Poverty drives high population growth, says Minister

Wednesday, 26 October 2011 18:30

Written by Niamh Griffin

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This week the world’s population will reach seven billion; this is a challenge governments need to meet by focusing on sexual health according to a United Nations population expert.

Speaking at the launch of the United National Population Fund (UNFPA) report “People and possibilities in a world of 7 billion” in Dublin Jacqueline Mahon said shifting the focus “from numbers to human rights” is necessary.

“There are 215 million women of child-bearing age in developing countries who would use family planning if they had access to it … we must tear down economic, legal, social and cultural barriers to put women and men and girls and boys on an equal footing,” the senior policy advisor said.

The study - carried out in China, Egypt, Ethiopia, Finland, India, Mexico, Mozambique, Nigeria and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia – found that sexual health education can be the key to solving economic problems.

Researchers found that “traditions, gender inequality, a belief that large families are a sign of wealth and misconceptions about modern contraceptives” are among reasons for lack of family planning.

The Irish Family Planning Association (IFPA) hosted the launch. Chairman Kevin Baneham said while the report highlights “a huge divergence” in mortality rates around the world Irish people should not lose sight of their ability to affect change.

“In (the current economic climate) it is important to recognise that Ireland’s contribution to aid and development, especially when it comes to sexual and reproductive health, is a matter of life and death for some of the world’s poorest people.”

Also speaking at the launch Minister for Development Jan O’ Sullivan said it is important to realise that poverty is a driving force behind high population growth.

“If we want to address the challenges posed by a rapidly expanding world population, we have to address the root causes of that expansion. In the poorest countries, extreme poverty, food insecurity, inequality, high death rates and high birth rates are all linked in a vicious cycle,” the minister said.

Minister O’ Sullivan said Irish Aid has supported UNFPA projects aiming for universal access to reproductive health with €30 million since 2006.

Related - We are 7 billion: the world's population at a glance