Population Policies and Inclusive Development In the Syrian Arab Republic

Paper presented to the thirtieth annual conference
Cairo Demographic Center
Cairo November 2000
Prepared by Dr. Moustafa Mohammed Al-Abdallah Al Kafry
Head of Economics and Planning Department
Faculty of Economics – Damascus University

Population Policies and Inclusive Development
In the Syrian Arab Republic
Dr. Moustafa Mohammed Al-Abdallah Al Kafry

Each country follows a specific policy to regulate the behavior of its population in demographic terms now and in the future, and this policy includes a set of actions, plans and programs aimed at influencing population variables and the structural composition of the population in quantitative and qualitative terms, in a way that suits the needs of society and the requirements of its growth and the well-being of its citizens. Population policy not only addresses the problem of rapid population growth but also includes programmes to stimulate population growth in some countries, regulate population migration and movement, balanced spatial distribution of populations, regulate the movement and distribution of the labour force and women’s contribution to economic activity and social empowerment. This policy also aims to improve the standard of living and well-being of the population, and to narrow the civilizational gap between the countryside and the city and everything related to demographic behavior in general.

I – Population policies:
We can define population policy as the policy of a state to regulate the behavior of its population demographically in the present and future. A country’s population policy includes a set of actions, schemes and programs aimed at influencing population variables and the structural composition of the population in quantity and quality, to suit the needs of society, the requirements of its growth and the well-being of its citizens. Population variables include everything related to the size of the population, its growth, distribution, composition, and characteristics.

Every country must have a clear, specific and coherent population policy. It was necessary to integrate population policy into the comprehensive development agenda, so that attention was given in each sector, through the effects of population changes not in terms of whether´-or-not they constituted an obstacle to overall development, but as an indicator of manpower planning. The interdependence between population policies and comprehensive development requires the strengthening and development of development policies to enhance the capacity of society to absorb current and expected births in society, especially in societies of developing countries characterized by a high annual population growth rate. This, in turn, leads to the creation of economic and social conditions that encourage the transition to a smaller family.

The trend in the Syrian Arab Republic, until recently, was to leave the freedom of the family to have children and-limit- the number of children. There is some legislation that encourages reproduction, for example the prevention of trafficking in contraceptives. A decree was also issued providing for the award of the Order of the Family to a family with more than 12 children. The Syrian Penal Code also prohibits abortion if it is for non-medical´-or-health reasons and punishes those who perform abortions with imprisonment and a fine (see articles 523, 524, 52, 536 of the Penal Code). These legislations may seem like features of a population policy, but the reality is that these laws are neglected in Syria and are not implemented, where contraceptives are sold in pharmacies and are used among those who wish, and we even note that the media is promoting family planning and the use of various contraceptives in this area. Abortions are also performed in some private hospitals and clinics normally.

Some laws in force in Syria still oppose the idea of family planning and prohibit any activity related to it. These include the penalty of imprisonment and a fine for violation, the State grants family compensation, pays childbirth wages, and the period of maternity leave has been increased to two and a half months. Through these legislations and procedures, it may come to mind that Syria encourages reproduction. However, the actual practice, attitudes and general positions of the State in Syria on population issues, especially rapid population growth, are incompatible with the above-mentioned measures. The Syrian Ministry of Health, in cooperation with international organizations, provides and imports family planning methods. The State also allows the Family Planning Association to be active and work to provide services in this area in coordination with government agencies. Since 1986, the Syrian government has also stopped awarding the Family Medal, which was awarded to families with more children than a certain-limit-, and has stopped granting incentives to the most conceived mothers.



Link to download the research in PDF format:

https://almustshar.sy/archives/9187


Population Policies and Inclusive Development
In the Syrian Arab Republic
Contents
Population Policies and Inclusive Development 3
I – Population policies: 3
II – The beginning of the interest in the population issue in Syria: 5
1- General principles of the National Population Policy in Syria: 5
2- General objectives of the National Population Policy in Syria: 7
III – Comprehensive development (development of things and development of the human person): 9
IV – Compatibility between socio-economic and population policies: 11
V – Relationship between population and development: 12

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