Colombia is the host country of the International Moon Day Main Event, the world's leading celebration dedicated to promoting international cooperation, science outreach, and knowledge about lunar exploration. Bogotá serves as the meeting point for researchers, representatives of international organizations, space agencies, experts in space law, science communicators, and the general public. Maloka Museo Interactivo will host this special event, connecting Colombia with the global conversation on the present and future of lunar exploration. Register to participate!
The IMD Main Event 2026 will take place in Bogotá, Colombia on July 20, 2026, at the Maloka Museo Interactivo. The event is being organized by the MVA National Coordinator in Colombia, Francisco Forero, in collaboration with a dedicated team from the Universidad Nacional de Colombia. The IMD Main Event will be broadcasted live in this page and on the IMD Youtube Channel. Livestream begins on July 20 at 9 am COT / 4 pm CEST.
Agenda Program 9:00 AM COT / 4:00 PM CEST | Opening
Opening Remarks by Francisco Forrero, Master of Ceremonies Welcome by Irina Lopez, Maloca Interactivo Representative Welcome by Nasr Alsahhaf, IMD Co-Chair Greetings by:Aarti Holla-Maini, Director, UNOOSA Wu Weiren, DSEL Director (China) 9:30 AM COT / 4:30 PM CEST | Keynotes
Objective 2030: Garavito Crater, Armando Higuera, Director, National Astronomical Observatory (Colombia) ATLAC (Action Team on Lunar Activities Consultation), Ulpia-Elena Botezatu, Space Policy Officer at the Romanian Space Agency & ATLAC Co-Chair (Romania) Colombia Looks Up, A New Chapter in Space, Raul E. Gutierrez G., National Space Society Colombia 10:40 AM COT / 5:40 PM CEST| Coffee Break 11:00 AM COT / 6:00 PM CEST | Greetings & TributeGreetings – Marco Antonio Chamon, President, Brazilian Space Agency Tribute to Cesar Ocamp Introduction to ROund table – Rodrigo Vesule, MVA Regional Coordinator, Latin America 11:35 AM COT / 6:35 PM CEST | Roundtable: Latin American Space Law & Future Pathways
Moderator:
Gabriela Cárdenas, MVA National Coordinator, ColombiaIvan Luna, Space Systems & Technology Strategy Consultant, Colombia Marcia Alvarenga – Brazilian Space Agency Representative, Brazil Lucas Fonseca – Brazilian Entrepreneur, Brazil Fermin Romero Vazquez – Space Strategy Expert, Mexico Rodrigo Vesule – MVA Regional Coordinator, Latin America 12:25 PM COT / 7:25 PM CEST | Keynote
The US Moon Base and its Commercial applications, Jim Keravala, OffWorld Inc., USA 12:35 PM COT / 7:35 PM CEST | Closing RemarksClosing Remarks by Cnel. Sonia Ruth Rincon Urbina.
LIVESTREAM: Colombia es el país anfitrión del Evento Central del Día Internacional de la Luna (International Moon Day), la principal celebración mundial dedicada a promover la cooperación internacional, la divulgación científica y el conocimiento sobre la exploración lunar. Bogotá es el punto de encuentro de investigadores, representantes de organizaciones internacionales, agencias espaciales, expertos en derecho espacial, comunicadores científicos y público general. Maloka albergará esta jornada, que conectará a Colombia con la conversación global sobre el presente y el futuro de la exploración lunar.
FORUM: "Celebrate, create and make a difference.'' International Chess Day 2026. Every year, the global chess community comes together to celebrate chess and to mark the founding of FIDE in 1924. More than a commemoration of the game’s history, the day is a celebration of chess’s unique ability to connect people across countries, cultures and generations.To play chess; Choose someone close to you. You can change somebody’s life by teaching him/her a beautiful game, but you will also be spending some quality time and creating or reinforcing a special bond with that person. If your children already play, maybe you can invite your nephew or your son’s best friend. Maybe you can finally teach your boyfriend how to play, or your high-school best mate. Or you could propose this as an after-work activity with your colleagues at the office. You can start using the hashtag #Internationalchessday in your social media posts during the weekend leading to July 20th. But the very important day is Monday: please make sure to make at least one or two posts with the official hashtag, if possible early in the morning. That will ensure that other users will follow.
EVENTS: This Tuesday, July 20th, we will celebrate International Chess Day 2026. As you probably know, this date also marks FIDE’s 102nd anniversary. This year, FIDE invited players, federations, clubs, schools, organisers and chess enthusiasts around the world to celebrate by taking chess beyond the traditional playing hall. The challenge was simple: stage a game in the most unusual, meaningful or symbolic place imaginable – whether on a mountaintop, beside a famous landmark, underwater or anywhere else that captures the imagination. From historic monuments and tropical beaches to schools, village squares and community centers, people from every corner of the world demonstrated that no event is too large or too small to celebrate the game. Every chessboard setup, every new player welcomed and every story shared reinforced chess’s power to unite, inspire and create positive change. Register to participate!
