UN Population Division, Department of Economic and Social Affairs,
with support from the UN Population Fund (UNFPA)
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| UN Population Division, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, with support from the UN Population Fund (UNFPA) |
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Population Experts Converge in Paris The links between population growth and socioeconomic development have been subject of intense debate for more than two decades. The Expert Group Meeting on Population Growth and Demographic Structure, to be held in Paris from 16 to 20 November 1992, will provide a welcome opportunity to reexamine this issue. The meeting, hosted by the French Government, will also provide policy guidance on how to accelerate demographic transition, sustain economic growth and achieve an equitable distribution of development benefits on the global and national levels. Three elements have contributed to the current public debate about population growth and development. First, a growing number of developing countries now view high rates of population growth as an obstacle to their socio-economic development. Secondly, since the publication in 1987 of the Report of the World Commission on Environment and Development (the Brundtland Commission), there has been a growing awareness of possible environmental degradation and poverty in developing countries associated with rapid population growth. These linkages were reaffirmed most recently at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Thirdly, projections of the world population indicate that yearly increments will reach an historical high between the years 1995 and 2000. The extent and rapidity of fertility decline in developing countries will be critical in shaping the ultimate size of the world's population. The major patterns of demographic transition of developing countries over the past 30 years in relation to patterns of socio-economic development will also be assessed. Six topics will be discussed: confronting poverty in developing countries--demographic, social and economic responses; demographic impacts of development patterns; demographic and health transitions; population growth, employment and education; social changes and the elderly in developing countries; and social development and ageing in developed countries. Participants will adopt a set of action-oriented recommendations which will be submitted to the Preparatory Committee of the 1994 Conference at its second session in August 1993.