World Population Day: Invest in young people today, to ensure a bright future

With the global population now at 7.2 billion and rising, there has never been a time where population debate has had a more crucial role to play in determining our future.

On July 11th, World Population Day will catalyse discussion and dialogue about the planets current outlook with regards to its ever expanding number of human inhabitants. Established a quarter of a century ago by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), it was inspired after public interest in "Five Billion Day" held two years previously, in 1987.

This year, there is a special focus on the sizeable youth population, which is closing in on two billion. The general population growth and this young demographic in particular, provides both struggle and opportunity. Our approach to them, and through them, will largely determine the future of our planet.  In this respect, the UN have called for the largest volume of investments to be made into the world's youth, under the theme "Invest in Young People today, to ensure a Bright Future".

On top of this focus on youth, there is also the call from many to use the symbolic day to refocus on the inequities within the world. An additional key concern is the requirement and right to the access of family planning for all. Currently, there are an estimated 220 million women globally who want to pursue family planning avenues, but lack the adequate access to contraception.

Pamela Barnes, President and CEO of Engender Health - a leading women's charity - has asked people to consider the massive improvements that have been made in access to contraception within the developed world over the past 70 years, and to use this as inspiration within the developing world, stating that "the reality is that it is still 1944 for many women living in poor areas of the world".

Others have urged people to take this day seriously and to make population a global discussion. There is the need to educate our children about the reasons and effects of such a rapidly growing population, so as to develop innovative methods to control the growth or accommodate the population without the potentially devastating impacts. The pressure that the 7 billion plus population is putting on the world's resources is a situation that requires immediate attention. The future for our children, and our children's children, will depend hugely on the choices we make in the coming years.

The rights of girls and women is also at the centre of the population growth. Another key focus of this year's event is adolescent pregnancy, which, according to the United Nations Population Fund's (UNPF) website, often "has little to do with an informed choice". Indeed, such pregnancies are predominantly as the result of discrimination, rights violations and the lack of adequate education. By addressing these issues, not only can we ensure the rights and freedoms of girls worldwide, but also ensure that more pregnancies are planned. This, in turn, will contribute to the improved management of the world's population.

Events will be taking place around the world to celebrate the day, with active participation a key component of building towards a better future for all.