Chess has no age – Sri Lanka
One of the most touching submissions came from Sri Lanka, where FIDE Arbiter and photographer Navod Nethsara created a photo series entitled Chess Has No Age.
Set in a rural Sri Lankan village, the story begins with a young child playing chess against an elderly woman. As the game progresses, more children gather around the board, gradually becoming part of the experience. The photographs beautifully illustrate how chess transcends generations, bringing together young and old through a shared passion for the game. Celebrating tradition on the shores of the Maldives
The Maldives showcased Raazuvaa, the country’s traditional counterpart to modern chess. Played with culturally distinctive pieces, the centuries-old game reflects the rich heritage of the islands while sharing the same spirit of strategy and intellectual challenge.
Against the stunning backdrop of white sandy beaches and turquoise waters, the photographs also celebrated another important story: the growing success of women in Maldivian chess. While the country’s chess community continues to develop, female players are leading the way, breaking barriers and achieving remarkable results.
Chess among centuries of history – Pakistan
In Pakistan, players gathered at the magnificent Qila Kohna Qasim Bagh in Multan, one of the world’s oldest continuously inhabited cities.
Surrounded by centuries of history, participants demonstrated strategy, patience and creativity while celebrating the timeless appeal of chess. The event also encouraged young people to embrace the game as a pathway to critical thinking and lifelong learning.
Inspiring the next generation – India
Across India, International Chess Day became a celebration of learning. In West Bengal, Filix School of Education and the Purulia Chess Association marked the occasion by launching the Filix Chess Club, providing young players with new opportunities to develop analytical thinking, concentration and sportsmanship.
Meanwhile, at EuroKids Balurghat School, even the youngest children joined the celebration. Through playful activities, they discovered how knights move, how pawns become powerful and how every game develops patience, focus and imagination. As the school proudly joked, “Watch out, Magnus Carlsen – the next generation of genius is on its way.”
On the occasion of International Chess Day, Lucknow Metro in Uttar Pradesh hosted the Chess on Wheels event, where young chess enthusiasts participated in an exciting speed chess tournament while traveling from Munshipulia to Hazratganj Metro Station.
Building stronger communities – United Kingdom
The town of Rugby in the United Kingdom hosted an inclusive International Chess Day celebration that brought together school champions from across the Midlands.
Supported by Chess in Schools and Communities coach Anthony Mathurin, the event highlighted chess as a universal language that transcends age, language and physical ability. Mayor Nooria Sayani connected the celebration with her annual theme of community, compassion and cohesion, emphasising how chess encourages critical thinking, resilience and meaningful connections between people in an increasingly technological world.
The festivities even showcased the growing popularity of chess boxing in Rugby – a unique discipline combining mental strategy with physical endurance.
Changing lives through chess – South Africa
At Kagisono Combined School in Soutpan, South Africa, educator and coach Thato Lempe shared how chess has become a powerful educational tool.
Recognising that not every learner thrives in traditional classroom settings or physical sports, he introduced chess to help develop focus, discipline and resilience. His vision extends far beyond competition: he hopes to create a school where chess achievements are celebrated alongside sporting success, empowering learners to become confident thinkers, leaders and problem-solvers.
Festivals, public squares and historic churches
International Chess Day was also celebrated in many other remarkable locations. In Ireland, the Sligo Chess and Culture Festival transformed Queen Maeve Square into a vibrant meeting place for chess and culture.
In Spain, chess found a unique setting inside the beautiful Romanesque Church of Nuestra Señora de la Asunción in Duratón, where history, architecture and the game came together in an unforgettable atmosphere.
The Mongolian chess family and chess enthusiasts celebrated International Chess Day at the iconic Sükhbaatar Square in Ulaanbaatar. Initiated by Gombojav Zandanshatar, President of the Mongolian Chess Federation, the festivities brought together players of all ages and backgrounds, showcasing chess as a game that unites communities, inspires future generations, and promotes friendship and mutual understanding.
Statement of the President of the FIDE on the International Chess Day 2026; July 20th.
“Dear chess friends,
Chess belongs everywhere
These are just a few of the many stories received by FIDE this year. Together, they demonstrate that chess belongs everywhere – to schools and city squares, beaches and villages, historic landmarks and places of worship. Most importantly, it belongs to everyone. FIDE thanks every federation, club, organiser, volunteer, teacher, parent and player who helped make International Chess Day 2026 a truly global celebration.
