Population and Development Review in Asia and the Pacific Emphasizes Individual Dignity and Human Rights

With the goal of improving the lives and futures of 60 percent of the world’s 8 billion people, nearly 500 government officials and civil society and youth leaders from the Asia and Pacific region gathered in Bangkok, Thailand, from 15 to 17 November 2023.

“Our collective future depends on how we think about and respond to the interlinkages between population and development,” Diene Keita, UNFPA deputy executive director of programme, said while opening the seventh Asian and Pacific Population Conference. “The decisions that are made today and over the next few days will pave the way for a more stable, more resilient and ultimately more prosperous region.”
 
Delegates from 54 member states reviewed progress implementing the Asian and Pacific Ministerial Declaration on Population and Development and the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development. Discussions were informed by country-level review reports and a call to action developed by 110 civil society and youth delegates consulted before the conference.

The conference, organized by the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific and UNFPA, celebrated ICPD successes to date, reflected on persisting gaps and stressed the need for renewed commitment to people-centred development.

Delegates acknowledged achievements such as a 60 per cent decline in maternal mortality since 2000, a 32-year increase in life expectancy and an increase in girls accessing education. Discussions also focused on large-scale forces impacting the most vulnerable, including climate crises, ageing populations, low fertility, growing migration, increasing urbanization, rapid digitalization and conflict. The conference called for solutions to persisting inequalities, for forward-looking policies that take advantage of the demographic transition, for faster progress and for stronger political will to achieve shared goals.

“The collective resolve, constructive dialogues and solution-oriented approach evident throughout the conference underscore our potential to make substantial contributions to ICPD30 and position ourselves for the post-2030 population and development agenda,” said Lin Yang, deputy executive secretary of ESCAP during the closing session.