This archive report was first published on 12 November 2019.
Published on November 12, 2019, the global population conference taking place in Nairobi this week has sparked intense debate. However, the subject of discussion is so vital that it has captured the attention of the public and the international community.
The conference, which aims to address issues of population explosion, access to reproductive health, family planning, and creating societies where individuals can live life to the fullest, has been met with criticism from various quarters. For developing nations, exponential population growth has created serious socio-economic and political challenges, including competition for scarce resources, conflicts, and deep-seated rivalries.
President Kenyatta's keynote address highlighted the need to address gender inequality, retrogressive cultural practices such as female genital mutilation, teenage pregnancy, and early marriage, which confine many girls and women to a life of servitude. Preventable maternal deaths and high child mortality and morbidity rates are also major concerns that must be tackled.
The ICPD conference has attracted criticism from faith groups and lobbies, who perceive it as an omnibus loaded with ideologies antithetical to African and religious beliefs. However, the conference organizers maintain that their intention is not to promote abortion, but to ensure universal access to family planning, comprehensive sexual and reproductive health, and women's empowerment.
As Kenya grapples with the challenges of population growth, it is essential to strike a balance between regional, sociocultural, and religious sensitivities. The language used in crafting the resolutions and articulating the issues must be unambiguous and sensitive to these realities.
