Events

Celebration on the World Population Day 2023 and a panel discussion

11 July 2023

Pullman Bangkok King Power Hotel, Bangkok.

Celebration on the World Population Day 2023

and a panel discussion on

“Bridging Intergenerational Gaps and Promoting Gender Equality
for Young People Towards Aged Society: พร้อมเชื่อมทุกกลุ่ม ทุกเพศ ทุกวัย ไปด้วยกัน”

Background:

UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), is an international development agency that works to deliver a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe, and every young person’s potential is fulfilled.

UNFPA Thailand promotes an approach to addressing gender inequality. Our programme intervention aims to empower vulnerable populations with a focus on adolescents, youth, women and girls. While policy engagement and advocacy are key programme strategies, robust resource mobilisation, public engagement and brand building targeting the corporate sector and the general public are the accelerators.

Rationale:

The world is ageing rapidly. People aged 60 and older make up 12.3 per cent of the global population, and by 2050, that number will rise to almost 22 per cent. Thailand is among the fastest ageing countries in the world. Of its 67 million population, 12 million Thais are elderly according to the latest national statistics report. Since 2005, the country has been classified as an ‘aged society’ as people aged 60 years and above accounted for 10% of the population. It is expected that the country’s elderly population will increase to 28% and that Thailand will become a ‘super-aged society’ by the next decade. Thailand’s Population Development Plan (2565-2580 BC.)^{^[1]} outlined key situations and scenarios along with the implications towards Thailand’s Sustainable Development. However, in practice, there are still gaps to implement this policy, especially to prepare the pre-aged population to be ready for an aged society.

Ageing is a triumph of development: People are living longer because of better nutrition, sanitation, health care, education, and economic well-being. Although an ageing world poses social and economic challenges, the right set of policies can equip individuals, families, and societies to address these challenges and to reap its benefits. UNFPA works to raise awareness about population ageing and the need to harness its opportunities and address its challenges. UNFPA also supports research and data collection to provide a solid base for policies and planning, and makes sure ageing issues are integrated into national development programmes and poverty reduction strategies.

In line with UNFPA’s mandate, Thailand’s aged society should offer an enabling environment with gender equality focusing on rights and choices for all. Under the concept of the life-cycle approach to population ageing, human capital development especially among vulnerable populations will equip them with informed decisions and choices in family planning, life with less risk to gender-based violence and equal opportunities in the country’s journey to Sustainable Development.

To celebrate the World Population Day in 2023 and to raise awareness on the importance of the life-cycle approach to population ageing, gender equality and human capital development in Thailand, UNFPA Thailand is to organise and event with key following activities:

an online social media contest on “Bridging Intergenerational Gaps and Promoting Gender Equality for Young People Towards Aged Society พร้อมเชื่อมทุกกลุ่ม ทุกเพศ ทุกวัย ไปด้วยกัน” to engage youth and the public on this important issue; and
a ceremony of MOUs signing with strategic academic partners; and
a panel discussion to present diverse perspectives on preparation into population ageing with genderequality by young people and all groups of generations and people.

on the World Population Day, 11 July 2023, 12.00 - 15.30 hrs at Eternity Room, Ground floor, Pullman King Power hotel, Bangkok

This will encourage open-mindedness, foster understanding, promote inclusivity, and increase understanding and preparation for an aged society population ageing in the young population’s understanding of ageing society with gender equality which could influence the changes at policy level.

Target audience: students and youth, academia, private sector, entrepreneurs, public, government offices, and international organisations.

Agenda:

Time	Programme
12.00 - 13. 00 hrs	Registration, engaging activities and refreshments
13.00 - 13.10 hrs	Opening: Welcome by the MC, Mr. Adhipat Warangkanand, Programme Coordinator on Population Change, Data and Innovation, UNFPA Thailand. Welcome remarks by Dr. Asa Torkelsson, Country Director of UNFPA Thailand.
13.10 - 13.30 hrs	Keynote Speeches: Ms. Worawan Plikhamin, Deputy Secretary General, the Office of the National Economic and Social Development Council on “Perspectives of the national policy on pre-aged and aged population capacity building towards a quality aged society with gender equality in Thailand, including re-skill and upskill training for aged population groups. (approx. 10 mins) Mrs. Eksiri Pintaruchi Director General, Department of International Organizations, Ministry of Foreign Affairs on “Power of Youth towards the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals, Population and Development as well as Gender Equality in Thailand” (approx. 10 mins) (TBC)
13.30 – 13.50 hrs.	UNFPA MOU signing ceremony with: College of Innovation, Thammasat University (CITU) King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi (KMUTT) Rangsit University The Faculty of Art, Chulalongkorn University Speeches by Representative of CITU (3-5 min) Representative of the Faculty of Art, Chulalongkorn University (3-5 min) Representative of KMUTT (3-5 min) Representative of Rangsit University (3-5 min) Ms. Siriluck Chiengwong, Head of Office, UNFPA Thailand Group photo 1
13.50 - 14.15 hrs.	Short VDO highlighted Youth’s perspectives and voices from the social media contest Award and certificates to winners from social media contest (10 - 15 young people) Group photo 2
14.15 - 15.00 hrs (45 min)	Panel Discussion on Bridging Gender & Intergenerational Gaps for “Bridging Intergenerational Gaps and Gender Inequality for Young People Towards Aged Society พร้อมเชื่อมทุกกลุ่ม ทุกเพศ ทุกวัย ไปด้วยกัน” List of panelists : Dr. Sarawut Boonsuk, Deputy Director–General, Department of Health, Ministry of Public Health Healthy aged population - what to be considered and how to prepare for pre-aged population? Ms. Fai Buntida, beauty blogger with disabilities, https://www.facebook.com/Makeupmyfeet. Entrepreneurship by a young woman with disabilities: Challenges and opportunity to ensure their healthy future towards aged society with gender equality. A University student, one of the winners from the contest on social media platforms. A perspective of a young person on preparing for a quality aged society with gender equality A perspective of a young person on bridging intergenerational gaps with gender equality Assoc.Prof. Dr. Ruttiya Bhula-or, Deputy Dean of the College of Population Studies, Chulalongkorn University The present population structure and nature of each population group, gender and generation. Linking education to the market demands to prepare youth towards aged society. How gender equality becomes important in the low fertility and aged society. Mr. Tanawat Prommachote, former President of the Children and Youth Council of Thailand Gender lens in the world of career from a new jobber’s perspective. Preparing youth for an aged society with gender equality. Mr. Roger Thanaroajh Amarahghulzade, Head of Market Solutions, True Digal Academy What are the qualifications that an employer looks for when hiring new jobbers? Career path development: how a new jobber moves up to mid or senior level? Moderator: Ms. Siriluck Chiengwong, Head of Office, UNFPA Thailand
15.00 - 15.15 hrs	Q & A
15.15 -15.30 hrs	Networking & Exhibition visit