“Population and Development” in a Panel Discussion at Sinnari House
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The Bibliotheca Alexandrina held a panel discussion on population and development, on Sunday, 10 April 2023, at Sinnari House in Cairo. The event witnessed the presence of Dr. Ahmed Zayed, Director of the Bibliotheca Alexandrina, with the participation of Dr. Khaled El-Kady, President of the Court of Appeal; Anba Ermia, Chairman of the Coptic Orthodox Cultural Center; and Sheikh Muhammad Abul Yazid Al-Amir, Vice President of Al-Azhar University, together with a group of academics, judges, and journalists.
Dr. Ahmed Zayed said that the population issue was raised in a discussion last year, and has come to the fore this year as it is intertwined with the issue of development. He added that this dialogue must discuss the demographic characteristics, which are determined by the level of education and health.
For his part, Dr. Khaled El-Kady stated that the population growth in Egypt is a very delicate issue, which was first raised in 1994, during the International Population Conference, and accordingly the United Nations had established a special population fund.
Bishop Ermia said that the message of all religions is the development of humankind, noting that early marriage can be addressed if the interest in education increases.
In addition, Sheikh Muhammad Abul Yazid Al-Amir stressed that the population problem does not belong to a specific country, but is considered one of the ramifications of this age, adding that the population growth is a thorny issue, and therefore the need for the whole society to join hands to invest in children and envision a better future.
The session witnessed participations from the audience that touched on the Egyptian population structure, the disparity between the official vision and the popular vision, and the relationship between the population growth and the level of education and awareness.