WORLD: Asia-Pacific Countries On Course to Help Older Persons

NEW YORK (UN News), October 12, 2007: Over 100 representatives from governments, non-governmental organizations and academia from 26 Asian and Pacific countries along with United Nations officials have forged a document on helping the region’s large population of older persons. Delegates attending a meeting in Macao, China, organized by the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, today adopted an “Outcome Document” outlining specific measures aimed at ensuring income security in old age, raising public awareness of the benefits of active ageing, and generating inter-generational solidarity. “Finding ways to match the desire of many older persons to remain productive with the actual employment opportunities available for them" was a major point of agreement. The impact of modernization, migration and changing family structures on families’ ability to care for older persons was another. Ms. Keiko Osaki, Chief of ESCAP’s Population and Social Integration Section said: “Universal social security coverage is virtually non-existent in the region and wherever it exists, its sustainability is being questioned,” she said. The Macao Outcome Document urges governments in the region to ensure sustainable and adequate retirement income. It also targets to raise awareness among younger generations about life-long preparation for old age and retirement. This includes health and financial security. It underscores the need for data collection, research and studies focused on elderly issues. Training programmes to strengthen the capacities of informal caregivers and promotion of the concept of “ageing in place” through the development of age-friendly physical environments, are other goals. Governments are urged to promote social and economic equalities for all ages so that older persons, especially women living in poverty, have universal access to health care. Home to over 60 per cent of the world population, the Asian and Pacific region now accounts for 410 million older persons. This number is expected to increase to 733 million in 2025 and to a staggering 1.3 billion by 2050. “It is essential for governments in the region to understand the changing demands and needs of the future elderly population,” said Thelma Kay, Director of ESCAP’s Emerging Social Issues Division. 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, according to the UN Population Fund, UNFPA), which estimates that 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, the agency said. Garimela Giridhar, Director of UNFPA’s Technical Services Team for East and South-East Asia, said the agency is working in a number of Asian countries to advocate anti-discriminatory legislation, promote data collection and analysis, and encourage families and communities to support older people. The three-day meeting in Macao reviewed the progress made in the past five years since the Second World Assembly on Ageing. Source: Un Press Office