After a session with no debate due to the absence of the chairs, last week we resumed the discussion on the topic of aging populations in the OECD for the final time. The debate focused on the working paper of the United States. Most clauses did not invite heated dialogue, but clauses 4 and 10 (which focused on a division of migrants’ status based on their region of origin and their integration and impact on the recipient nations respectively) invited criticism from Canada, Switzerland and Spain for being discriminatory. Their speeches failed to find significant support among the delegations. There was also some criticism of clause 12 from Israel, addressing work-life balance of new mothers. Ultimately amendments to strike the problematic clauses have failed, but motions to divide the question succeeded. Clauses 4, 10 and 12 were voted on separately and failed to achieve the 2/3 majority required to pass. The rest of the draft resolution successfully passed.
OECD resolution (including failed clauses)