[hr-education-na] On International Day of Older Persons Kofi Annan say solidarity between generations needed

***Find out more about the International Day of Older Persons at:
http://www.hrea.org/feature-events/day-older-persons.php


UN Press Release
SG/SM/9497
OBV/437

IN MESSAGE FOR INTERNATIONAL DAY, SECRETARY-GENERAL SAYS MUTUAL SUPPORT,
SOLIDARITY BETWEEN GENERATIONS NEEDED TO BUILD 'TRULY INTERGENERATIONAL
SOCIETY'

Following is the message by Secretary-General Kofi Annan for the
International Day of Older Persons, 1 October 2004:

The theme of this year's International Day of Older Persons -- "Older
Persons in an Intergenerational Society" -- recognizes the important role
that older persons play in their families, communities and societies.  On
this tenth anniversary of the International Year of the Family, the theme
also recognizes that the youth of today, who constitute the largest group
of young people ever, will be the older persons of the year 2050.  They
will make up the largest group of older persons ever.

Yet in many places, both young and old remain excluded from meaningful
participation in their societies, and the tremendous contribution they
could make towards society's development is often ignored.  Older persons
suffer because of outdated stereotypes that depict them as frail and
needing care.  What is overlooked is that many older persons, far from
receiving care, actually provide care for others - as with grandparents
who care for grandchildren while the parents go to work.  In some places,
especially in the developing world, what was a temporary arrangement has
in many cases become permanent; the "middle generation" of parents is
absent, having migrated in search of employment, or died as a result of
HIV/AIDS or other diseases.

Populations in developing countries will age most rapidly in the coming
century.  Yet those countries have only limited economic resources with
which to respond to the ageing of their societies.  The challenge will be
to ensure that those countries do not experience the ageing of their
societies as a burden, but derive from it added value and opportunities
for development through an actively engaged older population.  In other
words, the challenge will be helping those countries build an
intergenerational society.

The Second World Assembly on Ageing, held in Madrid two years ago, marked
a turning point in our thinking.  The Assembly recognized ageing as a
global phenomenon and supported its inclusion in the international
development agenda.  Among its many recommendations, the Madrid Plan of
Action encouraged Governments to review policies to ensure generational
equity, and to promote the idea of mutual support and solidarity between
generations as key elements of social development.  Only in this way can
we hope to build a truly intergenerational society.  On this International
Day, let us rededicate ourselves to that mission.



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