UNFPA and the Ministry of Health Launch a National Family Planning Awareness Campaign in Iraq

The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in Iraq, in partnership with the Iraqi Ministry of Health and with support from the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), has launched a national Behaviour Change Communication (BCC) campaign on family planning. The campaign aims to raise awareness about the importance of family planning, encourage informed and voluntary decision-making, and improve access to reliable health information and services across Iraq.
The campaign targets couples, young women and men, healthcare providers, and local communities through a comprehensive package of media and awareness-raising activities. These include awareness videos, digital content across social media platforms, podcasts, educational materials, and nationwide digital outreach campaigns.
The campaign seeks to enhance understanding of family planning concepts, address common misconceptions, and provide accurate, evidence-based information to support individuals and couples in making informed decisions about their reproductive health and the future of their families.
Family planning is a cornerstone of reproductive health. It contributes to improved maternal and child health, promotes healthy birth spacing, reduces health risks associated with closely spaced pregnancies, supports women’s empowerment, and helps improve the overall quality of life of families and communities.
The campaign comes at a time when Iraq continues to experience sustained population growth. According to the results of the recent Population and Housing Census, Iraq’s population has surpassed 46 million people, underscoring the importance of investing in health, education, and essential services to achieve sustainable development and improve the well-being of current and future generations.
National studies indicate that family planning contributes to better maternal and child health outcomes, supports healthy birth spacing, and enables families to plan more effectively for their future in accordance with their circumstances and needs.
Dr. Riyadh Abdul Amir Al-Halfi, Director General of the Public Health Directorate at the Iraqi Ministry of Health, stated:
"The Ministry of Health is committed to providing the quality information and health services necessary to enable individuals and families to make informed decisions about their reproductive health. This campaign represents an important step towards enhancing public awareness of family planning, correcting misconceptions, and encouraging the use of available health services, ultimately contributing to improved health outcomes for women, children, and families as a whole."
Dr. Hind Jalal, UNFPA Representative in Iraq, said:
"Access to accurate and reliable information on family planning is a fundamental right for every individual and every family. Through this campaign, we seek to empower people to make informed and voluntary decisions about their reproductive health, positively impacting the health of mothers and children and the well-being of families and communities. Investing in family planning is an investment in human development and in Iraq’s future."
This flagship initiative is being implemented within the framework of the ongoing partnership between UNFPA and the Iraqi Ministry of Health to strengthen reproductive health and family planning services and ensure that individuals and families have access to the information and services they need to make informed, free, and responsible choices.
The campaign is supported by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) as part of joint efforts to promote women’s and family health and support sustainable human development in Iraq.
The campaign also contributes to national development priorities and supports the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 3 on Good Health and Well-being and SDG 5 on Gender Equality, by expanding access to health information and services and empowering individuals to make informed decisions about their future.The campaign is implemented within the broader framework of the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) 2025–2029 for Iraq, which supports national efforts to advance human development, improve access to quality services, promote gender equality, and strengthen opportunities for all people in Iraq to realize their full potential.
About UNFPA Iraq
UNFPA is the United Nations reproductive health agency. UNFPA works towards a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe, and every young person’s potential is fulfilled. In Iraq, UNFPA supports national efforts to improve reproductive health services, promote equality, empower young people, end violence against women and girls, and strengthen the use of population data for sustainable development planning.