Population Policy +25 Conference

The Population Policy +25 conference heard that when it comes to implementing policy, the needs of the youth and inviting adolescents to decision-making tables should be prioritized. The Department of Social Development, led by Minister Lindiwe Zulu, hosted the Population Policy+25 Conference in Maropeng, a renowned World Heritage Site and the cradle of humankind.

As the birthplace of humanity, Zulu expressed her deep appreciation for this heritage site and acknowledged its importance as the backdrop for a conference that is aimed at shaping the future of South Africa’s population development.

Starting from the 11th of July to 13th July, the conference also commemorated World Population Day and celebrated the 25th anniversary of the white paper on Population Policy for South Africa. The United Nations Fund for Population Activities (UNFPA) State of the World Population Report 2023 was also launched at the conference and provided an opportunity to reflect on the progress made and establish a clear path for the future through engaging with stakeholders.

According to the department, the conference brought together population experts, community organizations, government representatives, academia, and civic leaders to deliberate on a wide range of critical topics. These discussions included South Africa’s population dynamics since 1996, gender equality, equity and empowerment of women, sexual and reproductive health and rights, sexual and reproductive justice, and migration and urbanization.

Commenting on the conference, sexual health activist Nthabiseng Mogashoe, stressed the significance of prioritizing adolescents in decision making and policy formation.

“We need to nurture a seed while it’s still growing. If we do not equip adolescents, it simply means that by 2030, the challenges we face will triple. Young people are not uniform, and we cannot implement one-size-fits-all programs when we have diversity and highly marginalized disabled and LGBTQIA+ youth. If we are serious about implementing youth policies, we will invite young people to decision-making tables,” she said.

Gugu Sihlali from the UNFPA youth advisory panel also shared similar thoughts. “Government should not assume to know what young people want, especially young women and girls. Instead, it should engage them before rushing into policy development,” she said.

Nolwethu Ndube from the We Matta organization provided a thought-provoking analysis on Comprehensive Sexual Education in households, emphasizing the importance of using accurate terminology. “By not giving sexual organs their true names, we take away from what they are and remove agency from these children. Calling body parts flowers may subject them to abuse when their uncles pick these flowers,” she said.

Addressing the critical role of boys in achieving gender equality, John Tau, a panelist from the Department of Social Development emphasized the need for Gender transformative parenting approaches. “We need to raise children equally and be mindful of how we speak to them because harmful words are internalised, informing behaviour and becoming character traits,” he said.

Lindokuhle Ndlovu, a Nelson Mandela Children’s Parliament youth ambassador, called for the inclusion of boys in creating a gender-equal society. “In all means of action to uplift society, let us include boys and men because, just like women, we also feel pain,” said Ndlovu.

The conference also unpacked vital research findings and engaged in discussions on gender equity and equality, the empowerment of women, Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR), Migration and Urbanization, Birth Registration in South Africa, and safety and security regarding migrants, including their implications for sustainable development and human rights.

In closing, Minister Zulu, emphasized the need to ensure that population policy messages are easily accessible to the youth and urged the population unit and stakeholders in population research to simplify information and make it readily understandable for broader consumption and implementation.

“It is important that the youth find themselves as part and parcel of the solution, simplify information to an 18-year-old to an extent that she will know that if she has more than 5 children, what the consequences of her actions would be. As we move forward, the knowledge gained and insights shared during the Population Policy +25 conference will guide our efforts in shaping a better future for South Africa,” said Zulu.