The UN Population Fund (UNFPA) announced its flagship State of the world population Report on Tuesday, warning that a growing number of people are denied the freedom to begin families due to drowned life costs, persistent gender inequality and the deepening of uncertainty about the future.
Noble The true fertility crisis: the search for the reproductive agency in a changing worldThe report argues that what is really threatening is the ability of people to freely choose when, and yes, have children.
The report is based on a recent UNFPA/Yougov survey that covers 14 countries that together represent 37 percent of the world’s population.
Money concerns
Economic barriers were the main factor, with 39 percent of respondents citing financial limitations such as the main reason for having fewer children than they would like.
The fear of the future, from climate change to war, and labor insecurity followed, cited by 19 percent and 21 percent of respondents, respectively.
Thirteen percent of women and eight percent of men pointed out the unequal division of domestic work as a factor to have fewer children of the desired ones.
The survey also revealed that one in three adults has experienced an involuntary pregnancy, one in four felt unable to have a child in their preferred time and one in five reported having been pressured to have children they did not want.
Solutions to the fertility crisis
The report warns against simplistic and coercive responses to the fall in birth rates, such as babies for babies or fertility objectives, which are often ineffective and run the risk of violating human rights.
On the other hand, the UNFPA urges governments to expand the options by eliminating barriers to paternity identified by their populations.
The recommended actions include making paternity more affordable through investments in housing, decent work, paid parental license and access to comprehensive reproductive health services.
Immigration factor
The agency also encourages governments to see immigration as a key strategy to address labor shortages and maintain economic productivity amid the decrease in fertility.
With regard to gender inequality, the report requires addressing stigma against the parents involved, the norms in the workplace that push the mothers of the workforce, restrictions on reproductive rights and expand gender gaps in attitudes between younger generations that contribute to the increase in single singleness.
