Jordan Times
Wednesday, January 12, 2005
King inaugurates population forum
AMMAN (Petra) — His Majesty King Abdullah yesterday inaugurated the Second National Forum on Population and Development, organised by the Higher Population Council (HPC) at the Royal Cultural Centre under the slogan: “Youth and the population challenge.”
The two-day forum, with the participation of local university students, representatives from youth clubs, experts, decision-makers and parliamentarians, seeks to brief the government and the society on what has been accomplished so far of the activities and goals of the national population strategy.
Participants will also discuss the challenges that face the Kingdom in the next decade and the role of youth in encountering them.
HRH Princess Basma, who was present at the opening ceremony, said the Kingdom has achieved satisfactory results in the past decade with regard to reducing fertility rates and decreasing population growth. She added that the results, although significant, were not adequate and intensified efforts and confident partnerships on all levels were needed to continue the work of the HPC and public and civil society institutions to address population issues. Princess Basma said it was important to concentrate on youth and address the younger generation of marriageable age to achieve the strategy's desired goals in the fields of youth health and enhance positive lifestyles.
HPC Secretary General Zuheir Kayed briefed the participants on population challenges and ways to confront them, as well as the council's policy and achievements. He said the 2000-2020 strategy is based on four main topics: Reproductive health, population and sustainable development, fair treatment of both genders and gaining media support in changing mind-sets. According to the 2004 census, the Kingdom's population stands at 5.3 million, of whom 1 million are aged 15 years and below. The annual population growth rate is 24 per 1,000, indicating that the country's population will double by 2032 if the growth rate remains at its present level. Participants at the event will also discuss the Islamic point of view on family planning, and the national work plan for youth health, reproductive health, the economic participation of youth in the Kingdom and the role of media in changing youth attitudes.