If you have not yet celebrated, there is still time to join. Set up a board in your favourite place, introduce someone to the game, organise an event in your community, or simply share your chess story with the world. Every celebration – big or small – helps show how chess continues to bring people together across borders, generations and cultures.
Happy International Chess Day!
Arkady Dvorkovich. FIDE President”
ACTIVITIES: Some of you might be seasoned chess teachers, but many others have never taught the basics chess to absolute beginners. During the days leading to the weekend, try to gather some materials, watch some tutorials, and do some reading. From FIDE, we will stimulate the exchange of information and will share the most interesting ones, in different languages. Let’s help each other with the preparations.
The panel is deliberately designed to focus not on abstract theories but on real-world impact. This panel does not talk about chess; it talks about what chess makes possible– in prisons, schools, communities, ministries, and research labs.
There are many ways to get involved:
you could stage a game in an unusual location,
run an inclusive community event, or
join the live-streamed global conversation about chess and social change.
No event is too large or too small. Every game played, every person welcomed, and every story shared helps demonstrate chess’s unique ability to unite, inspire and create positive change. Take chess beyond the board with Creative Chess
FIDE once again invites the global chess community to celebrate International Chess Day by taking part in Creative Chess, a challenge to promote the game in the most imaginative way possible.The idea is simple: set up a chess game in the most unusual, meaningful or symbolic place you can think of. It could be on a mountaintop, underwater, beside a famous local landmark or anywhere else that captures the imagination. Last year’s challenge produced a wonderful outpouring of creativity from around the world. Submissions included a rooftop game beneath the Sagrada Família in Barcelona, chessboards on the slopes of volcanoes in Costa Rica, a submerged set in the world’s deepest pool in Dubai and games played across the streets, trains and temples of Mumbai. Players, families, schools and even a few pets joined the celebration, all united by one game.
To participate, organize your creative chess game or moment in the days leading up to and around International Chess Day. Share your photos or videos on social media using #InternationalChessDay and tag FIDE. The most original and inspiring submissions may be featured across FIDE’s official social media channels. The board may have 64 squares, but the world of chess is boundless. Where will you take the game?
Celebrate participation and inclusion with FIDE WOM
The FIDE Commission for Women’s Chess (WOM) invites federations, clubs, schools, academies and organizers worldwide to mark International Chess Day by creating opportunities that encourage equal participation throughout the chess community. Activities can take many forms: a tournament, simultaneous exhibition, workshop, lecture, introductory lesson, school programme or informal community gathering. Organizers are encouraged to design welcoming events that bring people together, introduce new participants to chess and highlight the contributions of women and girls to the game.
Every initiative counts. A small club activity can be just as meaningful as a large international event when it creates a supportive space in which more people feel encouraged to play, learn, organize and lead.
How to participate?
Organize an event around International Chess Day and share photos, videos and highlights on social media. Tag the FIDE Commission for Women’s Chess and use #InternationalChessDayWOM so that activities from across the world can be brought together as part of the global celebration. After the event, organizers are invited to submit a short report accompanied by two or three photographs to project coordinator Anna Kantane at anna.kantane@gmail.com. Together, these events will showcase the remarkable work taking place within chess communities worldwide while inspiring greater participation and creating new opportunities through the game.
Join the global discussion: Chess as a Force for Social Change
As part of the International Chess Day celebrations, the FIDE Social Commission will host a special interactive panel discussion exploring how chess can serve as a practical tool for rehabilitation, protection, inclusion and development. Titled “Chess as Social Value: From the Chessboard to Society,” the 60-minute live discussion will bring together policymakers, researchers, programme leaders and practitioners who are using chess to create tangible change in communities around the world. Rather than focusing on chess solely as a sport, the conversation will examine what the game makes possible: in prisons, refugee communities, schools, social programmes, government institutions and research environments. Through concrete examples drawn from the speakers’ direct experience, the panel will demonstrate how chess can build confidence, encourage positive behavior, support education and create opportunities for people in vulnerable or underserved communities.
The discussion will feature nine speakers representing a wide range of international projects and professional backgrounds:
Dana Reizniece, Deputy Chair of the FIDE Management Board and former Minister of Finance and Minister of Economics of Latvia
Mikhail Korenman, leader of the Chess for Freedom project, United States
Lasma Kokorevica, representative of the Latvian prison administration
Anastasia Sorokina, Chair of the FIDE Commission for Women’s Chess and leader of the FIDE Chess for Protection project, Australia
Susan Namangale, Global Director of The Gift of Chess, Malawi
Russell Makofsky, founder of The Gift of Chess
Antonio Porter, Director of Programs at the Cook County Department of Corrections
Prabitha Urwyler, Swiss Chess Federation board member responsible for Social Chess
Hans Alther, prison chess educator and practitioner
Structured around a series of guiding questions, the session will invite the speakers to share practical lessons, measurable outcomes and personal experiences from their work. Audience members will also have an opportunity to submit questions and take part in the discussion.
