ICPD30: Regional Parliamentarians Discuss Emerging Population Trends in Asia and the Pacific

With a rapidly changing region, parliamentarians from 11 countries gathered on 10 July 2023 in Bangkok, Thailand, to discuss the emerging population trends in Asia and the Pacific and to chart a way forward in the context of the ICPD30 review process. The Asian Forum of Parliamentarians on Population and Development (AFPPD) with UNFPA gathered representatives from Bhutan, China, Malaysia, Thailand, Sri Lanka, Maldives, India, Indonesia, Japan, Philippines and Vietnam. 

The workshop hosted discussions on population ageing, low fertility and population decline as well as the economic sustainability of population ageing. 

“In the Asia and Pacific region, a profound shift awaits us,” Hon. Keizo Takemi, the chair of AFPPD, said while addressing the parliamentarians. “By 2050, 1 in 4 will be above the age of 60, with the majority of them being women. We come together to chart a course towards a future where women can lead healthy, fulfilling lives contributing actively to the sustainable development of our society.” 

Parliamentarians reflected on ICPD in the current context, including how they can play their representative, legislative, budgetary and oversight roles to address the ageing population. In closing, they underscored the importance of the ICPD agenda and their commitment to accelerating implementation of the Programme of Action. 

“I believe this workshop is a unique opportunity to inspire action and mobilize the political will and financial commitments that we urgently need to finally and fully implement the ICPD Programme of Action and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030,” said Hon. Dato Willie Mongin from Malaysia.

The workshop generated a parliamentarian statement to inform technical preparations for the regional and global 30-year review process of ICPD implementation.