Experts believe these findings can help determine the spheres where they need to work harder for ensuring universal access to family planning. The issues of family planning compound an important side of the UNFPA`s work in protecting one of the key universal human rights - the right to reproductive health. According to a 2012 report by the Guttmacher Institute and UNFPA, there are 1.52 billion women of reproductive age in the developing world. An estimated 867 million of them need contraception, but only 645 million are currently using modern contraceptive methods. The remaining 222 million women have an unmet need for contraception. The experts believe that the risk of maternal sick rate and mortality rate for this category of women is very high.

Ms. Feruza Fazilova, National Program Officer on Reproductive Health speaks about the situation on family planning in Uzbekistan and beyond: “UNFPA has promoted different methods of contraception in the Republic of Uzbekistan with an investment of more than 20 million USD since 1993. It provided full access to these services for the population in reproductive age. The SWOP 2012 also mentions the importance of meeting the needs of population for contraception.”

The State of World Population Report (SWOP) 2012: “By Choice, Not By Chance: Family Planning, Human Rights and Development”: In Uzbekistan, the SWOP report was launched on December 4 by the UNFPA Representative, Mr. Karl Kulessa jointly with the Ministry of Health, Women’s Committee and other partners at the National Press Center in Tashkent.

The report reflects the findings and efforts of the UNFPA and its partners globally taken to address the issues of family planning and equal rights for economic development in developing countries.