ageing

With the number of people aged 65 and over projected to more than double by the middle of the century, the rights and well-being of older persons must be prioritized in efforts to achieve a sustainable future, the UN said in a new report launched on Thursday. 

Negative stereotypes, prejudice and perceptions towards people based on their age, not only leads to poorer health and social isolation, it is also costing economies billions of dollars, UN agencies said on Thursday, calling for urgent action to combat ageism. 

The UN International Day of Older Persons, celebrated each 1 October, promotes the human rights of older people worldwide and, this year, celebrates the continued importance of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), as it turns 70.

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has urged greater efforts to support the needs of older people, particularly in developing countries.

A new United Nations report released today calls on governments to address the needs of older persons, who are now the fastest growing population segment worldwide, stressing that they will require adequate policies, strategies and laws to ensure their well-being.

Five years after international leaders agreed to promote the opportunities and confront the challenges posed by ageing populations, the United Nations is calling on world governments to step up their efforts to advance the Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing.

Over 100 representatives from governments, non-governmental organizations and academia from 26 Asian and Pacific countries along with United Nations officials have forged a document on helping the region’s large population of older persons.

The United Nations today marked the International Day of Older Persons with appeals for sustainable pension programmes and the release of the first guide on age-friendly cities, recommending a range of measures from well-lit sidewalks to bus drivers’ waiting until senior citizens are seated before starting off.

A United Nations-backed meeting – attended by participants from over a dozen countries in the Asia-Pacific region – on the social, health and economic consequences of population ageing kicked off today in Bangkok, Thailand.

With more than 1 billion people projected to be over 60 years old by 2025, the World Health Organization (WHO) today launched a new set of principles aimed at providing better care for the elderly.