Programme Director, Mr Abram Phahlamohlaka
Chief Director for Population and Development, Mr Jacques van Zuydam
United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Officer in Charge, Mr Mark Schreiner
Members of the diplomatic corps
Representatives of the UN agencies
Senior Government Officials
Members of the media here present
Distinguished guests
Ladies and gentlemen
Good afternoon.
I am happy and thankful to be part of this historic launch of the 2011 State of the World Population report under the theme: ‘People and Possibilities in a world of 7 billion’’.
From the outset I would like to congratulate the UNFPA for launching the 2011 State of the World Population Report, more so because it is a different kind of report. Every year we look forward to the latest compilation of global population trends, data, and statistics which we can use when we are doing an analysis of our own country’s population and development issues. The release of the 2011 State of the World Population, particularly as we approach this historic milestone, is indeed a welcome event. I have looked forward to the release of this report with much anticipation and excitement.
Four days from today, 31 October 2011 the world population will for the first time in the history of humankind reach the 7 billion milestone. As a member of the global village our country joins the global community in celebrating this milestone, conscious of the fact that this milestone presents both challenges and opportunities.
The 2011 State of the World Population report explores possibilities and challenges of the world of 7 billion population. This launch coincides with one of the most important event that happens after every ten years- the national census that is currently underway in South Africa. Once finalised, the national census will provide us with the richest data on the South African population and our country’s contribution to the global population of 7 billion.
The 2011 national census is different because it reflects what we believe is important to measure; important to count and to record about us and our way of life. The census data will also provide us with information to make important decisions on key matters such as health, education, water, employment, housing and transport. Most importantly, this will enable us to track the well-being, evaluate the impact of our interventions on families and communities as well as to identify new priorities.
I therefore would like to take this opportunity to appeal to all those who have not yet been counted to participate in the 2011 national census before the end of this month. We need to make sure that everyone is counted because indeed, everyone counts.
The 2011 State of the World Population report is significant as it addresses a number of key issues that are pertinent to our own South African situation. These include poverty and inequality, women and girls, young people, reproductive health and rights, environmental sustainability, population ageing and urban growth. These are issues that were also identified as pertinent during the progress review of the implementation of the White Paper on Population Policy for South Africa and the International Conference on Population and Development (ICDP) Programme of Action.
Fifteen years ago in Cairo a very important conference was held, which was a real milestone in the history of population and development issues. The conference, which culminated in the adoption of the ICDP Programme of Action reached consensus that population issues are not just about numbers, but really about people. The ten year review of the ICDP Programme of Action in South Africa shows that while a significant number of South Africans now enjoy a considerably higher standard of living than previous generations, levels of inequality as measured by the Gini coefficient still remain unacceptably high.
The single most important issue facing South Africa 17 years after the transition to democracy is to break the grip of poverty on a significant number of our population. Due in large part to government’s introduction and implementation of pro-poor policies and interventions in the second economy, South Africa has managed to ensure sustained growth, even during the recent global financial crisis. It is for this reason that poverty eradication remains the cornerstone of our government programmes. As government, we remain determined to build an inclusive society underpinned by social solidarity.
Given the predominantly youthful global population including here in South Africa, the 2011 State of the World Population strongly advocates the economic case for investing in young people. The report rightly notes that it is important for the country to address the challenges brought about by this youthful population structure. Dividends from this can only accrue if effective strategies that will ensure education; skills building that guarantee employment; job opportunities; and access to health care are in place for the youth.
Without any doubt, our young people are the building blocks for the future development of our communities. We must therefore continue to target our youth in all quarters as we push ahead with our youth development programmes that seek to change the face of our nation for today’s generation and generations to come.
The report recognises significant global progress with regard to the empowerment of women and their participation in decision-making processes. However, the report cautions that in many parts of the world access to reproductive health remains low and that women’s participation in the formal economy is hampered by lower wages and higher unemployment rates. HIV and AIDS continue to pose serious health and development challenges to women’s health and reproductive rights. Central to the promotion of women and girl-child empowerment and development is the need to improve access to quality health care services, particularly for adolescents, youth and women in rural areas so as to enable them to make informed choices.
Ladies and gentlemen, access to sexual and reproductive health and rights and family planning for all women is a top priority. Investing in the reproductive health and rights of women and girls is smart economics for families, communities and nations throughout the world.
