United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)

IN NEWS:

• Nearly 4.6 crore (45.8 million) females are 'missing' in Indian demography in the year 2020, mainly due to pre and post-birth sex selection practices stemming from son preference and gender inequality, a recently released United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) report said.

ABOUT UNFPA:

• The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), formerly the United Nations Fund for Population Activities, is a UN organization.
• It began its operation in 1969 and its head quartered in New York City.
• Their work involves the improvement of reproductive health; including creation of national strategies and protocols, and birth control by providing supplies and services. The organization has recently been known for its worldwide campaign against child marriage, obstetric fistula and female genital mutilation.

About the Report:

• The findings are part of UNFPA State of World Population Report, 2020.
• It is themed 'Against My Will – Defying the practices that harm women and girls and undermine equality'.
• The report has described 'missing females' as those whose numbers are reflected in sex-ratio imbalances at birth as result of gender-biased (pre-natal) sex selection, combined with excess female mortality stemming from post-natal sex-selection.
• The main reasons for this situation are son preference and underlying gender inequality along with easy access to technology and global trend towards small family size, the report says.
• India accounts for almost one-third (32.1 per cent) of the total 142.6 million missing females in the world and is the second highest contributor. The biggest contributor is China at 72.3 million (7.2 crore) 'missing females' that is 50.7 per cent of all missing females in the world.

PRELIMS QUESTION:

Q. State of world Population report is published by:

1. Population Council
2. Population action international
3. UN Development Program
4. United Nations Population Fund

Answer to Prelims question