On 10 July, the Asian Population and Development Association (APDA), with support from UNFPA Asia and the Pacific Regional Office, organized an Asia-Pacific parliamentarians’ workshop in Bangkok, Thailand. In the lead up to the 30-year review of the ICPD Programme of Action next year, the workshop mainly focused on the issues of low fertility and population ageing, as well as necessary interventions to respond to social changes associated with these issues.

The workshop was opened by Hon. Prof. Takemi Keizo, MP Japan (Chair of AFPPD and Executive Director of JPFP), who referred to the fact that in Asia-Pacific, one in four people will be over the age of 60 and that women will constitute the majority by 2050. He emphasized that empowerment and well-being of these women at their later years becomes essential for their meaningful and independent participation, as well as socio-economic development.

The workshop consisted of four sessions, with presentations by experts and parliamentarians. In Session 4: “Parliamentarians’ role to address population ageing within the context of the ICPD”, Hon. Gu Xiaoyu, MP China, gave a presentation on China’s response to an ageing society. He pointed out that population ageing affects labor supply and puts pressure on public services, while it has the potential to promote the “silver economy”, which is a new opportunity for economic growth. Parliamentarians in attendance agreed that they would work to put legislation and policy in place necessary for a dynamic and sustainable ageing society where older people can live as physically, mentally, and economically self-reliant as possible from both economic and human rights perspectives.

■Inter Press Service (IPS)
Lawmakers’ Vital Roles in Ensuring Dignity for Aging Populations