homepage - programs - population - world population day
World Population Day:
Fight Poverty, Educate Girls
This July 11 marks the twentieth annual World Population Day, created by the United Nations Population Fund, to give people around the world an opportunity to reflect upon the impact that people have on our planet. This year's theme, "Fight Poverty: Educate Girls", explores how the global economic crisis will impact women and children in developing countries. What started as a financial crisis in rich countries is now deepening into a global economic crisis that is hitting developing countries hard. It is already affecting progress toward reducing poverty. Now is the time for policy responses that build on women's roles as economic agents and environmental decision-makers, and to mitigate the effects of the crisis on development and environmental protection. Investments in women's basic rights-to health care, education and economic opportunity-are linked to a healthier economy, healthier families and a healthier world.
On Thursday, July 9, the House passed the State/Foreign Operations Appropriations bill providing $648 million for international family planning -- a significant boast over the President's request of $593 million and 19% above the FY2009 level of $545 million.
Also on July 9, the Senate Appropriations Committee voted for an amendment that would permanently block the Global Gag Rule -- a rule imposed under several previous administration which disqualified overseas family planning organizations from receiving U.S. family planning funds if they, with their own money, lobby to change abortion laws or provide legal abortion services/referral in their countries. The amendment would provide protection against a future president imposing the Global Gag Rule through Executive Order.
In addition, the Senate Committee mark up includes $628 million for family planning and reproductive health programs.
Join our Population Justice Environmental Challenge Campaign by organizing a house party, downloading resources, or applying to attend one of our upcoming international study tours to Guatemala and India!