International Day of Older Persons 2014, October 1st

 


 

Realizing the Human Rights and Well-Being of Older Persons.

 UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon Encourages Governments to Ensure Older People’s Full Participation in Society on International Day of Older Persons 2014.

Following is UN Secretary-General Ban Ki‑moon’s message on the International Day of Older Persons, to be observed on 1 October:

Older persons are playing an increasingly significant role in society as they grow in number and as health care improves in some parts of the world.

The number of older persons is expected to more than double, globally, from 841 million people in 2013 to more than 2 billion in 2050. By that year, nearly 8 in 10 of the world’s older population will live in the less developed regions.

The steady increase in human longevity represents one of the greatest transformations and challenges of our time. However, failure to keep pace with changing demographic trends will make it difficult to achieve a sustainable, secure and fulfilling future for people of all ages.

Older persons make wide-ranging contributions to economic and social development. However, discrimination and social exclusion persist. We must overcome this bias in order to ensure a socially and economically active, secure and healthy ageing population.

The post-2015 development agenda offers a historic opportunity for the United Nations and its Member States to strengthen the rights and role of older persons in society as an integral part of our commitment to “leave no one behind”.

On this International Day, I encourage Governments and people everywhere to ensure the full participation of older persons in society while protecting their rights and dignity.

* *** * United Nations


Forum :  International Day of Older Persons, 1 October.
What will matter to you in old age? 

On this International Day for Older Persons the OECD Insights blog discusses challenges for ageing populations  #IDOP2014

27 September 2011

Secretary-General SG/SM/13848 OBV/1032

Department of Public Information • News and Media Division • New York

Secretary-General Calls for Ensuring that Social Protection, Care for Older

 Persons Not Undermined, in Message for International Day

Following is UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s message for the International Day of Older Persons, observed on 1 October:

Next year marks 10 years since the adoption of the Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing.  The theme of this year’s International Day of Older Persons, “Launch of Madrid+10: The growing opportunities and challenges of global ageing”, reflects this upcoming milestone.  This year we also commemorate 20 years since the adoption of the United Nations Principles for Older Persons.  These basic principles — independence, participation, care, self-fulfilment and dignity — both enshrine the human rights of older persons and give us the objectives for which we strive.

Nearly two thirds of older persons live in developing countries, yet older persons are still largely excluded from the wider global, regional and national development agendas.  At a time when the international community is preparing to take stock of sustainable development and is looking to forge a development agenda for the future, it is important that the needs and contributions of older persons become a bigger part of the picture.  Older persons are vibrant and essential contributors to the development and stability of society, and more can and should be done to utilize their potential.

Over the last decade, there has been progress in the formulation of national plans of action related to ageing, including the emergence of non-contributory pensions in some developing countries.  However, discrimination and social exclusion persist.  These issues are a priority for the recently established General Assembly Open-ended Working Group on Ageing.

As we commemorate milestones in global development for older persons, let us recommit to the full implementation of the Madrid Plan of Action.  In the current fiscal environment, we must be vigilant in ensuring that the provision of social protection, long-term care and access to public health for the elderly is not undermined.  On this International Day of Older Persons, I call on Governments and communities everywhere to provide more opportunities for their ageing populations.