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International Day of Older Persons
The General Assembly of the United Nations designated October 1st as International Day of Older Persons. This Day was observed for the first time throughout the world on October 1st, 1991, and many countries and organizations celebrate it every year. By designating a "Special Day" for seniors, the General Assembly recognized the importance of older adults and their contributions to the development of human society. This event also draws attention to the emergence of a new demographic phenomenon.
2003 | 2004 | 2006
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2008
“A Call for a Convention on the Rights of Older Persons” (October 7, 2008)
On the occasion of the annual International Day of Older Persons and the 60th anniversary year of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the Department of Public Information and the New York NGO Committee on Ageing assembled. The overall goal of the conference was to tackle the process that will lead to the development and acceptance of a Convention on the Rights of Older Persons. Besides several speakers from around the world the two keynote speaker Minister Paulo de Tarso Vannuchi and Mr. Sergei Zelenev expressed themselves about the current situation of older persons.
Report: Czech Republic: The Human Rights
of Older Persons (October 2, 2008)
Honoring the International Day of Older Persons, Minister Damila Stehlikova
from the Czech Ministry of Human Rights compared the demographics of the
Czech Republic and France in a power point presentation. She also discussed
age-related policies and family and health issues. She concluded by
elaborating the challenges and priorities facing the Czech Republic as the
demographics of the country change.
Brazil: Speech by Special Secretary of Human Rights Minister Paulo
Vannuchi (October 2, 2008)
Speaking at the United Nations Headquarters on the occasion of celebrating the International Day of Older Persons, Special Secretary of Human Rights Minister Paulo Vannuchi expressed his positive view about a convention on human rights of older persons. Besides presenting Brazil’s approach to this specific issue, he reaffirmed his commitment to continue calling on his government colleagues and friendly nations to address the issue.
Czech Republic: Remarks Prepared by Džamila Stehlíková, Czech Republic, for the International Day of Older Persons at the UN/New York, October 2, 2008
(October 2, 2008)
According to Minister Damila Stehlíková from the Czech Ministry of Human Rights, the primary responsibility for ensuring equality of opportunities and the Human Rights of Older Persons falls on national governments. She therefore calls for a complete policy framework that supports older persons, including issues such as promoting solidarity between the different generations of workers, enforcing occupational health policies, promoting training, education and lifelong learning, implementing anti-discriminatory labour legislation, compensating gender differences, and improving the quality of life. In addition, Stehlíková explained the Czech approach to the issue which is embodied in the Czech National Programme of Preparation for Ageing for 2008-2012 and went on to describe the European Union’s mission for including older people in social and economic policy.
Convention on the Rights of Older Persons: How Feasible Is the Option? (October 2, 2008)
On the occasion of the International Day of Older Persons one of the keynote speakers Sergei
Zelenev, Chief, Social Integration Branch, DESA, stated his view on a range of issues affecting older persons, discussing particularly the issue of the rights of older persons. His speech particularly focused on the need for a convention while emphasizing as well the Madrid Plan and the need to work towards the implementation of the existing commitments.
UN Secretary General Message to the International Day of Older Persons (October 1, 2008)
Ban Ki-moon, the Secretary General of the United Nations has expressed his support for the theme of this year’s IDOP – “Rights of Older Persons”. Acknowledging that the adoption of the Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing was an important step towards ending age discrimination by all UN member nations, Ban Ki-moon recognized that much more work needs to be done at the national level to support older persons. He went on to say that in many parts of the world, the rights of older persons are violated every day and the International Day is an opportunity to stimulate discussion on promoting the rights of older persons and strengthen partnerships aimed at securing their full participation in society.
2007
The 2007 International Day of Older Persons addressed the “challenges and opportunities of ageing.” Planners wanted to raise awareness of the objectives set forth in the 2002 Madrid International Plan on Action on Ageing and to show how some NGO’s across the globe are responding.
Global Action on Aging
at Work during the International Day of Older Persons (October 4, 2007)
Global Action on Aging's intern and staff attended the IDOP meetings and
organized a lunch with some retirees. Here are some pictures of the
event.
Global Action on
Aging's interview of Edilia Camargo (October 4, 2007)
In honor of the International Day of Older Persons, GAA interviewed Edilia Camargo.
She belongs to the ‘Red Continental Personas Mayores,’ an organization composed of delegations from fourteen countries in Latin America. The group is organizing a network to fight for elderly people’s rights in Latin America.
Message on the International Day of Older Persons of Ban
Ki-Moon, Secretary-General of the United Nations (October 1, 2007)
Eighty per cent of the world’s population has no social protection in old age. UN
Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon called attention to this urgent fact in his message on the International Day of Older Persons. He also pointed out that “finding ways to provide economic support for a growing number of older persons, through sustainable pension programs and new social protection measures is a daunting task, particularly in developing countries.” Finally, the Secretary General affirmed that older persons bring many assets to human society.
2006
Global Action on Aging
Open House on the International Day of Older Persons (October 5, 2007)
For the International Day of Older Persons, GAA hosted some friends in its office. Here are some pictures.
16th International Day for Older Persons (October 1, 2006)
In honor of the International Day of Older Persons on October 5th, the NGO Committee on Aging, the UN Department on Social and Economic Affairs and the UN Department of Public Information organized a UN event with the theme “Improving the Quality of Life for Older Persons: Advancing UN Global Strategies.” The event
aimed at raising awareness of the Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing and the need to put its recommendations into action. This information sheet also gives suggestions on how older persons around the world can get involved in the annual International Day each year.
UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan’s Message on the International Day of Older Persons (September 26, 2006)
In his message for the International Day of Older Persons, UN Secretary General Kofi Annan identifies himself as one of the “600 million persons in the world over the age of 60.” He calls on “governments, the private sector, civil society organizations and people everywhere to focus on building a society for all ages -- as envisioned in the Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing and in line with the Millennium Development Goals and wider global development agenda.”
2004
Message of
the UN Secretary General Kofi Annan (October 1, 2004)
UN Secretary General Kofi
Annan emphasized the 2004 IDOP theme, "Older Persons in an
Intergenerational Society," saying that older persons play an important
role in their families, communities and societies. He also underlined the
significance of promoting the "idea of mutual support and solidarity
between generations as key elements of social development."
2003
Mainstreaming
Ageing: Forging Links between the Madrid Plan of Action on Ageing and the
Millennium Development Goals (October 2, 2003)
This report on the United
Nations 2003 International Day of Older Persons links the Madrid Plan of
Action on Ageing to the Millennium Development Goals. Presented by the
UN/NGO Committee on Ageing in collaboration with the UN Department of Public
Information and the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs, the report
contains key ideas on including concerns of older persons with the
Millennium Development Goals.
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