As the world population reaches 7 billion, one of the most fundamental global challenges is sustainability, which is defined as meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to provide for themselves. Sustainability is often interpreted as an environmental matter. Along with economic sustainability, it also incorporates other environmental related considerations like climate change, environmental impact and scarcity of resources such as the long term availability of water, food and energy supplies.
Deteriorating natural environments, occasioned by severe droughts and floods are threatening the livelihoods of rural populations. In this context the upcoming COP 17 presents an opportunity for countries of the world to take urgent global action to halt climate change and its devastating impact on vulnerable communities around the globe.
The report shows that the proportion of older persons is increasing almost everywhere, representing the achievements and unprecedented challenges related to economic growth, health care and social security. Population aging is driven by declines in fertility and improvements in health and longevity. In line with world population trends, the South African older persons’ population show a noticeable growth.
This has important implications for the care of older persons. It is for this reason that government seeks to develop and implement social security and retirement reforms aimed at ensuring that all persons have adequate economic and social protection during old age. The provision of social protection and income security for older persons is part of the foundation for social cohesion. The report calls on governments to implement policies and programmes that recognise the social and economic contribution of older persons as well as the human capital inherent in older persons.
The 2011 report shows that the next two billion people will live in cities across the world and urges government to plan properly for migration and rapid urbanisation.The report cautions that if developing countries fail to plan properly, rapid urbanisation will outpace the capacity of local government to provide basic services such as water, electricity and sanitation, to name a few. The ten year review shows that in South Africa the proportion of urban areas increased significantly between 1996 and 2001.
The rapid growth of urban areas is the result of two factors- increase in population and migration from rural to urban areas. Migration is defined as the long-term relocation of an individual, household or group to a new location outside the community of origin. Like in other parts of the world, the movement of people from rural to urban areas (internal migration) is most significant in South Africa. Although smaller than the movement of people within borders, international migration also continues.
International migration includes labour migration, refugees and undocumented migrants. The 2011 report acknowledges that migration is an essential and inevitable component of the economic and social life of every country and if managed properly, it can be beneficial for the whole of society. Government’s Comprehensive Rural Development Strategy seeks to develop the economic viability of rural areas while also focusing on upgrading informal settlements in urban areas. The report recognises that urbanisation accelerates trends towards smaller families and enables more women to participate in meaningful economic activities.
Ladies and gentlemen, the review of the implementation of the Population Policy proves that each country must carry out the ICPD Programme of Action according to its own unique situation. Population is a global issue. It is therefore important that we strengthen national, regional and international cooperation in speeding up shared solutions to our shared population challenges. In this regard I am happy to announce that South Africa will host the 2011 Partners in Population and Development (PPD) International Conference on Population Dynamics, Climate change and Sustainable Development from 1 to 4 November in Pretoria.
PPD is an intergovernmental organisation of 25 developing countries dedicated to the promotion and strengthening of South-South cooperation in population and development. Through advocacy, policy dialogues, exchange of information, research, training and technical cooperation, it assists both its member countries and many non-member countries in implementing the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD), within the broader framework of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
The deliberations and outcomes of the PPD conference are of paramount importance and lay the solid foundation for coordinated and collective actions to address the impact of climate change. We will therefore use the valuable lessons from this conference as we approach the 17th Conference of Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, popularly known as COP 17 that will be held from 28 November to 9 December in Durban.
Ladies and gentlemen, our government has made impressive progress in addressing key population and development issues. The last seventeen years have also witnessed an increase in calls, by the general public, for the need to accelerate the pace of development. For this reason, the government has initiated the process of preparing Vision 2030 for South Africa. I am pleased at the eagerness, commitment and desire shown by many South Africans to take decisive steps towards creating a firm foundation for a sustainable and prosperous shared future.
This is a grand task, because it will free a substantial number of our people from the grip of poverty, and thus help achieve our shared goals of building a prosperous and equitable society.
I would like to conclude my remarks by expressing our gratitude to the United Nations Population Fund and other development partners for their continued technical and financial support to our population and development programme over the years.
I trust that this report will serve as a valuable resource in influencing decision making regarding development planning and implementation of government programmes. I call on all social partners to actively work with the government and the UNFPA to operationalise the recommendations contained in the report. It is now my pleasure and honour to formally launch the 2011 State of the World Population report.
I thank you.
