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UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific
The UN Economic and Social Commission for
Asia
and the Pacific (UNESCAP) takes an active role mainstreaming ageing-related
issues into national development strategies and policies. In the spirit of
the 1999 International Year of Older Persons, UNESCAP Member States adopted
the Macao Declaration and Plan of Action on Ageing for
Asia
and the Pacific, which defines major areas of concern and priorities for
action on aging in the region. To facilitate MIPAA implementation, UNESCAP
adopted the Regional Implementation Strategy for the Madrid International
Plan of Action on Ageing 2002 and the Macao Plan of Action on Ageing for
Asia
and the Pacific 1999. UNESCAP’s Population and Social Integration Section
organizes regional meetings, seminars and training sessions for its Member States
and NGOS. It also conducts regular regional surveys on aging to foster and
monitor implementation of the
Macao and Madrid plans of action on aging.
Documents | Country reports | Articles
| Links
Documents
China: The Macao Outcome Document of the High-Level Meeting on the Regional Review of the Implementation of the Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing (October 2007)
These recommendations for action come from the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific high-level meeting on the regional review of the Implementation of the Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing in Macau, China, from 9 to 11 October 2007. The main objectives of the meeting were: 1) to review developments in the area of ageing in Asia and the Pacific; 2) to review and appraise the implementation of MIPAA in the region, by considering the findings of national reviews, sharing experiences and good practices, and 3) to identify priorities for further actions.
Expert Group Meeting on the Regional Preparations for the Global Review of Madrid Plan of Action on Ageing (March 27-29, 2007)
ESCAP organized this third in a series of events to facilitate the 5 year review of MIPAA that focused mainly on the priority direction “enabling and supportive environments.” Participants discussed from a regional perspective, “the critical issues and recent policy developments related to social support for older persons, social and health security, housing and enabling environments for older persons, care support for caregivers, and integration of ageing issues in development agenda.” This link provides access to the available information about the meeting.
Report of the Expert Group Meeting on Setting the Agenda of the High-level Meeting of the Regional Review of the Implementation of the Shanghai Implementation Strategy for the Madrid and Macao Plans of Action on Ageing (August 1, 2006)
In its meeting, the expert group identified 17 agenda items for the High Level regional meeting on MIPAA implementation that will take place in October 2007. Social Protection and income security of older persons ranks number one on this list, emphasizing its importance to older persons in the region. The report further underlined the “immediate concern” to engage “communities in the development of the many possible social protection systems for older persons.”
Expert Group Meeting on Setting the Agenda for the High-Level Regional Review Meeting on the Implementation
of the Shanghai Implementation Strategy for the Macao and the Madrid Plans of Action on Ageing (June 30 – July 1, 2006)
As part of its upcoming 5-year global review of the Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing in February 2008, UNESCAP will hold a High-level Regional Meeting in 2007 to gather the region’s input. In order to prepare for the 2007 meeting, ESCAP held a 2006 plenary expert group meeting. The experts discussed aging in its “socio-economic and cultural context in Asia and the Pacific,” and identified means to overcome difficulties in resource mobilization, knowledge creation and dissemination.” This link provides access to the available information about the meeting.
Report of the Regional
Seminar on Follow-Up to the Shanghai Implementation Strategy for the Madrid and Macao Plans of Action on Ageing (October 18-21, 2004)
This
report of ESCAP’s regional review seminar in
Macao, China, offers an extensive view of the status of MIPAA implementation in the
region. The seminar’s participants, delegates from regional governments,
the UN system, International NGOs and experts in the field, also discussed
social protection measures, including health and long-term care for older
persons, concluding that such measures should be incorporated in the
Millennium Development Goals’ analysis and poverty reduction strategies.
To assist member countries in MIPAA implementation, the seminar adopted a
“regional
monitoring and evaluation draft protocol” designed to develop a
decision-making protocol to assess their ageing policies, facilitate
information collection, and offer a set of (instrumental and outcome)
indicators for measurement.
Shanghai Implementation Strategy: Regional Implementation Strategy for the Madrid
International Plan of Action on Ageing 2002 and the Macao Plan of Action on Ageing for Asia and the Pacific 1999 (February 27, 2003)
In 1999 UNESCAP Member States adopted the Macao Declaration and Plan of Action on Ageing for
Asia and the Pacific. Often referred to as the Macao Plan on Ageing, the plan defines seven major areas of concern on aging in the region: the social position of older persons; older persons and the family; health and nutrition; housing, transportation and the built environment; older persons and the market; income security, maintenance and employment; and social services and the community. The Macao Plan on Ageing reaffirms several UN objectives on aging, such as the Vienna Plan and the International Year of Older Persons, and reflects the 2002 Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing.
