Bangkok--9 Oct--UNIS Bangkok
Senior officials andrepresentatives from about 25 countries in Asia and the Pacific have
gathered in Macao for a high-level meeting which will review progress the
region has made in response to the challenges posed by population ageing.
Organized by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and
the Pacific (UNESCAP) with the support of the Government of Macao Special
Administrative Region (SAR), China, the meeting, which opened today, will
review key developments in the area of ageing since 2002, when a landmark
agreement was adopted at the Second World Assembly on Ageing in Madrid.
This year marks the fifth anniversary of the Madrid International Plan of
Action on Ageing -- a milestone document which calls for changes in
attitudes, policies and practices at all levels and in all sectors, so that
the enormous potential of “a society for all ages” may be fulfilled in the
21st century.
“This meeting provides an opportunity for governments and civil society to
review and appraise the results of their work on ageing issues, exchange
information and experience, and identify priorities for the future”, said
Thelma Kay, Director, Emerging Social Issues Division of UNESCAP, at the
opening of the meeting, which is being held from 9 to 11 October at Macao’s
Tourism Activities Centre.
She noted that “ for the first time [at the Second World Assembly on
Ageing
], governments agreed on the need to link ageing to other frameworks
for social and economic development and human rights, recognizing that
ageing will be the dominant and most visible demographic phenomenon in the
present century.”
Ms.Kay added that “recognizing the many social and economic implications of
the ageing process, governments in the region today have accorded higher
attention to ageing issues and many embarked on developing their own
national plans and policies for older persons”.
“In the next three days, we will hear more about the efforts made by
respective Governments in tackling the challenges of ageing”, she said.
The Meeting was officially inaugurated by Mr. Chui Sai On, Secretary for
Social Affairs and Culture, Government of Macao SAR, China.
Besides examining the region’s changing demographic dynamics and progress
made in implementing the Madrid Plan of Action, the high-level meeting will
identify priorities for further actions in three pillar areas; older
persons and development, advancing health and well-being into old age, and
ensuring enabling and supportive environments.
Naohiro Ogawa from Nihon University, Japan; Alfred Chan, Lingnan
University, Hong Kong, China, and Eva Anne J. Sabdono, Yayasan Emong
Lansia, Indonesia, are among the prominent demographers/researchers who
will address the meeting.
In Asia and the Pacific, the number of older persons is growing rapidly,
from 410 million in 2007 to about 733 million in 2025 and to an expected
1.3 billion in 2050. In terms of percentages, older persons will constitute
about 15 per cent of the total population in 2025 and up to nearly 25 per
cent by 2050, from over 10 per cent now.
“Population ageing brings significant economic and social challenges, for
developed and developing countries alike”, said United Nations
Secretary-General, Mr. Ban Ki-Moon, in a message marking the International
Day of Older Persons on 1 October.
“Sobering statistics show that some 80 per cent of the world’s population
are not covered by social protection in old age. Finding ways to provide
economic support for a growing number of older persons, through sustainable
pension programmes and new social protection measures, is a daunting task,
particularly in developing countries”, Mr. Ban said.
The High-level Meeting on the Regional Review of the Madrid International
Plan of Action on Ageing (MIPAA) will conclude on Thursday 11 October. A
press conference will be held on that day at 16.00 in the Tourism
Activities Centre.