Sana’a, 17 July 2018 - Under the theme of “Health Family Planning is a Right for Every Family”, UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund in Yemen, and the National Population Council held an event in celebration of World Population Day 2018.  

The event took place under patronage of the Minister of Public Health and Population, Dr. Taha Al Motwakel. In his speech, the Minister expressed the Ministry's support to all reproductive health and maternal health programs including family planning. He also highlighted the importance of family planning in saving lives of mothers and their newborns: “maternal health and care is not confined to only pregnant women and those who give birth but it should also be provided and extended to all women and girls of reproductive age”, said the Minister.

Speaking at the event, UNFPA's Representative to Yemen, Ms. Anjali Sen stated "investing in family healthcare is investing in the health and rights of women and couples worldwide. This is why, even in times of emergencies, as we are facing in Yemen, UNFPA works closely with government and local partners to esnure that special needs of woman and girls, particularly those who are pregant are integrated into emergency response". 

A reportage was screened highlighting the rights of couples in exercising their right to determine freely and responsibly the number and the spacing of their children as it was agreed fifty years ago in the United Nations International Conference on Human Rights held in Teheran on 13 May 1968. The reportage also illustrated the benefits of family planning in relation to the health and wellbeing of mothers and their newborns in particular, and on general development of communities at large.

The event was attended by the Minister of Foreign Affairs Mr Hisham Sharaf, the Member of Parliament, Mr. Abdulbari Doghaish, religious leaders, academics, representatives of international NGOs, UN agencies, government institutions and media outlets. Ms. Lise Grande, the United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Yemen also attended the function.