UN Population Division, Department of Economic and Social Affairs,
with support from the UN Population Fund (UNFPA)
|
| UN Population Division, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, with support from the UN Population Fund (UNFPA) |
|
ISO: NAM
************************************************************************
The electronic preparation of this document has been done by the
Population Information Network(POPIN) of the United Nations Population
Division in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme
************************************************************************
AS WRITTEN
REPUBLIC OF NAMIBIA
INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON POPULATION AND DEVELOPMENT
CAIRO, 5 - 13 SEPTEMBER 1994
STATEMENT BY
HON. DR. NICKEY IYAMBO
MINISTER OF HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICES
CAIRO, 8 SEPTEMBER 1994
Check against delivery.
MR PRESIDENT
YOUR EXCELLENCIES
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN
The Namibian delegation is delighted that the Government of the
Arab Republic of Egypt has offered Cairo as the venue for the United
Nations International Conference on Population and Development.
My delegation is also delighted that his Excellency, President
Hosni Mubarak has been elected to guide our deliberations. In this
regard the Namibian delegation will offer its full cooperation leading
to the successful conclusion of our work here.
Mr. President, Namibia's population of 1.4 million is spread over
a vast area of 824,269 sq. km, yielding an average density of 1.7
persons per sq. km, one of the lowest in the world. But, like Egypt,
most of the vast land mass of Namibia is arid or semi-arid with limited
population carrying capacity. The available records on the population of
Namibia indicate a small population base, characterized by a high rate
of population growth and a tremendous potential for future expansion. In
terms of growth, the population of Namibia increased at a rate of 2.9
per cent per annum between 1970 and 1980 and at 3.0 per cent annually
during the 1981-1991 decade.
In essence, the high growth of the 1970's increased further in the
1980's and the projections show that the upward trend in this is
evidence of high fertility.
The next age group, those aged 15-30 years, makes up about 30 per
cent of the population. Because of lack of employment the youth is
experiencing considerable economic difficulties and neglect in terms of
human resources development and utilization, leading to high drop-out
rates from schools, the emergence of marginalised children, drug and
alcohol abuse, the rising wave of delinquent behaviour and teenage
pregnancies.
Women make up over half of the total population of Namibia (51.32
per cent). But in spite of their numerical parity with men, their
contribution of the overall social and economic development process is
not being fully utilized. The health of mothers and children tend to be
at risk with increasing numbers of children, particularly amongst women
who are too young, too old, who have children too closely spaced or who
become pregnant too often.
Mr. President, the high level of fertility, characterized by the
early onset of childbearing and close spacing of births, present risks
and hardships on families and Government to provide social and economic
support.
Mr. President, with regard to the question on the empowerment of
women, the Namibians are equal, irrespective of sex. Special references
are particularly made for the protection of the rights of women in the
constitution, as well as in other statutory laws and regulations
applicable in Namibia. Therefore, Mr. President, ladies and gentlemen,
Namibia cannot negotiate on the rights of its women to decide what is
right or what is not right for them, when those rights are already
stipulated in the constitution of the country.
On the issue of family planning, the Namibian Government is giving
all the necessary family planning information and assistance, promoting
responsible parenthood where women and men have to decide on the size
and spacing of their families, which they are capable of supporting,
both materially and emotionally.
On the question of abortion, the position of Namibia is that it
can only be performed under strict medical supervision within the
confines of the laws, which state that consent to abortion can only be
given in cases of rape, incest and when the life of the mother is in
danger. Mr. President, ladies and gentlemen it must be clearly
understood that Namibia does not promote abortion as a means of family
planning but as a public health issue.
Mr. President, the high rate of population growth without
corresponding economic growth will, in the long run, affect the ability
of my Government to meet the expectations of its people with regard to
health services, education, food security, housing, preservation of the
environment and the management of our natural resources.
Mr. President, distinguished delegates, it is very important that
this conference takes a positive decision on the chapters XIII - XV,
which will allow for the establishment of the population growth in the
country will continue for the next twenty years, pushing the population
up to 3.5 million by the year 2021.
Mr. President, the high rate of Namibia's population growth and
associated characteristics have, no doubt, important implications for
the sustainable development of the country's economy and its
environment.
With over 72 per cent of the population residing in the rural
areas, Namibia can be described as a predominantly rural population.
However, demographic trends indicate a 5 per cent annual growth in urban
areas with the result that cities and towns are experiencing a rapid
rate of population growth. The ever-increasing concentration of the
population in urban areas is due largely to the rising rate of internal
migration from rural to urban areas. Unfortunately this is a trend which
is leaving farm work increasingly in the hands of women and children, as
men move to towns and cities in search of elusive wage earning
employment.
Mr. President, unemployment and under-employment is a serious
problem in Namibia. Already the l991 census estimated that about 20 per
cent of the 494,000 economically active persons in Namibia were
unemployed. Estimates also show that the unemployment rate could be as
high as 40 per cent among rural workers Such a situation is causing
concern to the Government.
One dominant feature of Namibia's population is its youth children
aged 0-14 years make up over 42 per cent of the total; necessary and
effective institutional framework that will put into place national
population policies and programmes of action in order to ensure
international co-operation for sustainable social, economic and
environmental development and management.
I thank you.