Date: Monday, July 20, 2026 Time: 15:00 CEST Duration: One hour Format: Online panel discussion and live global broadcast
Whether you organize an event, stage a game somewhere unexpected, join the online discussion or simply play with someone new, be part of International Chess Day 2026. On July 20, let us show the world not only where chess can be played, but also where chess can lead.
FIDE Treasurer and Women’s World Champion Zhu Chen, together with WIM Liang Zhihua, attended the “Brain-Computer Interface (BCI) Clinical Application Symposium” on June 11, as special guests at The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen (CUHK-Shenzhen). Chess has long been associated with intelligence and human creativity. Increasingly, the game is finding its place at the cutting edge of brain science. FIDE representatives and chess players were invited to attend an event that brought together leading neurologists, clinicians, and technology companies working on brain-computer interface systems. At first glance, chess may seem an unusual guest at a medical symposium. Yet over the past year, the game has emerged as one of the clearest demonstrations of what brain-computer interface technology can achieve.
The event comes nine months after a historic moment in September 2025, when Neuralink patient Noland Arbaugh played a game of chess online against Swedish WFM Anna Cramling, marking the first time chess appeared on the global stage as a real-world BCI application. The match served as a public demonstration of how consumer-grade digital platforms can integrate with next-generation medical hardware. During the match, Arbaugh, who was left quadriplegic after a swimming accident in 2016, controlled his side of the board on chess.com using a coin-sized Neuralink skull implant that contained over 1,000 electrode threads tracking his neural intent. The match highlighted a shift from robotic arm movements towards complex cognitive multitasking.
That connection was reflected in discussions at the Shenzhen symposium. Researchers from top Chinese institutions took part, including Peking Union Medical College Hospital; Xuanwu and Tiantan Hospitals, affiliated with Capital Medical University; Huashan Hospital, affiliated with Fudan University; Southeast University; and many others from the Greater Bay Area. Representatives from BCI companies also attended.
During the conference, chess was recognized as a tool for connecting scientific research and technology in the study of cognitive functions. Zhu Chen, a former Women’s World Champion, shared her views from the perspective of a chess player, linking scientific discussions with a board game built on human thought.
“It was very interesting to see the extent to which science has advanced in brain research. It seems almost sci-fi! It was exciting as well as heartwarming to hear that chess, an ancient game, has a very important role to play in the groundbreaking research which will strongly impact the future of humanity,” said Zhu Chen.
“FIDE has always been supportive and open to working with scientific institutions and organizations and will continue to do so,” Zhu added.
Experts also shared the latest advances in using BCI to treat Parkinson’s disease, epilepsy, consciousness disorders, and spinal cord injuries and highlighted the rapid development of BCI research in China. The organizers said that the next stage of the project will involve multicenter clinical projects with leading BCI companies in China. Chess was again recognized as a useful tool for hypothesis testing. Whether those efforts ultimately transform medical treatment remains to be seen, but what is clear is that chess has a role to play in supporting scientific research and development.
EVENTS: On July 15th, the celebration of the World Youth Skills Day 2026 will be held from 8:30 to 10:00 Eastern Time / 14:30 - 16:00 CEST at the ILO Office at the United Nations Headquarters in New York. The Permanent Mission of Sri Lanka to the UN and the Permanent Mission of Portugal to the UN, together with the International Labour Organization, UNESCO and the United Nations Youth Office will spotlight young people as key drivers of a more inclusive, resilient and human-centred future. The event will focus on strengthening education and training systems, expanding access to decent work and ensuring young people are equipped with the skills needed to thrive and lead in their communities. This event will bring together relevant stakeholders to advance efforts to strengthen education and training systems, enabling every young person to develop the skills to thrive, access decent work aligned with their aspirations, strengthen their communities and lead positive change for sustainable development. Register to participate and Watch the livestream!
“I think young people today need to be more open-minded, more flexible, more adaptable,” said Francesca Fanelli, senior associate director of graduate career development at Columbia University.
Amid helping students and recent graduates navigate today’s competitive and rapidly changing job market, she spoke with UN News about some of the best ways to rise to the challenge.
Skills for an uncertain future
The World Economic Forum estimates that nearly 40 per cent of the skills workers rely on now could change or become outdated by 2030, making adaptability and lifelong learning more important than ever.