Report
on the Regional Survey on Ageing (June 2002)
The Regional Survey on Ageing, conducted by the
UNESCAP secretariat, serves as a knowledge base for the Shanghai Regional
Implementation Strategy. Although UNESCAP initially sent the survey to 56 of
its Member States, information is only provided by 29 countries and areas.
The report shows that many governments in the region have began implementing
policies in accordance with the commitments made in the Macao and Madrid plans on aging. To counter implementation difficulties, such as the “lack
of funds, knowledge, and training,” the report suggests regular exchange
of best practices and expertise among countries and areas in the region.
Macao
Declaration and Plan of
Action on Ageing for Asia
and the Pacific (1999)
In 1999 UNESCAP Member States
adopted the Macao Declaration and Plan of Action on Ageing for Asia
and the Pacific. Often referred to as the Macao Plan on Ageing, the plan
defines seven major areas of concern on aging in the region: the social
position of older persons; older persons and the family; health and
nutrition; housing, transportation and the built environment; older persons
and the market; income security, maintenance and employment; and social
services and the community. The Macao Plan on Ageing reaffirms several UN
objectives on aging, such as the Vienna Plan and the International Year of
Older Persons, and reflects the 2002 Madrid International Plan of Action on
Ageing.
Country reports
A High-level Meeting on the Regional Review of the Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing (MIPAA) met from October 9 to October 11, 2007, in Bangkok. Senior officials and Member Governments’ focal points on aging from the Economic and Social Council for Asia-Pacific reviewed developments in their area and appraised how MIPAA is being implemented. They looked at national reports, shared experiences and good practices, and identified further actions to put MIPAA in place. These reports contain rich information and detail about what nations have achieved thus far and their plans for the future.
Australia: Implementation of the Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing, country report (October, 2007)
During the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), Australia reported on its progress to implement the three priority directions of the Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing
(MIPAA). Australia has worked hard to address the short, medium and long term issues arising from population aging. In aiming to help older Australian participate fully in life, the government is supporting health, wellbeing and healthy ageing, planning for retirement, including financial planning and retirement incomes. Thanks to its positive steps, life expectancy in Australia is amongst the highest in the world. Older Australians now live healthier lives than previous generations. However, the government, business, the general public and individuals must pay attention to the economic and social challenges of an aging population. Developing sustainable health and social programs remain a high priority for Australia.
Cambodia: Review and Appraisal of the Progress on Implementation of the Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing
(MIPAA) in the Kingdom of Cambodia (October 2007)
To pursue the implementation of MIPAA, the Royal Government of Cambodia encourages NGO’s to implement home care program for older people and to strengthen Older People Associations. It also promotes a life-course perspective on health and ageing that includes good nutrition, and encourages and supports the family and communities to continue caring for their older members.
China: Report on Implementation of Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing 2002 (October 2007)
China is home to more than 150 million persons over 60 years old. Over the past five years, China has adopted a series of policies that actively pushed the implementation of the Madrid Plan of Action. China has managed to bring aging issues into the overall strategy of national economy and social development. According to this report, China aims to provide and give all older persons proper medical care. The government wants its elders to pass on their experience as well as to learn new things. In order to put the Madrid Plan into practice, the Chinese government is trying to perfect the framework of its aging institutions. China has established an old-age insurance system in urban areas and an old-age security system in rural areas. To improve the well-being of the elderly population, the Chinese government is promoting affordable medical care and services for the aged. However, with a fast growing aging population, China must confront severe challenges for the future, especially around the sustainability of its old-age security system and the medical care system.
Indonesia: Review of Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing (October 2007)
Life expectancy in Indonesia has gone up and it is estimated that by 2020 the older population will reach 11.34% of the total population. Most older adults live in rural areas and participate in their local economy while young people are often migrate to urban areas. Poor older adults depend on intergenerational solidarity for financial support. In some provinces, the government’s poverty protection program supports families with older persons who have no pension. However, this program is limited to 10 provinces out of 33 in the country. In the future, many older Indonesians will have to face the dilemma of old age poverty, a major challenge for the country. Regarding health care, the Department of Health is pushing for prevention and treatment of middle and old aged person. In some provinces, older persons have access to health facilities and free medication for those 80 years and above.
