Asian Countries Step up Commitment to Address Ageing

MACAO, China—Confronting the unprecedented ageing of their populations, many Asian governments are formulating plans to meet the economic, social and health needs of older people. But growing recognition of the challenges ahead is not yet matched by adequate policies, particularly in less-developed countries.

An increased sense of urgency was evident here this week as delegates from two dozen countries met to review progress since a global conference on ageing in Madrid in 2002.

The officials and NGO representatives heard a series of experts and national reports on responses to the region’s rapidly evolving age structure and related social change. They then adopted a set of recommendations to ensure that older people will have adequate services and support, and better opportunities to live active, healthy lives.

Over the next 45 years, Asians aged 60 and older will triple in number, to 1.3 billion, and grow from 10 per cent to 25 per cent of the population, due to falling fertility and rising life expectancy. Japan’s over-60 population will grow from 28 per cent today to 44 per cent by 2050. This demographic shift is occurring most rapidly in East Asia, where older persons will outnumber children under 15 by 2008.

At the same time, families and elder support arrangements are changing, and chronic diseases are affecting increasing numbers of older people – a majority of whom are women.

Many nations have taken steps in recent years to address this changing reality, and some richer countries have far-reaching policies in place. Most countries, though, lack the resources and support systems to ensure adequate financial and health security for rising numbers of older persons. The Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing committed governments to work to find solutions to this problem. Asia and the Pacific is the first region to take stock of progress five years on.

On behalf of UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund, Garimela Giridhar told the meeting that his organization was committed to working with partners “to influence public policy and to promote the rights of older people, their inclusion in development, their contributions to society and their access to social and health services.” The director of the Technical Services Team for East and South-East Asia said UNFPA was working in a number of Asian countries to advocate anti-discriminatory legislation, promote relevant data collection and analysis, and encourage families and communities to support older people.

Contact Information:

William A. Ryan
Cell Phone: +66 89 897 6984
Email: ryanw@unfpa.org