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UN Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (UNESCWA)
The UN Economic and Social Council Resolution 1818 (LV) of August 9, 1973, created a successor Commission to replace the UN’s Economic and Social Office in Beirut. In 1985, the Commission was renamed the Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (UN-ESCWA), thanks to Economic and Social Council resolution 1985/69 of July 26, 1985. The authors wanted to acknowledge fully the Commission's social concerns.
UNESCWA promotes economic and social development through regional and subregional cooperation and integration. UNESCWA members consider the general economic and social development situation within this UN forum serving the Middle East and North African region. It designs and promotes activities and projects to develop the region that meet the needs and priorities of the region. UNESCWA also operates projects in the region as well.
In response to MIPAA, the Arab countries adopted the Arab Plan of Action on Ageing to the Year 2012. The plan calls for measures to improve the status of older Arabs socially and economically and for these measures to reflect the input and consent of Arab seniors.
The Commission helps governments develop and set up national action plans on aging. UNESCWA experts also assess the ageing situation in the region based on country reports.
Documents | Links
Documents
Situation Analysis of Population Ageing in the Arab Countries: The Way Forward Towards Implementation of MIPAA
(June 6, 2008)
This comprehensive report of the ageing situation facing Arab countries details the ongoing challenges and prescribes the necessary measures to improve the situation of older persons. Among the many problems the writers highlight are high poverty and illiteracy rates among the old, lack of pension plans, lack of reliable and transparent statistics, lack of caregivers and medical facilities and discrimination against women in pension plans.
Regional Seminar on the Review and Appraisal of the Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing (November 2007)
(Report also available in Arabic)
In 2007, the ESCWA convened a regional seminar in Amman to review the progress made in implementing the 2002 MIPAA and to encourage MENA countries to share experiences and successful approaches. The seminar urged member countries to continue their development in supporting programs for older people. The seminar urged countries to discuss the priorities, needs and gaps of their government efforts and proposed various recommendations on follow-up and implementation.
Population Aging in Arab Countries (2007)
Like other developing countries, Arabic speaking countries are witnessing rapid aging of their populations due to increases in life expectancy and decreases in fertility rates. The United Nations Economic and Social Committee for Western Asia (UNESCWA) prepared a 2007 report analyzing this aging development. The percentage of people over 65 has doubled from 1980 to 2000 from 5.7 to 10.4 million and is expected to reach 21 million by 2020. Arab states have made only small, uncoordinated efforts to deal with this change so far. Arab states use a welfare-based model to provide care for older persons rather than a developmental, human rights and/or participatory approach, according to the report.
The Demographic Profile of Arab Countries, The Aging of Rural Populations (2007)
Like developing countries worldwide, Arabic speaking countries are facing a rapid aging of their rural populations as the young move to the cities for job opportunities and older persons remain in rural areas or move to the countryside for their retirement. The United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (UNESCWA) has produced a report documenting the aging of rural populations in Arab countries. The report advises taking measures to slow the rural-to-urban migration in order to ensure the vibrancy of rural areas in the years to come.
The
Arab Plan of Action on Ageing to the Year 2012 (February 7, 2002)
In 2002, representatives from the Arab countries came together in Beirut to draft this
document to guide their various national efforts to address ageing-related issues.
In preparation for the
Second World Assembly on Ageing, ESCWA reviewed and evaluated national
implementations of the Vienna International Plan of Action on Ageing, with a
view to preparing the Arab Plan of Action on Ageing to the Year 2012. The plan outlines the current situation facing older persons in Arab countries. Writers say that the main challenge of Arab societies at this time is that caring for the elderly is viewed as a welfare function, rather than a human rights-based and participatory issue. In addition, many countries either do not provide for, or give unequal assistance, to older women and widows. A huge obstacle as well is the high level of illiteracy in Arab seniors,
especially among women. It is noted however, that Arab societies have provided exceptional family care and care from the voluntary sector. The plan calls for measures to improve the standing of older Arabs socially and economically and for these measures to be adopted with the input and consent of Arab seniors.
Links
UNESCWA
Official Website of the regional commission.
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