban management sector took place at the Sci-Tech Complex in Pyongyang on November 12.
The Ilhyang Farm in Kyongsong County of North Hamgyong Province reaped a good harvest this year, too. There took place a meeting
November 14, 2025
The Ilhyang Farm in Kyongsong County of North Hamgyong Province reaped a good harvest this year, too. There took place a meeting
There took place a story-telling meeting "Mother's Happiness" of exemplary women agricultural workers and members of the Union of
November 14, 2025
There took place a story-telling meeting "Mother's Happiness" of exemplary women agricultural workers and members of the Union of
Modern houses have been built at the Simpho Farm in Unhung County of Ryanggang Province. There took place a ceremony of moving
November 14, 2025
Modern houses have been built at the Simpho Farm in Unhung County of Ryanggang Province. There took place a ceremony of moving
An agreement on cooperation in the field of public information between the DPRK Information Committee and the Ministry of Digital
November 14, 2025
An agreement on cooperation in the field of public information between the DPRK Information Committee and the Ministry of Digital
The International Symposium of Kim Chaek University of Technology-2025 took place on November 11 and 12. More than 120 sci-tech
November 14, 2025
The International Symposium of Kim Chaek University of Technology-2025 took place on November 11 and 12. More than 120 sci-tech
The Foreign Ministry of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea hosted a reception on the evening of November 12 in honour of
November 14, 2025
The Foreign Ministry of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea hosted a reception on the evening of November 12 in honour of
A symposium in the field of history was held at the Academy of Social Sciences in the DPRK on November 12 to denounce the
November 14, 2025
A symposium in the field of history was held at the Academy of Social Sciences in the DPRK on November 12 to denounce the
Jon Ju Hyon is one of the disabled table tennis players. He began to play table tennis in his primary school days. According to
November 13, 2025
Jon Ju Hyon is one of the disabled table tennis players. He began to play table tennis in his primary school days. According to
More Articles
