Cairo: The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and the Ministry of Health and Population commemorated World Population Day on July 14, emphasizing the significance of reproductive agency and equipping young individuals with the necessary knowledge, means, and opportunities to shape their futures.
According to State Information Service Egypt, the event was themed "Empowering young people to create the families they want in a fair and hopeful world," and featured representatives from the Bedaya Ministerial Group, key development partners, donors, demography and reproductive health experts, and civil society. UNFPA launched its global State of World Population 2025 report, titled 'The Real Fertility Crisis - The Pursuit of Reproductive Agency,' which highlights systemic barriers preventing individuals, especially the youth, from achieving their fertility aspirations.
The event attracted participation from notable figures including 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 the National Population Council.
Dr. Abdel Ghaffar emphasized the importance of this year's theme, which centers on integrating youth into population policies as they are essential to sustainable development. He underscored that empowering youth with knowledge, services, and equal opportunities lays the foundation for stable families and a just society capable of progress.
Elena Panova remarked that the Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework aligns with Egypt's Vision 2030 by supporting human capital development, inclusive growth, gender equality, and robust governance. These endeavors are aimed at ensuring no one is left behind.
Yves Sassenrath highlighted that empowering women to achieve their reproductive goals benefits the entire nation, particularly as Egypt undergoes a demographic transition that will significantly alter the country's age structure. He pointed out that youth agency and well-being are critical to societal and national development.
In a high-level panel discussion moderated by media personality Osama Kamal, Dr. Abdel Ghaffar and General Khayrat Barakat examined national initiatives aimed at fostering reproductive agency and youth empowerment, showcasing a comprehensive national commitment to human development.
Dr. Abla al-Alfy shared the progress of the Accelerated Plan for Population and Development, which aims to improve population characteristics, reduce unmet family planning needs and unplanned pregnancies, and ensure sustainable population growth.
Dr. Soha Hassan from CAPMAS presented an in-depth analysis of the Egypt Family Health Survey 2021, focusing on reproductive agency in Egypt. The analysis, conducted by UNFPA and CAPMAS, explored contraceptive discontinuation rates, unmet family planning needs, and unplanned pregnancies.
Young participants also engaged in discussions about their reproductive aspirations and the perceived challenges and facilitators in achieving these aspirations during a panel discussion at the event.