Family Planning Is “Critical Link” in Eradicating Poverty

Health experts point out that access to family planning and preventing unwanted pregnancies are essential for sustainable development. Member states of the United Nations last year adopted 17 goals on sustainability, including reducing poverty and inequality, while promoting economic growth and full employment. Family planning is a critical link for each goal, notes Ellen Starbird of USAid, as reported by the Guardian. Countries with unsustainable population expansion confront shortages of basic resources like water and energy. In the article, Babatunde Osotimehin, executive director of the UN Population Fund, describes family planning as a “significant investment to promote human capital development, combat poverty and harness a demographic dividend, thus contributing to equitable and sustainable economic development.” Indonesia hosted the international family planning conference, and the nation’s president announced plans to revitalize family-planning programs. Health officials concede that programs and methods must vary by country and culture. – YaleGlobal

Family Planning Is “Critical Link" in Eradicating Poverty

Reproductive health experts want more access to modern contraceptives to prevent population bulge that would undermine efforts to tackle global poverty
Zofeen Ebrahim and Liz Ford
Wednesday, January 27, 2016

Zofeen is a freelance journalist based in Karachi, Pakistan. Liz Ford is deputy editor of the Guardian’s Global development website. She leads on women’s rights and gender equality issues. She was previously editor of the Guardian’s Katine website, and before that worked on the Guardian’s education desk.

Read about the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

Read the global progress report from Family Planning 2020. 

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