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
Russian President Vladimir Putin in a letter on January 27 stressed that Russia will never forget the heinous crimes of Nazism
February 02, 2026
Russian President Vladimir Putin in a letter on January 27 stressed that Russia will never forget the heinous crimes of Nazism
The unshakable will and outstanding leadership ability of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea hastening the
February 02, 2026
The unshakable will and outstanding leadership ability of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea hastening the
Vietnamese Ambassador to the DPRK Le Ba Vinh and staff members of his embassy visited the statues of President Kim Il Sung and
February 02, 2026
Vietnamese Ambassador to the DPRK Le Ba Vinh and staff members of his embassy visited the statues of President Kim Il Sung and
The Chinese permanent representative to the United Nations at a meeting of the UN Security Council on January 26 demanded Japan
February 02, 2026
The Chinese permanent representative to the United Nations at a meeting of the UN Security Council on January 26 demanded Japan
The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un sent a birthday spread to Kim Il Sun, a woman living in Neighbourhood Unit No. 24, Ungsang-dong,
February 02, 2026
The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un sent a birthday spread to Kim Il Sun, a woman living in Neighbourhood Unit No. 24, Ungsang-dong,
Modern farmhouses have appeared in Jonsung-ri of Phyonggang County and Kaechon-ri of Ichon County, Kangwon Province. Ceremonies of
February 02, 2026
Modern farmhouses have appeared in Jonsung-ri of Phyonggang County and Kaechon-ri of Ichon County, Kangwon Province. Ceremonies of
Modern dwelling houses have appeared at the Mandal Vegetable Farm in Sungho County and the Wahyon Farm in Phyongsan County of
February 02, 2026
Modern dwelling houses have appeared at the Mandal Vegetable Farm in Sungho County and the Wahyon Farm in Phyongsan County of
Thanks to the Workers' Party of Korea's grand plan and energetic leadership to turn Pyongyang into a world-class civilized city,
February 02, 2026
Thanks to the Workers' Party of Korea's grand plan and energetic leadership to turn Pyongyang into a world-class civilized city,
The Third People's Art Festival in Celebration of February 16 will be held in Pyongyang and other parts of the DPRK. The festival
February 02, 2026
The Third People's Art Festival in Celebration of February 16 will be held in Pyongyang and other parts of the DPRK. The festival
North Hwanghae Province renovated Sariwon Kye Ung Sang University of Agriculture. The university has a school building, e-library,
February 02, 2026
North Hwanghae Province renovated Sariwon Kye Ung Sang University of Agriculture. The university has a school building, e-library,
A tree nursery has been successfully built in Kaesong Municipality. The tree nursery, located in a place favourable for sapling
February 02, 2026
A tree nursery has been successfully built in Kaesong Municipality. The tree nursery, located in a place favourable for sapling
The third-year project for implementing the regional development policy in the new era is being conducted on a full scale
February 02, 2026
The third-year project for implementing the regional development policy in the new era is being conducted on a full scale
Dmitri Medvedev, vice-chairman of the Russian Security Council, referred to the issue of ensuring strategic security in an intervi
February 01, 2026
Dmitri Medvedev, vice-chairman of the Russian Security Council, referred to the issue of ensuring strategic security in an intervi
Members of the Iranian Parliament issued a statement on January 25 to strongly denounce the European Parliament for adopting an an
February 01, 2026
Members of the Iranian Parliament issued a statement on January 25 to strongly denounce the European Parliament for adopting an an
North Hwanghae Province finished the capacity expansion project of the Kyongam Cement Factory. The establishment of a
February 01, 2026
North Hwanghae Province finished the capacity expansion project of the Kyongam Cement Factory. The establishment of a
Residents in the Central Zoo in Pyongyang are on the increase. This year alone five species of gift animals produced more than ten
February 01, 2026
Residents in the Central Zoo in Pyongyang are on the increase. This year alone five species of gift animals produced more than ten
Graduating class students of senior middle schools in Kanggye City met with a war veteran. Students presented bouquets to war
January 31, 2026
Graduating class students of senior middle schools in Kanggye City met with a war veteran. Students presented bouquets to war
Dmitri Peskov, the Russian president’s press secretary, described European politicians as pitiable persons at a press conference o
January 31, 2026
Dmitri Peskov, the Russian president’s press secretary, described European politicians as pitiable persons at a press conference o
A happy event of moving into new houses has taken place at rural villages in Sinchon and Pongchon counties of South Hwanghae
January 31, 2026
A happy event of moving into new houses has taken place at rural villages in Sinchon and Pongchon counties of South Hwanghae
On January 22, the US formally left the WHO. The US claimed that its decision to leave the WHO was a reflection of the
January 31, 2026
On January 22, the US formally left the WHO. The US claimed that its decision to leave the WHO was a reflection of the
More Articles
