Namibia marked World Population Day, coinciding with the launch of the State of the World Population Report.
Speaking at the launch, the Director General of the National Planning Commission, Dr. Kaire Mbuende, said the day serves as an opportunity for Namibia to reflect on the important factors that influence population and its growth.
Dr. Mbuende said observing population issues creates an opportunity to raise awareness about global population matters such as family planning and gender equality.
"We also observed that this commemoration also encourages governments and communities to take action towards continued promotion of reproductive health services, addressing the challenges of youth, and investing in education and healthcare."
The day is celebrated under the theme 'Empowering Young People to create families they want in a fair and hopeful world'.
"Namibia has unpacked this theme to resonate with the current realities; as a result, the theme is contextualised as empowering young people to create the families they want in a fair and hopeful world. The unpacking of this theme draws us closer to the outcome we all wish to see: that every individual, especially young people, has the right to knowledge and the means to make informed choices about if, when and how many children to have."
UNFPA Representative Erika Goldson said the State of the World Population report emphasises that choice is a fundamental human right and a catalyst for global development.
"The United Nations Population Fund remains committed to working alongside the Government of the Republic of Namibia, the National Planning Commission, the UN family, the diplomatic community, and all partners to create the circumstances where every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe, and every young person's potential is fulfilled."
Deputy Executive Director in the Ministry of Education, Youth, Innovation, Sports, Arts and Culture, Edda Bohn, noted that millions of young people globally face barriers to starting families due to persistent economic and social challenges.
"Since independence in 1990, Namibia has undertaken significant education reforms to build a unified system responsive to our development needs. In step with global initiatives led by UNESCO, UNFPA, and WHO, Namibia recognised early on the importance of population education in addressing rapid population growth, reproductive health, HIV/AIDS, and sustainable development."
The day is celebrated every year on the 11th of July each year, which seeks to raise awareness of global population issues.