The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and the Ministry of Health and Population commemorated World Population Day on July 14, where they underlined the importance of reproductive agency, and providing young people with the knowledge, means, and opportunities to build their future.
Under the theme "Empowering young people to create the families they want in a fair and hopeful world,” the event brought together the representatives of the Bedaya Ministerial Group, along with key development partners and donors, experts in demography and reproductive health, and civil society.
UNFPA also launched the global flagship State of World Population 2025 report titled “The Real Fertility Crisis -The Pursuit of Reproductive Agency,” during the event. The report explains that many individuals, particularly young people, cannot fulfill their fertility aspirations due to different systemic barriers, in alignment with the World Population Day theme.
The event saw the participation of Dr Khaled Abdel Ghaffar, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Health and Population, General Khayrat Barakat, President of the Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics (CAPMAS), Counselor Amal Ammar, President of the National Council for Women, Dr. Sahar al-Sonbaty, President of the National Council for Childhood and Motherhood, Elena Panova, UN Resident Coordinator in Egypt, Yves Sassenrath, UNFPA Representative in Egypt, and Dr Abla El-Alfy, Deputy Minister of Health and Population for Population and Family Development Affairs, Chairperson of National Population Council.
Dr Abdel Ghaffar pointed out that this year's theme reflects a profound commitment to placing youth at the heart of population policies, as they are the cornerstone of sustainable development. He emphasized that empowering youth with knowledge, services, and equal opportunities paves the path to building stable families and a fair society capable of progress.
“Our Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework is fully aligned with Egypt’s Vision 2030. It supports Bedaya by building human capital, fostering inclusive growth, advancing gender equality, and promoting strong governance and natural resource stewardship. These efforts reflect our collective commitment. to a future where no one is left behind,” Panova said.
“Empowering women to fulfill their reproductive desires benefits the entire nation, particularly given Egypt's ongoing demographic transition, that will profoundly reshape the country's population age structure. Youth's agency, self-determination, and well-being are pivotal drivers of societal progress and indeed national development,” Sassenrath said.
Dr. Abdel Ghaffar and General Khayrat Barakat participated in a high-level panel discussion on the national initiatives working towards fostering reproductive agency and youth empowerment, demonstrating a holistic national commitment to human development, moderated by media personality Osama Kamal.
During the event, Dr. Abla al-Alfy, presented the progress achieved with the Accelerated Plan for Population and Development, which seeks to improve population characteristics, reduce the unmet need for family planning and unplanned pregnancies, and ensure sustainable population growth.
An in-depth analysis of the findings of the Egypt Family Health Survey 2021, on reproductive agency in Egypt was also presented by Dr. Soha Hassan from CAPMAS. The analyses, conducted jointly by UNFPA and CAPMAS, takes a closer look at contraceptive discontinuation rates, unmet need for family planning, and unplanned pregnancies.
Young people also discussed their reproductive aspirations and the perceived barriers and enablers to realize these aspirations in a panel discussion during the event.
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