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Social Services Policies and Family Well-being in the Asian and Pacific Region ASIA-PACIFIC POPULATION AND SOCIAL STUDIES SERIES NO.165 The secretariat of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) is the regional development arm of the United Nations and serves as the main economic and social development centre for the United Nations in Asia and the Pacific. Its mandate is to foster cooperation between its 53 members and 9 associate members. It provides the strategic link between global and country-level programmes and issues. It supports Governments of countries in the region in consolidating regional positions and advocates regional approaches to meeting the region’s unique socio-economic challenges in a globalizing world. The ESCAP secretariat is located in Bangkok, Thailand. Please visit the ESCAP website at for further information. The shaded areas of the map indicate ESCAP members and associate members. ASIA-PACIFIC POPULATION AND SOCIAL STUDIES SERIES NO. 165 Social Services Policies and Family Well-being in the Asian and Pacific Region i United Nations publication Sales No. E.09.II.F.5 Copyright United Nations 2008 All rights reserved Manufactured in Thailand ISBN: 978-92-1-120570-1 ST/ESCAP/2525 The designations employed and the presentation of the material in this publication do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the Secretariat of the United Nations concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. The views expressed in the country chapters are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the United Nations Secretariat. The financial contribution of the Government of the Special Administrative Region of Macao, China, which made possible to publish this report is gratefully acknowledged. The ESCAP acknowledge the contribution of Mr. Michael Chai and Ms. Durga Rauniyar, Consultants, in preparing for the report. This publication has been issued without formal editing. Copies of this publication may be obtained from: Chief Social Development Division Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) United Nations Building Rajadamnern Nok Avenue Bangkok 10200, Thailand Tel: (66-2) 288-1989 Fax: (66-2) 288-1030 ii CONTENTS Page Abbreviations ..................................................................................................................................... vii Introduction ........................................................................................................................................ ix Part One: 1 Regional overview ..................................................................................................... I. The family in the Asian and Pacific region: prospects and challenges ................................................................................................... A. B. C. D. E. Demographic, social and economic overview ........................................... Socio-economic development ..................................................................... Challenges for the family well-being .......................................................... Social services ............................................................................................. Social protection systems in the Asian and Pacific region ...................... 3 9 12 15 19 Strengthening the family through enhanced social protection and social services ........................................................................................... 23 A. B. C. Financial resources ...............................