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Papers in Population Ageing No.6
During the 1950s and 1960s, most less developed countries were characterized by high fertility levels. Recognizing this, governments undertook sustained measures to promote family planning and provide better access to quality health services. As a result, fertility levels declined while life expectancy improved.
ICPD at 15: Priority Challenges for Asia and the Pacific
Based on the inputs from a regional review organized by the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) in March 2009, this report reviews the progress achieved after 15 years of implementing the Programme of Action agreed at the 1994 International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD).
Asia and the Pacific at a Glance
The Asia and the Pacific region is home to nearly 3.7 billion people, which amounts to about 60 percent of the world's total population. While the region has made significant progress in reducing hunger and extreme deprivation; in expanding access to basic services, health and education; and in promoting economic growth and food security; the region is still characterized by gross disparities and stark contrasts. This document provides a brief on UNFPA's regional programme for Asia and the Pacific, including country profiles, and indicators on population and reproductive health.
Conference on Advocating Universal Access to Reproductive Health Services and Commodity Security
About 188,000 women in South Asia die each year due to pregnancy-related complications, accounting for more than 50 percent of Asia’s maternal deaths in 2005. All of these deaths are avoidable. To achieve MDG 5 by 2015, improving health care for women and providing universal access to reproductive health (RH) services must be prioritized.
Reproductive Health Commodity Security Advocacy Briefs
Having adequate level of political commitment to reproductive health commodity security (RHCS) is key to improving national capacity to estimate current and future reproductive health commodity requirement, procure these supplies, and track and manage inventories by establishing efficient logistics management systems. This publication presents ten advocacy briefs that are intended to serve as prototypes or templates for country level advocacy.
Papers in Population Ageing No.5
This report focuses on the rapid demographic change that has taken place in Thailand during the last three to four decades, leading to the country becoming the most 'aged' in South East Asia – next only to Singapore. This is explained by the significant declines in fertility (from 6.4 to 1.8) and improvements in longevity (from 52 to 71 years) during the second half of the 20th century.
The Impact of Social Pensions: Perceptions of Asian Older Persons
World population is ageing fast. The number of people aged 60 years and over is projected to double in the next four decades. In Asia, the proportion of older population is expected to increase sharply in the first half of the century. This report presents the findings of a research on social pensions in four Asian countries: Mongolia, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Vietnam.
Reproductive Health of Ethnic Minority Groups in the Greater Mekong Sub-Region
The Greater Mekong Sub-Region is one of the fastest growing economic sub-regions in the world and is expected to emerge as an important economic hub in Asia. But many of Mekong's population remain poor.
Asia and the Pacific Regional Forum on Strengthening Partnerships with Faith-Based Organisations in Addressing ICPD
UNFPA country offices in Asia and the Pacific region and faith-based organizations came together for a two-day consultation to assess the impact of their partnership in the areas of maternal health, gender equality, migration and youth welfare. Together with faith-based organizations, the consultation presented a unique opportunity to reflect on the progress towards achieving critical Millennium Development Goal (MDG) targets. This report documents the experiences and lessons learned from various initiatives of faith-based organizations in the region in addressing these issues.
Papers in Population Ageing No.4
China completed its demographic transition from high fertility/mortality to low fertility/mortality during the last three decades of the 20th century. As a result, it is now faced with a rapidly increasing proportion of older persons. This publication describes population ageing in the world’s most populous country and identifies several important emerging socio-economic challenges that the government is facing. It documents initiatives that the government has taken and provides recommendations needed to address the issue of population ageing.