The answer is not to search for an “AI-proof” career, Ms. Fanelli said.
While some students are reconsidering their career choices and showing greater interest in skilled trades, which are widely viewed as less vulnerable to automation, she cautioned against basing decisions primarily on assumptions about which jobs will be least affected by AI and technological change.
Instead, she advises young people to focus on their interests and strengths while building a broad “toolkit” of transferable skills that can serve them across different roles throughout their careers.
Rather than committing themselves to a single career path, Ms. Fanelli encourages students to explore opportunities across different industries and remain open to new directions as the world of work continues to evolve.
With AI, ‘you’re still the problem solver’
While the future of work may be difficult to predict, Ms. Fanelli believes one thing is already clear: knowing how to use AI effectively is becoming a valuable workplace skill.
“AI literacy is a skill now that employers look for,” she says. “They want to make sure that people entering their office know how to use the tool.”
This includes knowing how to ask the right questions and write clear prompts while taking responsibility for fact-checking the information AI produces and deciding how to apply it.
“You have to use it as an assistant rather than as a problem solver,” Ms. Fanelli says. “You’re still the problem solver.”
Making AI work for you
For job seekers, AI can be useful throughout the application process. Ms. Fanelli recommends using it to analyse job descriptions, identify the skills employers are seeking, tailor application materials and prepare for interviews. The quality of the results largely depends on the quality of the instructions provided, she noted.
At the same time, she stressed that every application should reflect the candidate’s own experience and personality.
“Make sure it’s in your voice, that there are no phrases that you would never find yourself saying,” she advises.
Turning skills into a job
Yet, learning to use AI is only one part of preparing for the job market. For many students and recent graduates, the process itself can feel deeply uncertain and overwhelming.
“The whole process, I think, feels really overwhelming,” Ms. Fanelli says. “Students are just feeling overwhelmed by the process and discouraged before they even start.”
Pointing to data showing that it takes job seekers in the United States an average of 6.6 months to secure employment, she said sustaining a search over such a long period requires an effective strategy and the resilience to cope with rejection and self-doubt.
Many graduates also find themselves caught in what she described as a frustrating paradox. Despite having strong academic qualifications, they often worry that they lack practical experience, leaving them feeling “both overqualified and underqualified”.
Feeling unqualified does not necessarily mean that graduates lack the skills employers need. Ms. Fanelli said many underestimate the value of the abilities they have already developed during their studies.
“Every job posting, I still see collaboration, communication, teamwork. You’re most likely developing those skills in your education. You just have to think about how you can communicate those skills to an employer in a way that they’ll understand,” she said.
Beyond a dream job
As young people prepare for an uncertain future, Ms. Fanelli encourages them not to put too much pressure on themselves to find the “perfect” career.
“The dream job might not be exactly what you think it is,” she said.
Rather than searching for a role that fulfils every expectation, she advises young people to look for work that offers a sense of fulfilment in at least one respect, while recognising that purpose can come from many different parts of life.
Family, friendships, community and personal interests can all be sources of meaning, she said, and work does not have to provide everything.
“A job sometimes is just for financial stability, and that’s okay.”.
PUBLICATION: A moment of choice:Harnessing artificial intelligence for decent work. From the ILO. Artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming many aspects of our economies and societies. I see its applications expanding rapidly across the world of work, reshaping how work is organized, how value
is created and how decisions are made. For the ILO and its constituents, this is a moment of both
excitement and disquiet.
On the one hand, AI can boost productivity and create new opportunities for workers and
enterprises alike. It can also improve public services and labour administration, including by
strengthening labour market governance and social protection systems. On the other hand, it raises
profound concerns about rights, equality and social inclusion – and about social justice more broadly.
Some voices have gone further, predicting a future marked by large-scale job scarcity, in which work
becomes the exception rather than the norm.
I do not dismiss these concerns. They reflect real anxieties about the pace and scale of
technological change. But I also believe that they risk overshadowing what we know from experience.
History has shown that technological change often goes hand in hand with market expansion and the
creation of new jobs in roles that were previously unforeseen.
It is clear that exposure to AI varies widely – across tasks, occupations and sectors, and depending
on skills, gender, age and national context. These differences reflect the persistent digital divides. While
some economies lead in AI investment and deployment, many low- and middle-income countries are
experiencing its effects more indirectly, through broader processes of digitalization rather than
large-scale AI development.
For this reason, I am persuaded that technological change is not an irresistible force producing
uniform outcomes. We are not powerless in the face of disruption. Policy choices, institutions and
governance matter. Human intelligence matters.
