Z Skweyiya: World Population Day

11 July 2006

Resident Co-ordinator of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), Mr
George Ntsiah
Representatives of the National Youth Commission, South African Youth Council
and the Umsobomvu Youth Fund,
Members of civil society,
Ladies and gentlemen,
Boys and girls,

It is a great pleasure and privilege for me to join you in focusing on young
people as we mark World Population Day today. The fact that this year's day
gives particular attention to the youth is indeed significant and instructive.
Youthfulness is a gift that should be treasured and enjoyed to the fullest as
it is an experience that does not last forever. There are abundant
opportunities in the 21st century for social, economic and political
advancement for young people. Yet alongside, there are also threats like
poverty, HIV and AIDS, conflicts, illiteracy and teenage pregnancies.

The young are blessed with huge supplies of irrepressible energy, vibrancy
and initiative. However, this dynamism needs to be nurtured and responsibly
channelled. You may argue that we are too serious and boring as adults at
times, but we can assure you that without the appropriate guidance, assistance,
and direction, the youth can easily lose direction.

The Census SA report revealed that 44,8 million people lived in South Africa
in 2002. It also emerged that young people comprise a huge proportion of our
population. Almost 70% of our population are 35 years and younger. In other
words, almost seven out of every ten South Africans are under 35 years. It is
absolutely critical therefore, that the needs of young people be factored at
the top and all levels of government planning. I am proud to say that since
1994, the government has made great advances in the way in which it deals with
the interests of young people.

The commemoration of Youth Month in June and World Population Day are
underpinned by the South African Population Policy. This policy in turn was
informed and influenced by the 1994 International Conference on Population and
Development (ICPD) in Cairo, Egypt. South Africa is a co-signatory to the
Programme of Action that emanated from the ICPD. That event signalled a new era
in the field of population and development, by placing population at the centre
of development, and made it the driving force and ultimate beneficiary of
development.

The population policy rests on two pillars:

Firstly, it requires that population factors be integrated systematically
into all policies, plans, programmes and strategies that are aimed at enhancing
the quality of life at all levels, and within all sectors and institutions of
government and society as a whole.

Secondly, it promotes a co-ordinated, multi-sectoral, interdisciplinary and
integrated approach in designing and implementing programmes and interventions
that impact on population concerns.

The concerns include the projected socio-economic impact of HIV and AIDS
including child-headed households. This year's theme for World Population Day
in South Africa namely, “Young People”, focusing on Youth Development, Youth
Participation, HIV and AIDS and Reproductive Health, serve as a call to action
for all of us to help build a South Africa and a world fit for children. This
objective of building a better future for our children is among the reasons why
we are this week hosting the conference on Strengthening Support to Orphans and
other Children made vulnerable by HIV and AIDS, which begins tomorrow in
Midrand.

A report of the study conducted by Statistics South Africa in 2005 on death
registration data has shown that deaths among people 15 years of age and older
has increased by 62% from 1997-2003 with AIDS-related conditions.

The socio-economic impact of the HIV and AIDS epidemic results in family,
community and social disintegration. This is evidenced by the increase in the
number of orphans and vulnerable children, child-headed households and the
inability of the extended family system to provide such children with basic
requirements such as shelter, food, medical care, education, love and support.
Census 2001 put the figure of households being headed by children under the age
of 19 at more than 248 000. Our challenge is to identify these children so that
they can obtain the necessary support and assistance. Government has in place
programmes to support the children, and over 300 000 are recipients of foster
care grants.

We are therefore pleased that many non-governmental organisations will share
with us their thoughts and wisdom on how to tackle this question at the OVC
conference from tomorrow. I am also pleased that we are joined, at this World
Population Day event, by young delegates who will be attending the OVC
conference. We will gain a lot from their views on what government and the
non-governmental sector can do to improve the lives of vulnerable children. I
must emphasise that the lives of our youth are not just about doom and gloom.
Our youth lead vibrant lives, and also contribute much to the development of
our country.

