NEW YORK – The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) on Wednesday called family planning a human right, and emphasized the economic benefits family planning can have for the greater society.
“Voluntary family planning is a human right,” said Richard Kollege, author of the UNFPA report “The State of World Population 2012,” at a press conference here. The report was released on Wednesday.
“Because it’s a right, everyone who wants access to family planning should have access,” he said.
Currently, 222 million women have an unmet need for contraception. The UNFPA estimates that 4.1 billion US dollars are needed to address these needs.
This estimate comes after a family planning summit which took place in London four months ago raised 4.6 billion US dollars in commitments from donor countries and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
The report shows that “making voluntary family planning available to everyone in developing countries would reduce costs for maternal and newborn health care by 11.3 billion annually.”
Meeting contraception needs would not only reduce health care costs but allow “young women to truly plan for work, school and childbearing on their terms,” said Kollege.
Ultimately, the report said, this allows women to make greater contributions to the economy, increase productivity, and drive development.
“Increased access to family planning has proven to be a sound economic investment,” the UN agency said in a press release. “The costs of ignoring the right of family planning include poverty, exclusion, poor health and gender inequality.” –Philippine News Agency | Xinhua
World Day for Safety and Health at Work
“Safety and health at work every day!”
Invoke Article 33 of the ILO constitution
against the military junta in Myanmar to carry out the 2021 ILO Commission of Inquiry recommendations against serious violations of Forced Labour and Freedom of Association protocols.
Accept National Unity Government
(NUG) of Myanmar.
Reject Military!
#WearMask #WashHands #Distancing #TakePicturesVideos
Monthly Observances:
March – Women’s Role in History Month
April – Month of Planet Earth
Weekly Observances:
Last Week of March: Protection and Gender Fair Treatment of the Girl Child Week
Last Week of April – World Immunization Week
Daily Observances:
Mar 25 – International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transallantic Slave Trade
Mar 27– Earth Hour
Apr 21 – Civil Service Day
Apr 22 – World Earth Day
Apr 28 – World Day for Safety and Health at Work
