Around the world, around 214 million women and girls have no access to modern contraceptives, even though they want to prevent pregnancy. According to the World Population Report of the UN Population Fund, one in four women of child-bearing age in developing countries. Against the background of the rapidly growing world population, the UN organization called for improved and self-determined access to contraceptives.
The main reason for many unplanned pregnancies according to the World Population Report is the lack of gender equality. The repression of women in many countries of the world is opposed to the achievement of the development policy goals adopted at the 1994 Cairo World Population Conference, the report concludes. After that, a stabilization of the world population should be achieved by, among other things, allowing everyone access to family planning services and investing in the education and empowerment of women.
Warning of supply bottlenecks
German Development Minister Gerd Müller pointed out that the population in Africa would double by 2050 if things continued as before. Then Nigeria will be the third largest country in the world after China and India. Every day, the world’s population is growing by 230,000 people and over 80 million a year. Two-thirds of this growth was for developing countries. Müller warned about supply problems in parts of the world.
It is necessary to strengthen women and family planning, this issue should not be taboo, so the CSU politician. The federal government therefore put it on the agenda of any negotiation with partner states, said Müller. Even with religious leaders must be talked about. But the signal must first come from the countries themselves.
High birth rates, especially in poor countries
On a global average, according to the UN report, a woman receives 2.5 children. In the mid-1960s, there were twice as many children per woman. However, in the poorest countries of the world, women continue to give birth to an average of four children, while birth rates in many wealthy countries have since declined. More than half of all married women worldwide use modern contraceptives.
According to the UN report, over the past few years, African governments have made the strongest efforts to reduce maternal and neonatal mortality. Despite all the successes, however, it is still far from the goal that all people can decide for themselves whether and when they have children and with whom they want to have sex.
