The 6th Asian Population Association (APA) Conference concluded in Kathmandu on Saturday, emphasizing the need for policy reform to address Asia's pressing demographic challenges, including migration, aging populations, and climate impacts, while exploring solutions for sustainable development.
The four-day event, held from November 27 to November 30, brought together policymakers, scholars, demographers, and international experts for in-depth discussions on critical population dynamics. The conference featured 237 presentations, 186 poster sessions, and discussions spanning 17 themes, including gender equality, health disparities, and evolving marriage patterns.
In his concluding remarks, Minister for Labour, Employment, and Social Security Sharat Singh Bhandari commended the platform for fostering dialogue and collaboration on demographic challenges. According to the state-run national news agency RSS, the minister also committed to improving conditions for Nepali migrant workers by enhancing legal protection, healthcare access, and skills development.
The conference explored significant demographic shifts in East, South, and Southeast Asia, including declining fertility rates, increasing life expectancy, and the emergence of digital nomads reshaping labor markets, RSS reported, adding, Experts highlighted the need for targeted education and policy investments to harness human capital and achieve demographic dividends.
According to RSS, climate change's impact on food security and health risks was a major focus, particularly for agricultural communities and vulnerable populations. Gender-specific interventions were deemed crucial for improving maternal and child health and tackling issues such as stunting, anemia, and low birth weight.
Discussions also addressed Nepal's border regions, where challenges like girl trafficking persist despite awareness efforts. Participants emphasized the need for culturally sensitive interventions to address gender norms, societal pressures, and poverty affecting health, education, and empowerment.
Migration policies emerged as a critical area for reform, with recommendations to enhance access to education, healthcare, social security, and child protection. Scholars stressed that parental migration significantly affects children’s mental health, with higher risks for internal migrants' families.
Prof. Dr. Yogendra Bahadur Gurung, head of the Central Department of Population Studies at Tribhuvan University, noted that discussions underscored the importance of migrant rights, labor conditions, reproductive health, and gender-sensitive policies. According to RSS, he highlighted the growing demand for sub-national population projections and urban resilience in rapidly expanding cities.
The conference was inaugurated by Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and organized by the Central Department of Population Studies, Tribhuvan University, with support from the Government of Nepal, the International Organization for Migration (IOM), the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), and other organizations.
