亞太地區正邁向高齡化。目前有超過6.3億人超過了60歲。到2050年，該地區四分之一的人口--13億人--將處於這個年齡層。兩個人口因素顯著地促成此急劇增長：生育率下降和預期壽命延長。
The Asia-Pacific region is getting older. More than 630 million people are currently over the age of 60. One-quarter of the region's population - 1.3 billion people - will be in that age group by 2050. Two demographic factors contribute significantly to this dramatic increase: declining fertility rates and rising life expectancy.
世界各國領導人於2002年通過的《馬德里高齡問題國際行動計畫》（The Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing, MIPAA）為處理21世紀的高齡化問題提供了一個綜合架構。此計畫優先考慮三個領域：長者和制定與他們的權利有關的政策，促進長者的健康和福祉，以及確保有利和支持性環境。
The Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing (MIPAA), adopted by world leaders in 2002, provides a comprehensive framework for dealing with the issue of ageing in the 21st century. It prioritizes three areas: older persons and the development of policies related to their rights, advancing health and well-being into old age, and ensuring enabling and supportive environments.
該計畫鼓勵採取多種行動，包括通過建立全面的國家社會和財政保護制度來促進在有利於長者的條件下工作的權利。它主張更強有力的社區發展政策，以及提高政府收集和分析按年齡分類的數據的能力，為制定更多基於證據的政策和有關高齡化的跨世代專業知識鋪路。
The Plan encourages a variety of actions, including promoting the right to work in age-friendly conditions by establishing comprehensive national social and financial protection systems. It advocates for stronger community development policies as well as increased government capacity to collect and analyze age-disaggregated data, paving the way for more evidence-based policies and intergenerational expertise on ageing.
然而，將長者與我們的社會隔開的差距和障礙仍然存在並不斷擴大。今年7 月舉行的《馬德里高齡問題國際行動計畫》實施20 週年之際舉行的亞太區域審查，敦促各國以參與的方式將長者納入決策過程，承認他們是社會的支柱和聲音。
However, the gaps and barriers that separate older persons from our societies persist and widen. The Asia-Pacific regional review of MIPAA implementation, held July on its 20th anniversary this year, urged countries to include older persons in policymaking processes in a participatory manner, recognizing them as a pillar and voice of society.
總括來說，在2030年永續發展議程的背景下，亞太經社會通過與相關合作夥伴的包容性對話，協助各國定期監測其高齡人口的狀況。
Overall, under the context of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, ESCAP assists nations in regularly monitoring the state of their older populations through inclusive dialogues with pertinent partners.
這些國家和地區的協商是消除年齡歧視的起點。他們還希望改進關於終身數位學習機會的全面和有效的政策制訂，並投資於普遍優質和可負擔的長期護理系統，以減少對無償護理的依賴，以及通過支持性養老金獲得住房或收入保障的權利。
These national and regional consultations serve as a starting point for eliminating age discrimination. They also want to improve the development of comprehensive and effective policies on lifelong digital learning opportunities, as well as investing in universal quality and affordable long-term care systems to reduce reliance on unpaid care, as well as the right to housing or income security through supportive pensions.
Photo:到2030年，亞太地區38億人口中將有5.11億是高齡者。(法新社提供)
By 2030, there will be 511 million elderly people in the Asia-Pacific region, out of 3.8 billion.(Supplied/AFP)
Citation:
Ageing in the 21st century: Changing mindsets and investing in all generations
https://www.unescap.org/story/ageing-21st-century-changing-mindsets-and-investing-all-generations