We salute the many young people of our country, who on a daily basis strive
for the achievement of a better life for all. These include organisations such
as the National Youth Commission, the South African Youth Council and Umsobomvu
Youth Fund, and many individual young South Africans. I look forward to hearing
your views as young people today on the host of challenges that our country
faces, from development to HIV and AIDS, as well as poverty. Your input is
necessary so that we do not develop policies that are not informed by your
experiences.

Thank you
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World Population Day

World Population Day is an annual event celebrated throughout the world to
raise awareness on the importance of population and socio-economic development.
World Population Day was highlighted when the world population reached five
billion in 1987, and twelve years later, in 1999, the world population passed
the 6 billion mark. After the International Conference on Population and
Development (ICPD) held in 1994, understanding of population and development
linkages changed, putting people at the centre of development and focusing on
sustainable human development. In South Africa we have seen that birth rates
have declined over the years but poverty, gender inequality and unemployment
have increased. This therefore means that our understanding of population
should not be based on the number of births but on other variables such as
economic systems and social and political dimensions.

Each year the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) selects a theme for
World Population Day around which activities are organised. This year the theme
is “Young People”, focusing on youth participation as strongly reflected in the
Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). The MDGs mark a strong commitment to the
right of development, to the eradication of various dimensions of poverty, and
to gender equality and the empowerment of women. The eight MDGs (to be achieved
by 2015) drive national development initiatives and international
cooperation.

This year’s theme also fits well with the national campaign in South Africa
of the 10th Year of Institutionalised Youth Development, which commemorates 16
June 1976, and is aimed at ensuring the integration of youth development into
key national initiatives, such as the Expanded Public Works Programme,
Learnership Programmes, Community Development, etc. The project seeks to
encourage youth participation in community development while acquiring skills
to promote sustainable development.

Ours is to ensure, through the commemoration of WPD and such related
activities, we open opportunities that make us as a nation have the Youth:

* actively participating in the social, political and economic development
of our country
* take an active part in enhancing accelerated sustainable socio-economic
development for a better life for all
* assist the country in achieving the Millennium Declaration Goals.

MDG 1: Eradicate Extreme Poverty and Hunger
This goal reflects the linkages between youth and poverty, and raises concerns
such as the lack of data on youth living in poverty and the need for increased
youth engagement in Poverty Reduction Strategy Processes (PRSPs). It addresses
youth poverty and rural development, as well as youth in urban slums.

Government involvement: Poverty is closely linked to employment and job
creation Through the Accelerated and Shared Growth Initiative for South Africa
(AsgiSA), government initiatives to promote youth development during 2006/07
include the following:

* expanding the reach of business support system to young people
* intensifying the Youth Co-operative Programme
* closely monitoring the impact of programmes aimed at youth skills training
and business empowerment as an integral part of the national effort.

MDG 2: Achieve Universal Primary Education
A number of areas, such as encouraging school participation and engaging young
people as peer educators and teachers, are addressed. In addition, a review of
curriculum development is undertaken. Projects where young people take
initiatives to enhance education and teach other young people should be
showcased and funding made available to replicate these efforts in other
communities.

Government involvement: The Department of Education is engaged in projects
aimed at young people who have prematurely left the education system. This
initiative is aimed at encouraging young people to explore other modes of
education through, for example, Further Education and Training (FET), Adult
Basic Education (ABET) and mature entry into higher education.

MDG 3: To Promote Gender Equality and Empower Women
The goal focuses on promoting education for young women and girls, as well as
empowering them to take informed decisions in all spheres of life. This
includes the promotion of gender equity in education and leadership
development. This goal requires an end to discrimination and violence against
women and girls, with associated changes in attitudes, behaviours, policies and
programmes.

Government involvement: Previously, oppression of women was a common
phenomenon. It has since been realized that if women were to participate in the
broad processes of democratisation, they had to be empowered to fulfil their
roles. After 1994, there has been an increased focus on the empowerment of both
men and women, rather than the empowerment of women only. It has been
acknowledged that if real change were to be effected in this area, men have to
be a fundamental part of the empowerment process. In order to address these
issues, government, through the Commission for Gender Equity, has developed a
framework for transforming gender relations in South Africa.

MDG 4: Reduce Child Mortality
This goal is the reduction of the under-five mortality rate. Education,
especially for girls and mothers saves children’s lives.

