13-15 December 1999, Sion, Switzerland
The Conference "Status of the Older Population: Prelude to the 21st Century" was
held from 13 to 15 December 1999 in Sion, Switzerland. It was organized by the Population Activities Unit (PAU)
of the Economic Commission for Europe (ECE) in collaboration with the US National Institute on Aging (NIA),
the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and the Institut Universitaire Kurt Bosch (IKB). The conference
brought together about 90 participants representing various academic institutions, international organizations,
NGOs and government agencies of ECE member states. Over 40 papers covering different aspects of population
ageing and the status of older persons were presented in the twelve sessions of the conference, which focused
on issues ranging from the geographic distribution and redistribution of older persons, to their living arrangements
and housing conditions, health status, as well as income maintenance in old age and work and retirement. Please follow the
links below for more information on the conference:
Population ageing and the onset of decline in
the working-age population have become an increasing
concern for most governments in the
UNECE
region.
While ageing is a universal phenomenon across the
region, there is great variation in its level and
pace, mainly determined by a country’s stage in the demographic transition
and by the scope and timing of fertility decline. In most countries, the
period of economically favourable age structure of low youth and old-age
dependency rates, the so-called demographic bonus, is gradually coming
to an end. This change has important and far-reaching implications across
all spheres of society, including on economic and social development,
sustainability and equity.
To meet the policy challenges arising from population ageing,
Member
States of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) have
committed to implement the
Regional Strategy of the Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing (MIPAA/RIS). This requires
regional level support in the form of coordinated data collection and monitoring, exchange of experience
and analysis as well as capacity development. The UNECE secretariat is coordinating this work, advised by
the Task Force “Monitoring RIS” and assisted by
the European Centre for Social Welfare Policy and Research