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UN
Department of Economic
and Social Affairs (DESA)
In the UN Secretariat, the Department of Economic and
Social Affairs (DESA) has responsibility to foster and assist MIPAA
implementation and follow-up. Within DESA, the UN Programme on Ageing
assumes the main responsibility for MIPAA and works with other parts of
the UN to get the task done. In a very positive movement, the UN Programme
of Youth began taking a closer look at MIPAA in 2003, strengthening its
approach to inter-generational issues and mainstreaming MIPAA's
recommendations.
UN
Programme on Ageing
DESA’s Program on Aging organizes expert group meetings and promotes
awareness of the bottom-up approach through guidelines in order to assist
countries in MIPAA follow-up. DESA also receives assessments
on the aging situation from regional commissions and makes
recommendations to the UN Secretary General for inclusion in a yearly
report. With less than four staff professionals the UN Programme on Ageing
is quite understaffed compared with other UN departments and considering
the magnitude of population aging. This page also includes work of other
DESA departments.
UN Programme on Youth
Within DESA, the UN Programme on Youth acts as the focal point for youth
issues. In 1995, the UN adopted an international strategy, the World
Programme of Action for Youth to the Year 2000 and Beyond. The World
Programme shares similarities to MIPAA as it builds on the same
international instruments, such as the Programme of Action of the 1994
International Conference on Population and Development. Most importantly,
a proposed supplement to the World Programme stresses intergenerational
solidarity that resonates throughout MIPAA. This page follows the Youth
Programme’s work on mainstreaming the recommendations contained in MIPAA.
UN
Population Division
Lodged in the Department for Economic and Social Affairs (DESA), the Population Division focuses on a wide range of global population issues (adoption, HIV/AIDS, urban and rural development, environment, fertility trends, older persons, youth, etc). Experts in the Divisions analyze and investigate policy issues and prominent global trends in the field of population and development. The Division helps the United Nations to understand important population development issues that require action. It has worked on ageing topics for over twenty-five years. In 1994, during the International Conference on Population and Development, the Division described aging as a social and economic challenge and opportunity. Today, the 2002 Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing (MIPAA) shaped the concerns of the division, particularly around population increase and mortality rates. MIPAA focuses on 3 major areas: older persons and development; advancing health and well-being into old age and ensuring an enabling and supportive environment. These areas coincide with population and development.
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