Unlike their parents and grandparents, most middle school students in China nowadays don't have brothers or sisters. This is because of our country's family planning policy (计划生育政策), which started in the 1970s.
This is one kind of family planning, but there are many others in different countries. According to a new report, family planning is a human right. It helps women better plan their education and work. It also helps the economy (经济) of developing countries.
The report was released (发布) by the United Nations Population Fund on Nov. 14. It mainly talked about family planning, human rights and development.
The report said that about 867 million women in developing countries now have ways to control (控制) when and if they are to give birth, but there are still 222 million women unable to exercise their right to family planning.
"Women and their children and families live healthier, longer lives because of family planning," said Dr Margaret Greene, the lead author of the report.