Korea: Report by the Delegation of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (October 2007)
In the Democratic People’s Korea, the government views older persons as the forerunners who devoted their lives to the upcoming generation. The State believes it has a moral duty to care for older persons and takes responsibility to provide direct care for older persons with no caregivers. In Korea, the national social security system provides men over 60 years and women over 55 years with a pension and subsidy on the basis of their service years and merits. The government says that universal free medical care and social security are also being developed to respond to the rapid increase of the older population.
Kyrgyzstan: National Report on the Implementation of the Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing (October 2007)
In Kyrgyzstan, eight percent of the population is over 60 years old. Life expectancy is equal to 68.6 years old today but is rapidly increasing. The government confronts an unstable public pension system which needs to be improved. Most retirees in Kyrgyzstan receive a work pension; however, the pension level is very small resulting in 81% of older persons living on less than one dollar a day. Kyrgyzstan also needs to improve the quality of healthcare for older people. The Kyrgyz representatives present at the High-level Meeting on the Regional Review of the Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing pointed out that the old system needs to change radically and that the government is doing its best to become economically stable in order support older generations adequately.
Philippines: High-level Meeting on the Regional Review of the Madrid International Plan of Action on Aging (October 2007)
In response to challenges posed by population ageing, the country’s National Coordinating and Monitoring Board formed an Inter-Agency Committee to develop the Philippine Plan of Action for Senior Citizens 2006-2010. The plan includes strategies, programs, projects and activities designed to help the elderly. Programs address health and long-term care concerns, social protection and security, alleviating poverty in old age, promoting positive attitudes, and protecting the rights of the older persons in general.
Russian Federation: National Report on Implementation of the Madrid International Plan of Action on Aging 2007 (October 2007)
Russia faces many obstacles in its attempts to introduce new policies that will help its elder population. For example, great differences remain among older people throughout the regions, between cities and rural areas, including a high level of vulnerability of older women. Nonetheless, in the five years since the Madrid World Assembly, Russia has enhanced the financial and social states of older people “by improving the mechanisms of legal regulation and building up of resource capacities,” as well as reshaping its health institutions to include problems that come with ageing.
Sri Lanka: High-level Meeting on the Regional Review of the Implementation
of the Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing (October 2007)
While
Sri Lanka
has several social security systems in place, they do not adequately cover
the expenditure needs of the elderly at retirement, especially since older
people are living longer. Establishing an appropriate health care system for
the elderly has only been a very recent priority in
Sri Lanka
. “The National Policy seeks to assure senior citizens that their concerns
are national concerns and they will not live unprotected, ignored or
marginalized.”
Thailand
: Implementation of the
Madrid
International Plan of Action (October 2007)
After
the Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing was adopted,
Thailand
issued its 2nd National Plan for Older Persons and translated the plan into
Thai language to promote active involvement of the population and various
agencies. In 2003, the Act on Older Persons established a legal framework
for elderly rights. That same year, the National Commission on the Elderly
was set up to supervise the overall implementation of the plan which
includes everything from rapid and convenient medical and health services
and suitable occupational training to the provision of funeral assistance.
With the Elderly Fund,
Thailand
supports older persons in need by giving them a monthly allowance which is
part of the non-contributory pension system the government developed.
Articles
UN-Backed Asia-Pacific Conference to Look into Impacts of Population Ageing (October 9, 2007)
Officials from two dozen Asian-Pacific nations gathered in Macao, China, to discuss regional progress in addressing the challenges of an aging population. The governments and NGO’s reviewed the results of their work, exchanged information and experience, and identified priorities for the future. By recognizing the many social and economic implications of the ageing process, many governments in this region have already developed their own national plans and policies for older persons.
Links
UNESCAP-Population
and Social Integration Section
On this page you will find information on ESCAP’s work on implementing MIPAA in the region. The site provides regular updates in meetings, events and documentation around the topic.
A
Matter of Rights: Older Persons & Persons with Disabilities
This UNESCAP website provides several links to video reports
on older persons and persons with disabilities in the Asia Pacific region.
By contributing to a positive attitude toward older persons, and promoting a
health lifestyle in old age, the reports are part of UNESCAP’s efforts to
aid implementation of MIPAA in
the region.
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