Introduction
Population and development constitute the focus of the Population Programme in Asia and the Pacific. This regional programme derives its principal mandate from the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), a ministerial-level body which meets annually to review the economic and social development of the region. It also receives a mandate from the Asian and Pacific Population Conference, which is a statutory organ of the Commission and meets every 10 years; and the International Conference on Population and Development, a global body which meets periodically. The programme also receives directives from the Economic and Social Council and the General Assembly of the United Nations. In addition, while formulating the biennial programme of work and priorities the secretariat receives continuous guidance from the Advisory Committee of Permanent Representatives (ACPR) of member and associate member States to ESCAP.


Issues addressed

The Bali Declaration on Population and Sustainable Development was adopted by the Fourth Asian and Pacific Population Conference in 1992. The declaration emphasized that population factors play an important role in all human endeavours, especially in safeguarding the environment and pursuit of sustainable development. Accordingly, population considerations must be fully integrated into all aspects of planning and policy-making. Sustainable development as a means to ensure human well-being, equitably shared by all people today and in the future, requires that the interrelationships between population, resources, the environment and development should be fully recognized, properly managed and brought into a harmonious, dynamic balance.

An integrated approach incorporating population, resources, the environment and development elements must be pursued, although understanding of the complex interrelationships between these elements is still at an early stage. To do otherwise would endanger the attainment of sustainable development and narrow the options available to future generations.

Measures to improve the status, role and participation of women must be given high priority, both because women have a fundamental right to enjoy equality with men in all aspects of life and because women play a critical role and must fully participate in the sustainable development process.

The alleviation of poverty is fundamental to the achievement of sustainable development. Dealing with population problems requires strengthening of social policies as well as regional cooperation. Rapid population growth and consequent changes in demographic structure and uneven population distribution are crucial factors that impose pressures and constraints on economic development efforts, the environment and natural resources as well as social conditions. However, these factors are often neglected in environmental and economic development strategies that regard population as a neutral factor rather than a dynamic variable requiring policy intervention.

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