UNFPA, in partnership with the Ministry of Planning and Development, the UNFPA Representation Office to the African Union and the UN Economic Commission for Africa, and other key partners, organized a high-level event on June 6 for the launch of the State of World Population 2024 in Ethiopia. The launching event engaged strategic partners to stimulate advocacy and generate further commitment around the theme promoted by the report. 

The State of World Population 2024 report bears the theme “Interwoven Lives, Threads of Hope: Ending inequalities in sexual and reproductive health and rights.” The report takes the opportunity for the commemoration of the 30th anniversary of the 1994 International Conference on Population and Development to reflect on how far the world has come in achieving sexual and reproductive health and rights for all, arguing that a more equitable future requires a renewed commitment to empowering those furthest behind.

Speaking on the occasion, H.E. Dr. Seyoum Mekonnen, State Minister of Planning and Development, noted that the institutional basis of population issues in Ethiopia at all levels need to be strengthened to support and facilitate efforts in integrating population issues into development plans, strategies, programmes, and projects as well as in harnessing the demographic dividend. Expressing the commitment of the Ethiopian Government, he called on partners to strengthen efforts to advance and leverage the issues of population and Development in Ethiopia. 

The State Minister of Women and Social Affairs, H.E. Muna Ahmed, on her part underscored in her statement that the reduction and eventual abolition of discrimination against women and girls is a critical prerequisite to achieve equality between women and men for the ultimate respect of human rights. 

The State of World Population is a flagship report published by UNFPA annually. Each edition of the report features and analyses developments and trends in world population and demographics. It provides information on emerging issues in the field of sexual and reproductive health and rights, exploring the challenges and opportunities they present for international development. Moreover, the report sheds light on specific regions, countries and population groups and the unique challenges they face. 
 
In his remarks at the event, Mr. Koffi Kouame, UNFPA Country Representative, stated that the inequalities observed in access to sexual and reproductive health and rights as highlighted in the report should not be a source of despair; rather they should be used as entry points for accelerating progress. He expressed UNFPA’s commitment to be a supportive partner to tackle the observed inequalities and accelerate progress.

The launch of the State of World Population 2024 in Ethiopia was also addressed by H.E. Ambassador Minata Samate Cessouma, Commissioner for Health, Humanitarian Affairs and Social Development at African Union, Mr. Saturnin Epie, Chief of the UNFPA Representation Office to the African Union and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, and a representative of the Ambassador of Zambia to Ethiopia. The event was  attended by senior officials of the Ethiopian Government, diplomatic missions based in Ethiopia, the African Union, and representatives of UN Agencies and civil society organizations. 

The State of World Population report is published in all the United Nations official languages – Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish.