According to a new report by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) entitled “The real fertility crisis,” global birth rates have reached an all-time low, confirming the global trend toward demographic decline.
Key findings of the study
The average fertility rate has fallen from 5 to approximately 2.2–2.3 children per woman since 1950.
In more than half of countries, including the US, Germany, India, and Brazil, the average number of children per parent is below the replacement level of 2.1–2.2.
One in five adults in 14 countries surveyed (the US, India, Brazil, Germany, etc.) said they could not have as many children as they would like, primarily due to the high cost of living and financial problems.
The analysis shows that the problem is not a lack of desire to have children, but a lack of opportunities — a lack of social and financial support.
“The world has entered a phase of large-scale fertility decline… Many people feel they cannot have the family they want, and this is indeed a crisis,” said Natalia Kanem, Executive Director of the Fund.
Demographic instability — population decline and an aging population — threaten the economy and social structure of countries. The loss of young citizens — young families are postponing having children or deciding not to have them at all, which reduces consumption and national wealth. Geographical heterogeneity — while the populations of Europe and Japan are declining, growth is occurring mainly in Africa, Asia, and Latin America.
The UNFPA report clearly states that fertility is declining not because of a lack of desire to have children, but because of a lack of adequate support from governments. Without PROGRAMMATIC assistance in the social and economic spheres, global societies risk facing demographically impoverished future generations.
On the eve of Kurban-Hayit, a group of Ukrainian children arrived in Tashkent for rest and rehabilitation at the invitation of the Uzbek side.
The group includes children from regions of Ukraine affected by the war, including Kharkiv, Kherson, Mykolaiv, Zaporizhzhia, Sumy, Khmelnytskyi, Lviv, and Kyiv.
Over the course of 12 days, the children will undergo a program of health and psychological support.
Each day will be dedicated to a separate theme, from National Traditions Day to Sports and Health Day, with creative competitions and educational excursions.
The humanitarian mission aims to help children restore their inner balance and forget about their worries and shelling, at least for a while.
The children and their escorts were greeted with a ceremony at Tashkent International Airport, after which they left for a health camp in the foothills of the Tien Shan mountains.
Almost all relevant ministries and agencies of Uzbekistan are involved in the implementation of the program.
Every fifth child in Ukraine has reported losing a close relative or friend since the start of Russia’s full-scale aggression three years ago, according to a survey published by UNICEF on Friday.
“For all these years, death and destruction have been a daily routine for every child in Ukraine. This level of violence causes enormous suffering for children and deprives them of a true childhood,” said UNICEF Executive Director Katharine Russell.
It is noted that the third year of the full-scale war in Ukraine has become even more deadly for children compared to 2023: the number of child casualties has increased by 50%. In total, more than 2,520 children have been killed or injured since February 2022. It is noted that the true number of victims is likely to be much higher, as these are only figures confirmed by the UN.
It is officially recorded that more than 1,600 educational institutions and almost 790 healthcare facilities have been damaged or destroyed over the past three years, UNICEF added.
“The war has caused irreparable losses to children and adolescents, affecting their development and well-being at key stages of their lives,” the Fund states.
He reminds that the experience of the first three years determines the health and learning of children throughout their lives, and in Ukraine, children born three years ago do not even know what peaceful life is. Parents report feeling physically and emotionally exhausted, which affects the lives of the entire family. The war has also made it harder for young children and their parents to access critical services.
“Adolescence is a particularly difficult period for children in Ukraine. Almost a third of adolescents reported feeling sad and hopeless, which prevent them from doing their usual activities. These feelings are much more prevalent among girls,” the publication says.
UNICEF points out that children’s mental health problems are exacerbated by forced seclusion. Many children spend hours in shelters, losing opportunities for socializing and learning. Almost 40% of children study only online or combine face-to-face and remote classes. The impact of the war on learning is very serious: the average level of educational loss is two years in reading and one year in math, according to the Foundation.
UNICEF reminds that it is working with partners across Ukraine to provide children in frontline areas with vital support, including access to health services, safe water, cash assistance, education and protection. In addition, the Foundation works with the government and partners to lay the foundation for Ukraine’s recovery and long-term development, and to promote social cohesion by strengthening systems that support children and their families. This includes strengthening child social protection, health and education systems so that they can provide children with timely and quality support, care and opportunity services.
It is also noted that there are currently 6.86 million Ukrainian refugees registered in the world, almost 1 million of whom live in Poland. For refugee children, access to schooling remains a challenge, as half of school-age children in refugee-hosting countries are not enrolled in local educational institutions, which affects their ability to learn and communicate with their peers, as well as develop basic skills critical to Ukraine’s recovery.
“All children without exception must be protected from the effects of war in accordance with international humanitarian and human rights law. What children in Ukraine need most of all is sustainable peace and the chance to realize their full potential,” Russell emphasized.
The “Hope and Unity” Charitable Foundation continues to actively support the Ohmatdyt Children’s Hospital. Thanks to caring Ukrainians and the support of the Foundation’s partners, we have managed to raise significant funds for the purchase of necessary equipment, medicines and materials.
This week, a modern lung ventilator was delivered to the hospital, which will help save the lives of the youngest patients. In addition, the foundation provided the oncology department with new beds and medical instruments. A recreation room with games and educational materials was organized for children undergoing long-term treatment.
“We understand how important the atmosphere in which children are treated is for them,” says PIB, founder of the ‘Hope and Unity’ Foundation. – “That is why we strive to create the most comfortable conditions for young patients and their parents at Okhmatdyt.
The “Hope and Unity” Foundation calls on all those who care to join the charitable cause and support the Okhmatdyt Children’s Hospital. Every hryvnia, every little thing matters and can save a child’s life.
How to help:
Together we can create a future for every child!
CHARITY, CHILDREN, DISEASE, foundation, HELP, Hope and Unity, SUPPORT, ОХМАТДИТ
Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Andriy Sybiga met with Croatian Foreign Minister Gordan Grlic Radman in the framework of the Ukraine-South-Eastern Europe Summit, informed his Croatian counterpart about the situation on the battlefield and outlined Ukraine’s key defense needs.
“The Ukrainian Foreign Minister expressed his gratitude for the medical rehabilitation and recovery of Ukrainian defenders and their families in Croatia. This year alone, more than 800 children of Ukrainian servicemen have already been rehabilitated in Croatia. The ministers discussed the continuation and expansion of these programs,” the statement reads.
Sibiga also praised the solidarity of the Croatian side, in particular the leadership in assisting in the humanitarian demining of the territories liberated from occupation and the restoration of damaged energy infrastructure.
The Foreign Minister emphasized that Ukraine appreciates Croatia’s support for efforts to prevent the election of Russian representatives to the governing bodies of international organizations, including the Executive Council of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons. Sibiga also emphasized the importance of Croatia’s participation in the Ministerial Conference on the Human Dimension under the fourth point of Ukraine’s Peace Formula, “Release of all prisoners and deportees,” which is scheduled to take place in Canada in the near future.
In his turn, Grlić Radman emphasized Croatia’s readiness to continue to consistently support Ukraine in defending its sovereignty and territorial integrity.
The Croatian minister assured of the readiness of Zagreb to further assist Ukraine on its path to joining the EU and NATO.
The parties agreed that Croatia’s experience of joining the EU is important for Ukraine and discussed the provision of relevant expert support.
87 children from the families of Ukrainian defenders went on a tourist trip to Split, Republic of Croatia.
The trip was organized at the invitation of the Embassy of Ukraine in the Republic of Croatia, namely Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Ukraine to the Republic of Croatia Vasyl Kyrylych, with the assistance of the Honorary Consul of Ukraine in Croatia Ivica Piric and the Government of the Republic of Croatia.
In gratitude for the trip, the children of Kyiv region presented Ivica Piric with a traditional Ukrainian motanka doll, which symbolizes prosperity and will become a talisman for his family.
“Since 2015, more than 3,500 children whose parents are defending Ukraine at the front have had a vacation in Croatia. The project has been funded by Croatia since its inception and has the support of the Ukrainian Embassy and Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković. I, like many people in the Croatian government, am a child of war. We understand how important it is for children to undergo rehabilitation,” said Ivica Pirić, Honorary Consul of Ukraine in Croatia.
For 10 days, the children will have the opportunity to enjoy active recreation in the seaside city of Split, excursions, and communication with their Croatian peers. Five meals a day will be organized for the participants of the trip.
“Our defenders are defending us at the frontline, and we strive to create favorable conditions and give more positive moments for their families. When Mr. Ambassador of Ukraine to Croatia Vasyl Kyrylych offered to send the children of our military personnel on a tourist trip, we gladly accepted. The Honorary Consul of Ukraine in Croatia Ivica Piric has been organizing vacations for kids for several years now, and I am sure that the program will be extremely rich and interesting. We sincerely appreciate the support of our Croatian friends, which is so important to us,” emphasized Lesia Karnaukh, Deputy Head of the Kyiv Regional State Administration.
