Bulgaria reaffirmed its strong support for the work of the United Nations Population Fund
30 November 2021 News
Bulgaria reaffirmed its strong support for the work of the United Nations Population Fund and its regional and global efforts to achieve the goals of the World Organization for Sustainable Development - Agenda 2030.
This was emphasized at a meeting at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Zaritsa Dinkova with the Deputy Secretary General of the United Nations and Executive Director of the United Nations Population Fund Dr. Natalia Kanem. The UN Under-Secretary-General arrived in Sofia for the opening on December 1, 2021 of the Ministerial Conference on Demographic Sustainability, which for the first time brings together at a high level under the auspices of the UN countries Europe and Central Asia to discuss challenges and opportunities of demographic change.
"We appreciate and welcome your visit to Bulgaria, and we truly believe that it will open new horizons for strengthening the cooperation between Bulgaria and the Fund, which would be beneficial not only for our country, but also for the entire region of Eastern Europe and Central Asia", Deputy Minister Dinkova said.
Bulgaria's contribution as chairman of the joint executive council of three UN agencies, including the UN Population Fund, in 2021 was highlighted. "We are happy that under our chairmanship the board unanimously approved their strategic plans for the period 2022-2025", the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs said. The Bulgarian side recognizes the need to invest in human capital to meet demographic challenges, to create a favourable environment for young people, women, children and the most vulnerable groups.
The Executive Director of the United Nations Population Fund Natalia Kanem praised Bulgaria's in-depth cooperation and contribution to the development and operation of the Fund's programs. The good work of the Bulgarian side in terms of project launchers with the assistance of the United Nations - International Institute for Youth Development (PETRI) and the International Youth Peer Education Network (Y-PEER) in Sofia was also noted.
Natalia Kanem welcomed the hosting of Sofia at the first regional conference on demography, the results of which will be reported by the world community. The forum is entitled "Building the Demographic Future of Europe: Ways for Societies to Prosperity in a World of Rapid Demographic Change", and is co-organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Labour and Social Policy and the United Nations Population Fund. The conference will launch the Decade of Demographic Sustainability and the Sofia Alliance - Community of Policies and Practices for Demographic Sustainability.
The UN Under-Secretary-General expressed gratitude for the work of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in organizing the conference and for the support that the Bulgarian side continues to demonstrate to the Fund in defence of the fundamental principles of the UN.