26 August 2012: The Executive Director of the UN Population Fund (UNFPA), Babatunde Osotimehin, at the second conference of the Asian Population Association in Bangkok, Thailand, on 26 August 2012, called for countries to urgently tackle population concerns including urbanization, international migration, ageing populations and gender imbalance.

Osotimehin highlighted recent trends in population dynamics including the rapid drop in fertility rates in the region, increasing proportions of older people in many countries, the impacts of sex selection at birth in preference for sons, and ongoing inequality. He called for countries to tackle these challenges “with foresight and justice.” He urged participants to support their countries’ review of access to reproductive health services, including a global survey being carried out for the 20-year review of the 1994 International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD), which he said will contribute to the post-2015 development agenda.

The Asian Population Association was founded in 2007 to foster research, enhance scholarly collaboration, and support data collection efforts. [UNFPA Press Release] [Asian Population Association Website]