UN Women forum explores role of AI, digital technologies in transforming care systems in Asia-Pacific
Date:
[Press release]
For immediate release
Seoul, Republic of Korea — As Asia and the Pacific confront a growing care crisis driven by demographic shifts, the opportunities and risks of artificial intelligence (AI) and digitalization took centre stage at a forum hosted by the UN Women Knowledge and Partnerships Centre. Transforming Care Systems in the Age of Artificial Intelligence: A Forum on Gender, Digitalization, and Women’s Economic Empowerment concluded on 17 September, bringing together key stakeholders to chart a course toward a more equitable, technology-driven care economy.
Opening in Seoul on 16 September, the two-day forum convened policymakers, academics, private sector leaders, and civil society representatives from across China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Republic of Korea, and beyond. The event was organized as part of UN Women’s regional TransformCare Investment Initiative Asia-Pacific (TCII-AP), with the support of the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family of the Republic of Korea.
Discussions underscored the pressing need for innovation in the care sector and developing inclusive and gender responsive AI and digital tools for care. According to the International Labour Organization’s 2018 report, Care Work and Care Jobs for the Future of Decent Work, women and girls perform more than 2.5 times the amount of unpaid care work as men globally—a contribution that, if valued monetarily, would account for over 40 percent of GDP in some countries. This disproportionate responsibility remains a primary barrier to women’s economic empowerment and girls' education.
Demand for care is projected to surge, with an estimated 2.3 billion people requiring care by 2030, while the number of people aged over 65 in the Asia-Pacific region is expected to double to nearly 900 million by 2050, according to UN Women’s 2025 report, Caring for the Future: Gender-Responsive Strategies for Ageing Societies.
“The Republic of Korea has been promoting policies to alleviate care responsibilities, including the introduction of a family-friendly corporate certification system and the development of a forward-looking digital and AI innovation ecosystem for care,” said Yun Jeong Hwang, Director of the Centre, in her opening remarks. “The Centre will be able to play a key role in sharing best practices and lessons with other countries in the region.”
“AI and digital technologies may create new risks, such as job insecurity for care workers or the reinforcement of gender stereotypes, which require careful attention in policymaking,” noted Sejin Yoon, Acting Director-General of the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family, during her congratulatory address. “We must ensure that innovation supports care workers, closes gender gaps, and dismantles stereotypes, rather than deepening them.”
The forum served as a platform to consider how digital solutions can reduce and redistribute unpaid care work, strengthen the quality and accessibility of care services, and create decent jobs in the care sector. Participants also examined regional examples, including Korea’s digital care systems for older citizens, Japan's development of AI-powered care robots, China’s integration of smart devices into long-term care systems and Indonesia’s LoveCare platform that empowers caregivers through digital tools.
At the same time, sessions highlighted the risks of a purely technology-driven approach, such as the potential for AI to perpetuate gender bias and the possibility that the digital divide may widen existing inequalities—particularly for women, who are overrepresented in the care workforce. Experts facilitated in-depth dialogues on advancing gender-responsive AI, promoting a human-centred approach to technology, and shaping policies that safeguard digitally enabled care workers. The discussion also underscores the importance of collecting and utilizing sex-disaggregated data to inform the development of gender-responsive AI and digital tools that can help transform care systems by promoting equity, inclusivity, and effectiveness.
Taken together, the forum provided a valuable opportunity for strategic dialogue, enhancing stakeholders' in-depth understanding of the intersection between digitalization, AI, and transforming care systems. One of its key outcomes will be the development of a policy brief drawing on the insights gathered, which will outline findings and recommendations for follow-up action, as well as showcase examples of best practice from the Republic of Korea and across the region.
About UN Women
UN Women exists to advance women’s rights, gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls. As the lead UN entity on gender equality, we shift laws, institutions, social behaviours and services to close the gender gap and build an equal world for all women and girls. We keep the rights of women and girls at the centre of global progress—always, everywhere. Because gender equality is not just what we do. It is who we are.
About the UN Women Knowledge and Partnerships Centre
The UN Women Knowledge and Partnerships Centre was established in the Republic of Korea in 2022 in partnership with the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family. The Centre was founded with a shared mandate to advance gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls across Asia and the Pacific. Located in Seoul, the Centre contributes to capacity development, strategic partnerships, and knowledge exchange of best practices and lessons learned.
For more information, please contact:
Jaeeun Lee
External Relations Officer
UN Women Knowledge and Partnerships Centre
E: [ Click to reveal ]