Committee on Emerging Social Issues urges review of progress since Fifth Asian and Pacific Population Conference

Representatives from 17 countries and areas in Asia and the Pacific gathering for the Committee on Emerging Social Issues from 26 to 28 November urged ESCAP to convene a regional meeting to review the progress achieved by the region in implementing the Plan of Action on Population and Poverty adopted by the Fifth Asian and Pacific Population Conference (Fifth APPC).

Meeting for the fourth session, the annual Committee which provides specialized guidance for the work of ESCAP in addressing persistent and emerging social issues, requested ESCAP to convene the proposed meeting in 2008. The meeting will take stock of the achievements made since the Fifth APPC, held in Bangkok in December 2002.

The Plan of Action of the Fifth APPC made strategic recommendations in 12 areas pertaining to poverty reduction, including population, sustainable development and poverty; international and internal migration and urbanization; population ageing; gender equality, equity and empowerment of women; reproductive rights and reproductive health; adolescent reproductive health; HIV/AIDS.

Recognizing the centrality of the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) for the realization of the Millennium Development Goals, the Committee also encouraged continuous donor support and strengthened cooperation and coordination mechanisms among countries in the region, in the area of population and development.

Among other actions recommended by the Committee in the area of population and development, was the preparation of comprehensive analytical studies which can support the formulation of effective international migration policy.

Among others, the Committee reviewed the situation of the region regarding population dynamics, international migration, ageing, youth and disability, tracked recent trends and discussed the activities and programmes ESCAP recently conducted in these areas.

National experiences were exchanged in understanding the process of demographic transition and its consequences. Countries which are currently in the “demographic dividend” stage were encouraged to take appropriate measures to be able to reap the benefit of this opportunity, for example by preparing the provision of adequate education and employment for the rapidly growing young population.
Countries still experiencing high fertility should adopt multi-sectoral approaches and make consolidated efforts to ensure the provision of family planning services. Particular emphasis should be placed on women’s education and gainful employment.

In the area of ageing, the Committee stressed the urgent need for all stakeholders to take appropriate measures, particularly with respect to income security, social protection and health of older persons.
The Committee noted, in particular, the rapid changes occurring in family structures and lifestyles and their effect on intergenerational support for older persons. The feminization of ageing was highlighted as a growing concern, as well as the impact of rural-to-urban migration and the large number of older persons left behind in rural areas.

This year, the Committee was meeting under the theme of financing for social development and looked into the actual means of implementing the various world summits and conferences’ agreed plans and programmes of action. While the primary responsibility for mobilizing resources was that of individual Governments, the Committee recognized the importance of global partnerships, in terms of more efficient aid and enhanced market access.

Note: For more information about the Committee on Emerging Social Issues, visit <http://www.unescap.org/esid/committee2007/index.asp>.