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United Nations Population Fund
First
established in 1969, the UN Population Fund (formerly the UN Fund for
Population Activities, hence its acronym UNFPA) is the major source of
funding and expertise for population and reproductive health programs within
the UN system, and works with governments and non-governmental organizations
in over 140 countries. UNFPA’s work on population aging is guided by the
International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD), the
recommendations of ICPD+5, the goals of the Millennium Declaration and the
Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing. UNFPA contributes to MIPAA
implementation by supporting capacity building projects that implement,
monitor and evaluate policies and programs that “improve data collection,
analysis, research and dissemination, and promote(s) population and
advocacy.”
Documents | Links
Documents
South Asia: Demographic Prognosis for South Asia: A future of rapid ageing (July 2009)
Population ageing that had, until the turn of the century, remained a phenomenon largely exclusive to the developed countries is now manifesting itself in an increasing number of less developed countries. A new study, “Demographic Prognosis for South Asia: A Future of Rapid Ageing,” points to the emerging number of older persons in that region. Writers identify the issues and describe some recently introduced government programs and policies. And they suggest other ideas to assure older people’s health and dignity.
The Impact of Social Pension: Perceptions of Asian Older Persons (June 15, 2008)
This UNFPA report presents the findings of research on social pensions in four Asian countries- Mongolia, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Viet Nam. According to the report, a major issue which governments in these countries need to address is financial security for the older persons. A large majority of people in Asia work in the informal sector, as long as they are strong enough. They enjoy no organized pension system and hardly have any savings. It is only through social pensions that older persons can be protected from falling into poverty. The results also show that despite inadequate amounts received as social pensions, older persons feel they are better off than they would have been without them.
Population Ageing in East
and South-East Asia: Current Situation and Emerging Challenges (July 2006)
UNFPA published this review report of policies and programs implemented in
line with the Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing, in preparation
of the UN five year global follow-up meeting in 2007. The report, first in a
series of publications, focuses on the “individual detailed country
situation and more in-depth regional level analysis of key aspects of
population ageing.” The report’s set of recommendations include
strengthening the social security systems in the region (contributory and
non-contributory) and improving data collection on older persons by taking
account of their age, sex and socio-economic status.
UNFPA China: “Population Aging in China – Facts and Figures” (April 2006)
The UN Population Fund office in China prepared this booklet on aging describing the nation with the greatest number of older persons in the world. It presents facts and figures on population aging in China, including a graph on data disaggregated by age and sex. The booklet further details efforts by the Chinese government and UNFPA to realize recommendations of the 2002 Madrid International Plan of Action on Aging.
Meeting
the Challenges of Migration – Progress since the ICPD (2006)
In its
latest report on migration, the UN Population Fund cites several
recommendations of the Madrid International Plan of Action on Aging.
References include specific needs of older refugees and integration of older
migrants in their new communities. However, while the report details general
progress in migrant workers’ rights, for example, it does not enumerate
specific improvements for the specific situation of older migrants.
Population
and Development - Operational
Challenges in Developing Countries (2002)
This report identifies key areas of UNFPA contribution to the follow-up and implementation of MIPAA. For example, UNFPA supports several in-country programs and conducts studies in order to improve “information, basic research, training and subsequent policy and
programme development in the area of population ageing.” In its work, UNFPA particularly emphasizes poor older persons and women.
Links
Population
Ageing: A Larger - and Older Population
This page provides an overview on worldwide population aging and UNFPA’s work on aging issues. The page also provides links to UNFPA publications on aging.
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