In adopting the ILO Centenary Declaration for the Future of Work (2019), we committed ourselves
to a human-centred approach to shaping the future of work. In the context of AI, I believe that this
means something very concrete: not assuming that technological progress will automatically advance
decent work and social justice, but taking a proactive role in shaping its direction – by managing risks
and harnessing opportunities in line with the ILO’s mandate.
As the Declaration of Philadelphia reminds us, work is not only a source of income. It is also a
foundation of dignity, autonomy and human development. How AI reshapes this meaning of work is
therefore central to a human-centred future of work.
For me, this reflection on harnessing AI for decent work is particularly timely. It takes place not
only in a context of uncertainty about the future of work, but also amid strained multilateralism and
democratic backsliding. As I have stressed in my previous reports to the International Labour
Conference, work and democracy are in a symbiotic relationship. It is for this reason that a sober and
evidence-informed examination of the implications of AI – and of the policy choices before us – is
essential. I am confident that the ILO, with its tripartite structure and normative mandate, is uniquely
placed to contribute to this examination. By bringing together governments, employers and workers,
we can help shape a human-centred approach to AI – one that keeps people, rights and dignity at the
core of this new chapter of technological progress.
Gilbert F. Houngbo
Director-General. Read the full report!
FORUM: “Realizing the hopes and aspirations of young people – today and for the future.” World Population Day 2026. This year's theme reflects a new report on the findings of the UNFPA Demographic Futures Survey, which asked more than 100,000 Internet-connected people aged 18 to 39 in 73 countries about their partnership, reproductive and life aspirations. Societies are “heading towards a demographic cliff”, according to some headlines. The “global baby bust” is the result of a “feminist revolt”, others speculate. Behind the hyperbole is a kernel of truth: Population data do show that around the world fertility rates are falling. Yet many of the attendant claims, from the threat of human extinction to the role of feminism – are rooted in myths and misogyny.
Today, UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund, which is the UN’s sexual and reproductive health agency, is releasing findings from its Demographic Futures Survey, one of the largest, most geographically comprehensive surveys to date exploring what young adults want for their reproductive futures. Over 108,000 Internet-connected young adults, aged 18 to 39 from 73 countries, were asked what they want when it comes to relationships, children and the future – and what they feel is standing in their way. These young adults, from every geographical region showed remarkable agreement over what is keeping them from forging partnerships and having children: money and housing. This finding, and many more, can help us put to rest some of the misconceptions surrounding fertility decline. Below, we start with five of the biggest.
1. Myth: Feminism is responsible for birth rate declines.
This claim has been repeated in headlines and hot takes around the world. Yet UNFPA has decades of evidence – from its work with health providers and survivors of gender-based violence, and from its data collection for the Sustainable Development Goals – showing that women are actually often unable to exercise agency over their bodies and reproduction. About a tenth of women are unable to make choices about contraception, a quarter are unable to make decisions about their own healthcare, and a quarter are unable to say no to sex. This information alone gives us reason to question the claim that global fertility decline is the fault of feminism or women’s empowerment.
Fact: Today, the Demographic Futures Survey brings us one of the most robust and current bodies of evidence on this topic – and it shows us that most people, men and women, want children.
Two is the ideal number in most parts of the world, and in some regions, people on average want more than two. Women are not refusing to have children. They – and men, too – face obstacles to having them. And the most commonly cited obstacles are financial security, stable employment and housing. Furthermore, the survey found that attitudes around family-related choices are actually relatively consistent between men and women. While there are some differences – such as men being more likely than women to disapprove of parents divorcing while having young children, and all respondents being more disapproving of mothers with young children working full-time jobs compared to fathers of young children – these gaps tend to be minimal. On the other hand, women’s rating of barriers to childbearing was consistently higher; every single barrier to having children (financial concerns, infertility, chronic health issues, etc.) was considered more important by women than by men. Again, this suggests that declining fertility rates are not the “fault” of feminism or women’s attitudes, but the burdens that all young adults face, which are often disproportionately heavy for women.
2. Myth: Young people are rejecting marriage and parenthood.
From kitchen tables to think tanks to parliaments, many assume that young people are refusing both marriage and children. Solutions, the thinking goes, should involve promoting marriage and childbearing.
Fact: The Demographic Futures Survey shows us that marriage and parenthood are still widely held goals. Over two thirds of respondents see marriage as their ideal.
But the path to marriage and parenthood is challenging. Almost 80 per cent of respondents say partnership is an important precondition for becoming a parent, the survey finds. This mirrors what UNFPA has seen in its youth programmes: “Finding the right partner is important because I believe that raising a child should be a shared responsibility with emotional and financial support from both parents,” a young woman from India shared with us last year.
Yet not everyone is finding a partner. Out of all respondents aged 25 to 39, approximately one quarter say they want a partner but are currently single and not dating. Men were more likely to say this than women.
