Statement to the NGO Committee on Ageing, on the International Day of Older Persons

Excellencies,

Distinguished Colleagues,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

I am delighted and honoured to deliver the keynote statement today.

As we commemorate the International Day of Older Persons, I would like to pay tribute to older persons around the world.

Although each one of us is different, we share at least one thing in common. We can remember a world that was vastly different from the world in which we live today.

For one thing, those of us who are older can remember a world without televisions, without computers, without the Internet, and without cell phones, not to mention iPods.

I am very pleased to see young people in the audience who probably may not remember very much of what I am talking about: a world without the Internet.

The communication revolution has transformed our world.

Another transformation that will have manifold consequences is population ageing. Today, 1 person in 10 is 60 years or older and it is projected that by mid-century, the figure will be 1 person in 5 globally. At the same time, our world has the largest youth generation ever.

The main point that I would like to stress today is that all generations contribute to the social, cultural and economic development of their societies. And it is important for policymakers to understand demographics and age structures and dependency ratios so that they can plan accordingly and ensure that the needs of individuals are met and their human rights are protected. Changing demographics require commensurate and responsive changes in social and economic policies and programmes.

The other point that I would like to stress today is that we need more dialogue between the generations because this will bring us greater hope for the future.

Government officials, who tend to be older, need to listen to young people and provide them with leadership opportunities. And young people, who have the energy of youth and new ideas, need to stay in touch with older persons. We need to stay connected to each other. For those of us who live apart, communication technology is important. Equally important is being together and talking to each other, debating the news and burning issues of the day, taking joint decisions, and sharing the joys and sorrows of life together.

I appreciate the participation of young people in this event as it demonstrates intergenerational solidarity.

The real challenge is to build a society for all ages.

And this is precisely where the role of the United Nations is important. For building a society for all—where people can live free from fear and free from want—is consistent with the United Nations mandate: to eliminate the “scourge of war”, and ensure human rights, the rule of law and economic and social advancement.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Today, the elderly are the world's fastest-growing population group.

Population ageing is a trend that will continue during the 21st century and it affects all aspects of human life.

In the economic area, population ageing will have a huge impact on economic growth, savings, investment and consumption, labour markets, pensions and taxation.

In the social sphere, population ageing affects health and health care, family composition and living arrangements, housing and migration.

In the political arena, population ageing can influence voting patterns and representation.

As I see it, there are three major areas, which deserve greater attention in our collaborative efforts:

• One: we must support the human rights and freedoms of older persons;

• Two: we must enable their full participation in society; and

• Three: we must ensure that the elderly benefit from care and protection.

Human rights 

Allow me first to address the issue of human rights. Like everyone else, older persons have the right to live in dignity, free from fear and free from want.

Human rights apply everywhere and to all human beings by virtue of their humanity. Human rights can be, and are, a powerful tool for mobilization and empowerment.

Core rights such as the right to life, liberty and physical integrity, and civic freedoms such as freedom of thought, opinion and expression; religious belief and practice are important to persons of all ages.

So too are political rights, such as the right to participate in public affairs and to vote in free and fair elections.

And there are women's rights, including the right to equality and to non-discrimination and protection from gender-specific forms of harassment, violence and exploitation.

There are also economic, social and cultural rights guaranteeing the right to health, and to an adequate standard of living, including food and housing.

There is also the right to justice, which includes the right to redress for victims of human rights abuses, punishment for perpetrators, and access to courts and other procedures. This area of law is particularly important to address cases of elderly abuse, which are of growing concern.

Today, we also see the scourge of poverty threatening the well-being of many elderly people, especially women.

Meeting the Millennium Development Goal of halving the proportion of people living in extreme poverty by 2015 requires that ageing issues be mainstreamed in national development agendas and poverty reduction strategies.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Older persons have the right to live in security, free from fear. Yet, in too many places today, when there is war or scarcity of food and land, it is often the elderly who suffer first.

Today, the elderly, especially women, are increasingly at risk of violence, including sexual violence, and other serious human rights abuses. We have seen the images of such elderly persons in various conflict zones around the world. They have seen the cruelty that human beings can inflict on each other and the sorrow shows on their tired faces.

As the head of the United Nations Population Fund, I would like to stress that older persons must be actively protected during emergency situations and humanitarian interventions. Together as a United Nations system working with non-governmental organization (NGO) partners, we must make sure that the elderly have equal access to emergency relief services that are needed for their survival.

Participation

At all times, but especially as we commemorate the International Day of Older Persons, we must pay tribute to the elderly and the qualities of wisdom that come with a lifetime of experience.

We should work to ensure that older persons continue to feel part of the community, and have opportunities to realize their full potential. Promoting active ageing, through lifelong education and training, can enable older persons to enjoy happy lives with opportunities for individual development and self-fulfilment. The elderly should be encouraged to participate in the widest possible range of activities, including employment and community volunteer work.

At this juncture, I would like to pay tribute to countries around the globe that have introduced laws to ban age discrimination in the workplace and have introduced measures to address the ageist attitudes of some employers who deny protection benefits, including adequate pension schemes to older staff. Such rules are just as important to social justice and equity as the laws outlawing discrimination on grounds of gender, creed, racial or ethnic background, disability or other status.

It is also very important for the voices of older persons to be heard. By promoting dialogue between the generations, chances for social cohesion and solidarity are increased.

For individual families and communities, this means giving older persons an option of living and working in their own society for as long as they are able and wish to do so. Overall, there is a need to dispel stereotypes and negative attitudes about older persons and replace them with positive images of ageing.

For governments, this means ensuring that older persons participate actively in the formulation and implementation of policies that directly affect their lives.

Care and Protection

Ladies and Gentlemen,

While the family still constitutes the main support system of older persons in most cultures, traditional family support mechanisms are being eroded due to declining family size, rural to urban migration and declining co-residence and, in some countries, because younger family members are dying of AIDS.

Yes, we must build on the positive values in cultures to encourage the protection and respect of older persons. But the efforts of families and communities to take care of elderly members are not sufficient to meet the challenge.

Countries and communities need to establish and strengthen mechanisms for the support of older people. This is particularly true for older women, who outnumber men of their age, but who are often victims of discrimination under the property laws of many countries and, thus, increasingly vulnerable to poverty as they grow older.

Due to the devastating impact of HIV/AIDS, older persons and, particularly older women, are increasingly acting as caregivers for their family members affected by HIV/AIDS. This is despite the fact that their own situations are characterized by extreme poverty, and they themselves often need help and support.

Today, I call on communities and governments to join hands, recognize and support the care-giving services provided by older persons.

Another issue of concern is health care for the elderly. To prevent a high incidence of poor health among older persons, governments need to improve access to basic social and health services throughout the life cycle, including sexual and reproductive health as well as preventive and curative care and rehabilitation.

I would also like to stress that, as human beings, older persons need love and affection. We will never outgrow our need for affection, emotional closeness, tenderness and love.

Conclusion

In conclusion, I would like to encourage all concerned actors, governments, local communities, national and international NGOs, and the United Nations system to intensify efforts to formulate and implement human rights based policies and programmes that address the challenges of population ageing.

I see the upcoming five-year review of progress towards the implementation of the Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing as an opportunity for all stakeholders to engage in dialogue to increase understanding of the situation and needs of older persons. Together, we must take action guided by the vision of a society for all ages.

As we meet here today and as we meet in other venues, I urge each and every one of you to acknowledge the many positive contributions older persons have made and can make in society. With the unprecedented revolution in longevity now irreversibly underway, the world must look at population ageing as a cause for celebration, not a problem, as a blessing, not a burden.

I thank you.