WORLD POPULATION DAY, 11 JULY, TO FOCUS ON COMBATING HIV/AIDS
Press Release
POP/620
WORLD POPULATION DAY, 11 JULY, TO FOCUS ON COMBATING HIV/AIDS
19960701 NEW YORK, 1 July (UNFPA) -- World Population Day will be observed on 11 July this year with special events on the theme of combating the spread of HIV/AIDS through reproductive health care and community and individual responsibility. The Day will be marked by more than 150 countries, as well as institutions, non-governmental and private organizations.According to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), special events planned for the Day include rallies, speeches by national and local leaders, lectures, seminars and sporting events. Also planned are radio, television and film programmes, newspaper and magazine supplements, special publications and exhibits.
Many national television systems and local stations will broadcast "Changing Places", a 19-minute video produced and distributed by the UNFPA. Based on the 1996 State of World Population Report, it illustrates the effects of global urbanization as seen through the lives of women in Bangkok, Mexico City and Vancouver.
In addition, the UNFPA has produced and distributed brochures on the Day, briefing kits on population issues, and population posters. It also organized a poster contest on the theme "Where we live now", the winners of which were announced at the recently concluded second United Nations Conference on Human Settlements (Habitat II). One aim of the contest was to promote awareness of the relationship between population and environmental and social problems.
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