Tomorrow is the World Population Day.
In fact in the far 1989 the UN decided to dedicate the 11th of July to the general theme of population issues.
It is of course part of a campaign of awareness on hot debated social issues, among the latest: exploding population and global peace.
This year it has been decided to put the focus on teenage girls.
On this World Population Day, I urge all Governments, businesses and civil society to support and invest in teenage girls. Everyone deserves the benefits of economic growth and social progress. Let us work together to ensure a life of security, dignity and opportunity for all.”
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon
Why teenage girls? And why are we talking about such an event on the GREEN column?
Women, in particular in teenage, are facing daily big challenges. Investing in them is to empower them with information in order to let them know their rights and possibilities. In the world too many teenage girls are exploited, forced to marriage and motherhood. In 2000, 63 million primary age girls did not enrol in school. This is a worrying phenomenon not only for their personal faith: it has consequences on multiple aspects of the bigger society.
More in general, women account for more than half of the world population and they most oftenly do take care for the wellbeing of their relatives. In terms of the environment, women around the world play distinct roles: in managing plants and animals in forests, drylands, wetlands and agriculture; in collecting water, fuel and fodder for domestic use and income generation; and in overseeing land and water resources. Notwithstanding, in 2016 the world still has not achieved full gender equality, and , according to Aguilar (2002) a sustainable development is not possible with this condition. According to UN development goal only 7 countries have reached an acceptable level of gender equality, among them Costa Rica, Argentina and South Africa. Moreover women and children constitute the major share of the poor.
So, lets begin next week celebrating this event and striving to make this world a more equal, sustainable and welcoming place for everybody!
