World Population Day 2020: Human population expected to hit 8.5 bn in 10 yrs, say UN estimates

Every year, themes are chosen to highlight different issues on World Population Day. This year, theme for the day is “How to safeguard the health and rights of women and girls now”.The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) has urged people to pay attention to the needs and vulnerabilities of women and girls amid the global pandemic. It says that the world needs to focus on efforts needed to secure their health and human rights.The UNFPA has also highlighted the increasing cases of violence on women. “Rising household tensions, exacerbated by economic pressures and movement restrictions, are sparking violence around the world. Women sheltering at home with their abusers often have nowhere to turn,” it said.UN Secretary General António Guterres, through a blog, has urged people to "safeguard sexual and reproductive health care, protect the health and rights of women and girls, and end gender-based violence."Citing a report by UNFPA, State of World Population 2020, he informed that more than four million girls will be subjected to female genital mutilation and 12 million forced to marry this year. He added that the coronavirus pandemic is expected to make matters worse.Union Minister for Chemicals and Fertilizers Sadananda Gowda said that on this day people should focus on the urgency and importance of population issues. “India holds 2nd biggest share of the population in the world. This means we have to be more careful towards resources, environment and sustainable development,” he asserted.Dr Natalie Kanem, Executive Director, UNFPA tweeted that in times of crisis, protecting sexual and reproductive health and rights is imperative.Member of Parliament and former minister of civil aviation Praful Patel wrote, “Let's empower people, develop nations, control population and celebrate this #WorldPopulationDay!”