World Population Day is designed to bring awareness and empowerment to young people around the world, especially  those in developing countries. The United Nations and The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) will be engaging the world's most powerful public and private companies and institutions, as well as high profile individuals, with calls to action in the form of organizational support and investment.

From Focus is on Investing in Young People on UNFPA.org -

Safeguarding the rights of youth and investing in their future is essential to their development and that of their families, communities and countries. Providing quality education, decent employment, effective livelihood skills will ensure that every young person’s potential is fulfilled.

On 11 July, as communities everywhere observe World Population Day, UNFPA is calling for investments in support of the largest-ever generation of youth. Today’s 1.8 billion young people are shaping social and economic realities, challenging norms and values, and building the foundation of the world’s future. Yet too many young people continue to grapple with poverty, inequality and human rights violations that prevent them from reaching their personal and collective potential.

From Investing in youth pays dividends, evidence from Sri Lanka shows on UNFPA Dispatch:

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka – Young people hold the keys to the future; unlocking their potential will lead to a better world for everyone. These facts are supported by mounting evidence from Sri Lanka, where UNFPA has worked with policymakers and other partners to support and empower youth.

Like much of Southeast Asia, Sri Lanka began to experience a ‘demographic dividend’ – a potential economic boom that occurs when falling fertility rates coincide with a growing working-age population – around two decades ago, according to a recent publication, “Investing in the Demographic Dividend: Successes, Challenges and Way Forward for Sri Lanka.”

You can watch the video World Population Day Message 2014 below.

From the video: Young people are a powerful force, individually and collectively. They are shaping social and economic realities, challenging norms and values, and building the foundation of the world's future.

~Dr. Babatunde Osotimehin, UNFPA Executive Director

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