Prime Minister Muhammad Shiaa Al-Sudani announced the launch of the updated national document for the population policy in Iraq, which was approved by the Supreme Population Council in mid-February.
Al-Sudani said during the coordination meeting of the Arab Council for Population and Development, which was held today, Wednesday, in the capital, Baghdad: that the document represents the general orientations of the state and the principles that framed its main axes.
He added that the first national document on population policies for the year 2013 was reviewed and a new document was built that addresses the current challenges, due to the great social, demographic and health transformations that took place over a decade.
He pointed out that dealing with the new document is taking place in accordance with the principles of the government curriculum, which drew clear directions in linking the demographic phenomenon with sustainable development plans.
He stressed that the Ministerial Council for Human Development recommended the adoption and approval of the new document, which was prepared in accordance with the constants of our Iraqi society and the nature of its demographic composition.
He added that the document was prepared by specialists and academics under the direct supervision of the National Committee for Population Policies in cooperation and advice with the United Nations Population Fund, to reflect international principles and recommendations in the field of population and sustainable development.
He added: The government program confirms the provision of an enabling environment that enhances the roles of the different population groups, in their age distribution, and what is required in terms of securing a healthy life and quality education, taking into account equal opportunities and reducing the gender gap, and commitment to social care programs for the elderly and vulnerable groups of the population.
He stressed that population policies are not intended to adopt direct measures to reduce childbearing rates and limit population increase, as this is understood wrongly.
He added: The updated national document, which we celebrate its launch today, has given great attention to the issue of youth empowerment.
He indicated that the Iraqi society is still young and enjoys the demographic gift that provides a real opportunity to bring about a significant improvement in the joints of sustainable development.
He pointed out that the demographic gift stage reflects the predominance of the proportion of the population in the age group 15-64 years, reaching two-thirds of the size of the population, and thus greatly reducing the burdens of economic employment and increasing the chances of improving production.
Al-Sudani stressed: It requires the adoption of serious development policies, based on economic, educational and rehabilitation plans, to absorb the energies of young people who will constitute the highest proportion of the demographics for the first time in the history of Iraq, so that the demographic gift does not turn into a curse, as experts and specialists warn of that.
He continued, “We direct state institutions to deal seriously with the requirements of the National Document for Population Policy in drawing up the various development policies, which included goals and procedures, affecting the eleven axes of the document, in the areas of education, health, empowerment, care for vulnerable groups and migration, as well as establishing values and community cohesion.”
Al-Sudani thanked the efforts of those in charge of preparing this document by the Ministerial Council for Human Development and the National Committee for Population Policies in the Ministry of Planning.
Al-Sudani appreciated the efforts of the United Nations Population Fund / Iraq Office, the active partner in population and development issues, to contribute to the preparation of the document and support its launch./ End
Source: National Iraqi News Agency