What are the biggest barriers to getting married or being in a stable, cohabiting relationship? The largest proportion of people, 57 per cent of respondents, cited economic and housing constraints.
3. Myth: “Collapsing” teen birth rates are a problem for societies.
This myth is often expressed in alarmist tones. Some even claim falling adolescent pregnancy rates threaten humanity with extinction. Is there any merit to this claim? No.
Fact: Adolescent fertility rates are declining – this is a public health success. It means more girls are able to complete school and avoid the health consequences of early pregnancy; many of them will still go on to become mothers.
Declining adolescent fertility has significantly contributed to overall global fertility declines, research shows. But that does not mean it is a problem, nor does it mean we should encourage more adolescent parenthood. After all, the goal should not be to change people’s minds about when and whether to become parents, but to create the conditions that enable them to responsibly realize their aspirations on their own terms. “Bringing a child into the world is only one step. The real challenge is raising them,” a young man in Paraguay told UNFPA.
Here is where data from the Demographic Futures Survey give critical insight. What is keeping people from having the children they want? Financial security, stable employment, and psychological and emotional readiness are the top three most important preconditions for parenthood, the survey finds. This offers specific areas, from education policies to community health services to job security and work protections, where policymakers can take action to meet people’s own stated needs.
4. Myth: Young adults are too selfish to have children. 5. Myth: People are not sufficiently incentivized to become parents.
These last two myths are linked. The first assumes that young adults are simply too focused on themselves – too busy having fun, perhaps – to undertake the hard but necessary work of parenting. The second assumes that the rewards of parenting should be material. If people do not require children for labour or eldercare, and if children are expected to simply consume their parents’ resources before moving away, the thinking goes, then people will naturally forgo parenthood. Both presume selfish motives for having or not having children.
Fact: The Demographic Futures Survey shows that the most common reason respondents gave to become a parent is the joy and happiness children bring.
Most of the survey respondents already have children, and the vast majority of those without children by ages 35 to 39 (79 per cent of men and 72 per cent of women) still want to become parents. Most people are not selfishly refusing to become parents, nor are they waiting for babies to promise a better return on investment. Among all respondents, of all ages, 80 per cent said the joy of parenthood is a key factor. Having children for utilitarian reasons, such as government encouragement or because children are needed for the future workforce, was the least motivating for prospective parents. Handwringing over the partnering and parenting choices of young people (especially young women) is an age-old pastime. But the survey released today offers a more productive and positive path forward for policymakers – one responding to people’s stated goals and concerns, one based on evidence instead of assumptions.
We are living through a time of profound demographic change. Some countries have historically large numbers of young people. Others are experiencing rapid population ageing. And many are navigating both. Societies and economies are being reshaped by intersecting crises, rising inequalities and disruptive technologies. At the same time, information and misinformation are redefining how we perceive the world around us.
How do young adults see their lives, ambitions and futures in a world of constant change? This is the question at the heart of UNFPA’s recent Demographic Futures Survey. The survey is one of the largest bodies of evidence to date on young people’s life goals with respect to relationships and families.
What we found is that most still hope for partnership and parenthood, yet many feel they may never see these dreams materialize. Today, fragile labour markets, widening inequalities and protracted conflict have left many young people struggling to imagine how they can build the families and futures they want.
Some people assume that younger generations have given up on marriage and children altogether. Our survey tells a different story. Most respondents say their ideal relationship involves marriage. Yet among those who want a partner, many are single and not dating. Economic and housing constraints were the most commonly cited barriers to partnership. Most of those surveyed also want children – and across most regions, two is the most common ideal family size. But many question whether they will have the stability and security to house and care for them.
In short, it is uncertainty, not unwillingness, that has young people questioning whether they can start the families they want.
In response to changing demographic trends, including ageing and low fertility, governments are exploring a wide range of policies. But policies will not succeed if they pressure people towards particular choices or fail to address the barriers young people themselves identify.
As one young community leader told us, “This isn’t just about choosing to have fewer children. It’s about having fewer choices.”
What young people are telling us is clear: They need a sense of security to plan for their future, and the agency to carry that plan out. The onus is on leaders everywhere to support these aspirations.
With smart, forward-looking investments in their rights and choices – from housing and healthcare to parental leave and childcare support, young people can exercise autonomy over their bodies and their lives and build the futures they want. They can realize the right to make the most intimate, consequential decisions of their lives.
The world today is full of opportunities, not only challenges. Communities and economies will innovate, develop resilience and thrive when young people can, too.
Young people – from North to South, from East to West – have spoken. It’s time to listen. And it is time to help create the conditions that allow them to make real choices, create the families they want and realize their hopes and aspirations.
