PHA-Exchange> POOR COUNTRIES NEED HELP IN MANAGING AGEING POPULATIONS - ANNAN

[Claudio]

From: "Vern Weitzel" <vern.weitzel at undp.org>

> POOR COUNTRIES NEED HELP IN MANAGING AGEING POPULATIONS - ANNAN
> New York, Oct  1 2004  4:00PM
> The global trend towards ageing populations will be felt most acutely in
developing countries which
> have only limited resources to respond to the challenges involved, United
Nations Secretary-General
> Kofi Annan said today in observance of the
> <"http://www.who.int/hpr/ageing/international_day_en.htm">International
Day of Older Persons.
>
> "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," Mr. Annan said in a
> <"http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2004/sgsm9497.doc.htm">message on the
Day, which is observed
> each year on 1 October.
>
> This year's theme - "Older Persons in an Intergenerational Society" -
recognizes the important role
> that older persons play in their families, communities and societies.
>
> "Older persons suffer because of outdated stereotypes that depict them as
frail and needing care,"
> the 66-year old Secretary-General said. "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."
>
> The Second World Assembly on Ageing, held two years ago in Madrid, marked
a turning point in the
> international community's thinking by recognizing ageing as a global
phenomenon which must be
> included in the international development agenda.
>
> "Among its many recommendations, the Madrid Plan 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," Mr. Annan said.
>
> "Only in this way can we hope to build a truly intergenerational society,"
he concluded.