Government involvement: The National Department of Health has stated goals
for child health (2001-2005) which are guided by international goals set for
child health, including the reduction of infant and child mortality and
morbidity. Explicit objectives include reducing the neo-natal mortality rate
from 20 to 14 per 1 000 live births, retaining the national infant mortality
rate at 45 per 1 000 live births and reducing the national under-five mortality
rate to 59 per 1 000 live births.

MDG 5: Improve Maternal Health
The aim of this goal is to reduce the maternal mortality rate by
three-quarters. The 1998 South African Demographic and Health Survey estimated
that the Maternal Mortality Rate was 150 maternal deaths per 100 000 live
births for the period 1992 - 1998. The goal set by the Department of Health is
to reduce maternal mortality by 25%, from 150 to 100 per 100 000 live births,
and by 50% to 75 per 100 000 by 2015, when excluding deaths due to HIV and
AIDS. In 2003, the estimated maternal mortality rate was 123,7 per 100 000.

Adolescent mothers present a high pregnancy risk, as do closely spaced and
numerous pregnancies. Adolescent girls often cannot take informed decisions
about childbearing, and they often do not have access to reproductive health
services, including family planning. In addition, adolescents also run the risk
of contracting sexually transmitted infections, including HIV. In order to
reduce maternal mortality, the availability of contraception and quality health
care should be promoted.

MDG 6: Combat HIV and AIDS, malaria and other diseases
To halt and reverse the spread of HIV and AIDS, it is necessary to mitigate
malaria and other major opportunistic diseases, as well as new HIV infections
among young people. More than a fifth of the South African population currently
live with HIV and AIDS. By far the largest proportion is young people. The 2003
estimates show that HIV and Aids sero-prevalence rate among pregnant women aged
15 to 24 years attending antenatal care in the public sector at the end of 2003
was 24,8%, compared to 23,5% in 2002.

The epidemic is mainly concentrated in low-income countries, where knowledge
about, and access to, reproductive health information and services are low. The
HIV & Aids epidemic has a major impact on the burden of disease and
mortality amongst the youth.

MDG 7: Ensure Environmental Sustainability
The main aim is to integrate the principles of sustainable development into all
policies and programmes, thereby trying to reverse the degradation and loss of
scarce and non-renewable environmental resources. The mutual linkages among
population (size, growth and distribution), development and environment are
rather complex. However, it is well known that consumption and production
patterns associated with poor and affluent lifestyles impact adversely on
environmental sustainability. Population trends and dynamics, including the
increase in the size and growth of the population, along with its geographical
distribution and modernisation, affect consumption and production patterns that
impact on environmental resources. Increased economic activity and
industrialization lead to exponential growth in the consumption of scarce and
non-renewable natural resources, with associated water and air pollution and
the general degradation of the environment.

During the previous political dispensation, the majority of the population
was squeezed into only about 13% of the available land in mostly overcrowded
conditions. As a consequence, these areas suffered massive deforestation, soil
erosion and a major loss of natural biodiversity. Since 1994, environmental
issues have become a major focus of government policy-making and planning.
Major issues associated with environmental sustainability, including human
rights, access to natural resources, social justice, and equity and
sustainability have become the centre of focus. During the past ten years,
government has refocused its priorities to also include youth issues and young
people themselves in endeavours to safeguard the country’s natural assets and
resources.

MDG 8: Achieve a global partnership for development
There have been initiatives in cooperation with other developing countries, to
create decent and productive work for youth and involve them in economic growth
and development programmes. The challenge is to promote and develop an open,
rule-based predictable, non-discriminatory trading and financial system,
including commitment to good governance, development and poverty reduction,
both nationally and internationally. In fact, MDG 8 effectively underpins the
efforts of developing countries to achieve all of the other MDGs.

South Africa actively supports a number of advocacy and awareness-raising
efforts aimed at promoting the needs and aspirations of the youth, thereby
contributing to the achievement of the MDGs, with particular emphasis on the
situation in Africa. In this regard, South Africa has played a leading role in
championing the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD), which
represents Africa’s primary socio-economic development programme through which
the MDGs are also addressed.

Issued by: Department of Social Development
11 July 2006