Across Europe, fertility rates are low. This is of particular concern in countries where very low fertility is compounded by high levels of outmigration. Many women and men are not able to have the number of children they want as they face various obstacles, including challenges in balancing career and family or challenges related to affordable housing among others. Creating an enabling environment for women and men to achieve the number of children they desire is key, and family policies that are gender-sensitive and embrace reproductive rights are an important tool in this regard. 

This session aims to provide an in-depth understanding of these challenges and discuss policies that address them. The panel will debate the trend towards delayed reproduction and rising infertility and ways to support couples and families by creating family-friendly societies.

Speakers
	H.E. Marlena Maląg, Minister of Family, Labour and Social Policy, Poland
	Dr. Abduholik Amirzoda, Deputy Minister of Health and Social Protection, Tajikistan
	Olga Batalina, Deputy Minister of Labour and Social Protection, Russian Federation
	Merita Xhafaj, General Director for Policy and Development, Ministry of Health and Social Protection, Albania
	Dr. Ana Daneva Markova, Safe Motherhood Committee, Rebublic of North Macedonia
	Jinkyoung Park, Head of Secretariat, Presidential Committee on Ageing Society and Population Policy, Republic of Korea
	Adriana Radu, SEX vs THE STORK Association, Romania
	Dr. Anna Matysiak, Faculty of Economic Sciences, University of Warsaw
Moderators
	Dr. Tomas Sobotka, Wittgenstein Centre for Demography and Global Human Capital
	Alanna Armitage, Regional Director, UNFPA Eastern Europe and Central Asia