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
Dmitri Medvedev, vice-chairman of the Security Council of Russia, posted an article on an SNS on January 12 to deride the US’ atte
January 21, 2026
Dmitri Medvedev, vice-chairman of the Security Council of Russia, posted an article on an SNS on January 12 to deride the US’ atte
Russia decided to deport a diplomat of the British embassy in the country. On January 15, the Russian Foreign Ministry called the
January 21, 2026
Russia decided to deport a diplomat of the British embassy in the country. On January 15, the Russian Foreign Ministry called the
Spectacular scenes of rural development have unfolded at several farms in Kangwon Province. Newly-built public and production
January 21, 2026
Spectacular scenes of rural development have unfolded at several farms in Kangwon Province. Newly-built public and production
The Academy of Forest Science has been built on a modern basis. The academy has all facilities and conditions, including an office
January 21, 2026
The Academy of Forest Science has been built on a modern basis. The academy has all facilities and conditions, including an office
Over the past five years since the Eighth Congress of the Workers’ Party of Korea, a new era of overall development has been
January 21, 2026
Over the past five years since the Eighth Congress of the Workers’ Party of Korea, a new era of overall development has been
A croaker pedigree farm has been built at the Ongjin West Sea Fish Farm. The pedigree farm has an office building, welfare
January 21, 2026
A croaker pedigree farm has been built at the Ongjin West Sea Fish Farm. The pedigree farm has an office building, welfare
The Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea sent a congratulatory message to the 14th Congress of the Communist Party of
January 21, 2026
The Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea sent a congratulatory message to the 14th Congress of the Communist Party of
The Ryongsong Machine Complex, where a flaming torch was lit to create the Chollima spirit in the new era, has turned into a
January 20, 2026
The Ryongsong Machine Complex, where a flaming torch was lit to create the Chollima spirit in the new era, has turned into a
Comrades,I express gratitude to the workers of Ryongsong, teachers and researchers from Kim Chaek University of Technology and Pyo
January 20, 2026
Comrades,I express gratitude to the workers of Ryongsong, teachers and researchers from Kim Chaek University of Technology and Pyo
The Mexican President said in a press conference on January 13 that her country would maintain a foreign policy based on equality
January 20, 2026
The Mexican President said in a press conference on January 13 that her country would maintain a foreign policy based on equality
The ideal socialist villages indicative of the Korean-style civilization of the countryside sprang up at the Chollisong Farm in
January 20, 2026
The ideal socialist villages indicative of the Korean-style civilization of the countryside sprang up at the Chollisong Farm in
The participants in the celebrations of the 80th founding anniversary of the Socialist Patriotic Youth League toured Pyongyang.
January 20, 2026
The participants in the celebrations of the 80th founding anniversary of the Socialist Patriotic Youth League toured Pyongyang.
At the end of last year, the Korean people greeted the second inauguration season in implementing the Regional Development 20×10
January 20, 2026
At the end of last year, the Korean people greeted the second inauguration season in implementing the Regional Development 20×10
The authorities of Greenland issued a statement on January 12 to reject the US' attempt to annex Greenland.As regards the fact tha
January 19, 2026
The authorities of Greenland issued a statement on January 12 to reject the US' attempt to annex Greenland.As regards the fact tha
Today, when the moves of the forces trying to realize their ambition for world domination are getting ever more undisguised,
January 19, 2026
Today, when the moves of the forces trying to realize their ambition for world domination are getting ever more undisguised,
The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un sent birthday spreads to Kim Sun Han, a woman centenarian living in Neighbourhood Unit No. 49,
January 19, 2026
The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un sent birthday spreads to Kim Sun Han, a woman centenarian living in Neighbourhood Unit No. 49,
Modern houses, symbolic of the era of the Workers' Party, have been built at the Usan Cotton Farm in Hanggu District and the
January 19, 2026
Modern houses, symbolic of the era of the Workers' Party, have been built at the Usan Cotton Farm in Hanggu District and the
The Jikha Atlantic Salmon Pedigree Farm was inaugurated in North Hamgyong Province. The construction of the pedigree farm with all
January 19, 2026
The Jikha Atlantic Salmon Pedigree Farm was inaugurated in North Hamgyong Province. The construction of the pedigree farm with all
On New Year’s Day ten years ago, the inauguration ceremony of the Sci-Tech Complex was held in splendour in the presence of the
January 19, 2026
On New Year’s Day ten years ago, the inauguration ceremony of the Sci-Tech Complex was held in splendour in the presence of the
Kim Jong Un, general secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea and president of the State Affairs of the Democratic People's
January 19, 2026
Kim Jong Un, general secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea and president of the State Affairs of the Democratic People's
More Articles
