Mr. Speaker, on October 12 the Canadian Association of Parliamentarians on Population and Development celebrated its second anniversary with a forum in commemoration of the six billion mark of world population.
The day of six billion is a significant milestone in the history of population growth. In only 12 short years the world has realized an addition of one billion people, nearly half of whom are under 25 years of age.
Every year 78 million people are added to the planet and over 95% of this growth is in developing countries. This growing population of young people has yet to have the right and access to reproductive health services and information. They are without primary education and immunization. They are suffering from malnutrition and are afflicted with HIV-AIDS.
The international community can address these problems which seriously impair their quality of life.
I call upon Canada and all nations who are signatories to the Cairo Programme of Action to honour their commitment to put basic human needs of girls, men and women—