Asia and the Pacific is ageing with over 500 million people now aged 65 and above. It is also transitioning from households with high fertility to longer lives and smaller families, while facing ageing populations, youth employment pressures and widening intergenerational inequalities.
Against this backdrop, the 82nd session of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) will be convened in Bangkok in the presence of ministers, policymakers and leading experts from across the region and guided by the theme "Leaving no one behind: Advancing a Society for All Ages in Asia and the Pacific".
The session will spotlight policy solutions to ensure that no one is left behind in a region that is home to more than 60% of the world's population. Delegates will also examine critical socioeconomic priorities, including decent work across all age groups, women's economic empowerment, the future of care systems and strategies to promote healthy and active ageing. Interactive dialogues will further highlight how governments can adapt labour markets, strengthen social protection and invest in lifelong learning to build more inclusive and resilient societies.
Among a line-up of events, the 2026 session will also feature dialogues with ministers from Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States; intergovernmental subregional organizations and will convene the Special Programme for the Economies of Central Asia (SPECA).