Around the world, demographic change is prompting urgent debate about fertility, family life and the future. Lives, Choices and Futures, UNFPA’s report on the findings of the 2025-2026 Demographic Futures Survey brings together one of the most geographically diverse bodies of evidence on how young adults’ hopes and decisions about relationships, parenthood and the future take place in an uncertain world. Through the voices of over 108,000 Internet-connected people aged 18 to 39 across 73 countries, this report shows that many young people continue to value partnership and parenthood, but the conditions to realize these aspirations often feel out of reach.
More than two thirds of respondents want to marry or live with a partner.
Two children is the most commonly reported ideal family size in five out of seven regional groupings.
Economic and housing constraints constitute the most common obstacles to forming partnerships.
Financial security is the top consideration for entering a partnership (81%) and parenthood (88%).
Young respondents also consider stable employment (87%) and emotional readiness (85%) as important preconditions for becoming parents.
Two thirds feel somewhat or very positive about the future despite worries about conflict, economic insecurity and inequality.
While the data are weighted by age, sex and education level, these findings are not nationally representative and should not be interpreted as population-level estimates. Instead, they provide comparative insights into the views of Internet-connected young adults surveyed across regions. The data tells us what these young adults value, what they worry about, what they see as important for partnership and parenthood, and what conditions they report as shaping their choices. This report offers a flagship evidence base to inspire further research and shift policy and public debate. It moves the conversation away from panic, population targets and assumptions about young people’s choices. Instead it focuses on the social, economic and institutional conditions that enable young people to have the families they want and build the lives they aspire to lead. Lives, Choices and Futures provides vital evidence to inform global policy discussions on demographic change, reproductive rights and sustainable development. The findings affirm that long-term investments in young people and cross-sector policies on education, employment security, housing, reproductive health services, and social protection will help them contribute to societies that are innovative, resilient and economically robust. Read the full report!
Young people are a vital driving force in all societies, contributing energy, innovation and creativity to national development and to the achievement of the Goals and targets of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Yet, many continue to face significant barriers that limit young people’s ability to realise their full potential and to participate meaningfully in society. The World Population Highlights 2026: Youth provides sound, comparable and timely data on global youth population trends, including changes in size and geographical distribution and key dimensions of youth well-being. The report identifies priority actions to reduce disparities, promote sustainable livelihoods, improve health outcomes — including sexual and reproductive health — and strengthen the protection of young people’s rights. The findings of this report can help policymakers, youth advocates and civil society to integrate population foresight into the formulation of policies and programmes and to ensure that demographic change contributes to a more equitable, inclusive, resilient and sustainable future for current and future generations. The report supports Youth2030, the United Nations system-wide youth strategy guiding global action with and for young people. Read full report the Ten Key Messages, get the social media cards and the SDG Blog: Demographic change and the transformative force of youth.
The aim of the UN Population Award Ceremony is to celebrate the achievements of laureates and their contributions to the development and/or implementation of solutions to issues and questions related to population and development.
The Secretary-General's message for the 2026 United Nations Population Award Ceremony, to be delivered by the Executive Director of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), Dr. Diene Keita
The United Nations General Assembly established the United Nations Population Award in resolution 36/201 on 17 December 1981. The Award is presented annually to an individual or individuals, or to an institution or institutions, or to any combination thereof, for the most outstanding contribution to the awareness of population questions or to their solutions.
Each year, the Committee for the United Nations Population Award honours an individual and/or institution in recognition of outstanding contributions to population and reproductive health questions and to their solutions. The Award was established by the General Assembly in 1981, in resolution 36/201, and was first presented in 1983. It consists of a gold medal, a diploma and a monetary prize.
The Committee for the United Nations Population Award is comprised of 10 UN Member States, with United Nations Secretary-General and UNFPA Executive Director serving as ex-officio members. Nominations for the award are accepted through 31 December of each year.View less Related Sites and Documents: Website.
EVENT: On July 6th; The celebration of the World Rural Development Day 2026 serves as a call-to-action for governments and organizations to focus on the lives and struggles of the world's rural peoples who work the soil, nourish the seas, and nurture the land as a prerequisite for achieving the broader goals of economic, social, and environmental sustainability and to invest in rural resilience, gender equality, and sustainable agricultural progress. Register to participate!
The general objective is to present the main messages, findings, and recommendations of the report Outlook for Agriculture and Rural Development in the Americas 2025–2026: A Perspective on Latin America and the Caribbean, highlighting that agriculture can strengthen its contribution to agrifood systems through productivity improvements driven by adequate financing and by policy, institutional, financial, and technological innovations.
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