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UNECE: phenomenon of demographic ageing in Armenia striking
June 18, 2011 - 17:49 AMT
PanARMENIAN.Net - The United Nations Economic Commission for Europe
(UNECE) launched the report of its first `Road Map for Mainstreaming
Ageing', a project to help guide Armenia in devising policies relating
to ageing and older people. The Government of Armenia has formally
adopted the recommendations as a part of their National Strategy and
Action Plan on Ageing.
`Mainstreaming ageing', the overarching goal of the Road Map, means
ensuring that population ageing and the specific needs of older people
are routinely considered in all policy areas, rather than being
sidelined and treated as a separate issue or `problem'.
The Armenian Road Map includes an analysis of existing laws and
documents relating to ageing; chapters on integration of older
persons, social protection, health, institutional care, housing and
independent living, education, the labour market, and gender; a
consideration of monitoring and evaluation strategies, involvement of
stakeholders, and existing research and data collection
infrastructures; and finally a consideration of Armenia's integration
in international processes relating to ageing.
Specific recommendations of the Road Map include pension and housing
reform; promotion of lifelong learning; media campaigns to combat
negative stereotypes; improved medical training in gerontology and
geriatrics; changes in labour law to provide incentives to employers
and employees alike for continued labour market participation; formal
recognition of family-based care; and improvements in institutional
care facilities.
While population ageing is often thought of as a feature of the
Western European countries, the phenomenon is rapidly emerging in the
countries of Eastern Europe, the Caucasus and Central Asia as well.
11 per cent of Armenia's 3.1 million inhabitants are aged 65 years or
older, and this share is projected to reach 18 per cent by 2030. While
currently much lower than the levels seen in Western European
countries such as Germany (20 per cent) or France (17 per cent), and
somewhat below that of Russia (13 per cent) the proportion of older
persons in Armenia is rapidly catching up, and this fast rate of
increase makes the changes especially challenging. A significant
factor that has quickened the pace of change is the massive emigration
of young people: around two thirds of Armenians live outside of the
country and in the period 2005-2010 net migration out of the country
totalled 15,000 people (about 0.5 per cent of the total population)
each year.
Combined with a total fertility rate of 1.74 children per woman - well
below the level of about 2.1 required for long-term generational
replacement - and a gain in life expectancy of almost six years since
1990, the phenomenon of demographic ageing in Armenia is now striking.
UNECE and the Government of Armenia have developed the Road Map for
Mainstreaming Ageing to help ensure that these growing numbers of
older people are integrated into Armenian society, economically,
socially and culturally; that their needs are met, their potential
fulfilled and their contributions recognized, UNECE official website
reported.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
June 18, 2011 - 17:49 AMT
PanARMENIAN.Net - The United Nations Economic Commission for Europe
(UNECE) launched the report of its first `Road Map for Mainstreaming
Ageing', a project to help guide Armenia in devising policies relating
to ageing and older people. The Government of Armenia has formally
adopted the recommendations as a part of their National Strategy and
Action Plan on Ageing.
`Mainstreaming ageing', the overarching goal of the Road Map, means
ensuring that population ageing and the specific needs of older people
are routinely considered in all policy areas, rather than being
sidelined and treated as a separate issue or `problem'.
The Armenian Road Map includes an analysis of existing laws and
documents relating to ageing; chapters on integration of older
persons, social protection, health, institutional care, housing and
independent living, education, the labour market, and gender; a
consideration of monitoring and evaluation strategies, involvement of
stakeholders, and existing research and data collection
infrastructures; and finally a consideration of Armenia's integration
in international processes relating to ageing.
Specific recommendations of the Road Map include pension and housing
reform; promotion of lifelong learning; media campaigns to combat
negative stereotypes; improved medical training in gerontology and
geriatrics; changes in labour law to provide incentives to employers
and employees alike for continued labour market participation; formal
recognition of family-based care; and improvements in institutional
care facilities.
While population ageing is often thought of as a feature of the
Western European countries, the phenomenon is rapidly emerging in the
countries of Eastern Europe, the Caucasus and Central Asia as well.
11 per cent of Armenia's 3.1 million inhabitants are aged 65 years or
older, and this share is projected to reach 18 per cent by 2030. While
currently much lower than the levels seen in Western European
countries such as Germany (20 per cent) or France (17 per cent), and
somewhat below that of Russia (13 per cent) the proportion of older
persons in Armenia is rapidly catching up, and this fast rate of
increase makes the changes especially challenging. A significant
factor that has quickened the pace of change is the massive emigration
of young people: around two thirds of Armenians live outside of the
country and in the period 2005-2010 net migration out of the country
totalled 15,000 people (about 0.5 per cent of the total population)
each year.
Combined with a total fertility rate of 1.74 children per woman - well
below the level of about 2.1 required for long-term generational
replacement - and a gain in life expectancy of almost six years since
1990, the phenomenon of demographic ageing in Armenia is now striking.
UNECE and the Government of Armenia have developed the Road Map for
Mainstreaming Ageing to help ensure that these growing numbers of
older people are integrated into Armenian society, economically,
socially and culturally; that their needs are met, their potential
fulfilled and their contributions recognized, UNECE official website
reported.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress