INTERNATIONAL DAY OF OLDER PERSONS TO BE OBSERVED ON 1 OCTOBER
Press Release
SOC/4408
INTERNATIONAL DAY OF OLDER PERSONS TO BE OBSERVED ON 1 OCTOBER
19960930 Panel, To Be Held at Headquarters on 3 October, Will Discuss Challenges To Older Peoples' Socio-Economic SecurityNEW YORK, 27 September (DPCSD) -- A panel discussion on the theme "Challenges to older peoples' economic security around the world" will be held at Headquarters on Thursday, 3 October, in connection with the commemoration of the International Day of Older Persons (1 October). The day's observance is a recognition of the ageing of the world's population and the economic as well as social challenges caused by that demographic shift.
The panel, scheduled for 10.00 a.m., in conference room 1, is jointly organized by the United Nations and the non-governmental organization Committee on Ageing, an open-ended group of experts who work on matters related to all aspects of ageing, in particular preparations for the International Year of Older Persons (1999). Discussions will focus on the situation of older workers, public social insurance systems and economic security for older persons.
Scheduled to take part in the discussion are the following experts: Kevin Kinsella, social science analyst at the United States Bureau of Census; Francisco Eduardo de Oliveira, former Director of Social Security in Brazil; and Gilberto Coffi, representative of the Latin American Unionized Pensioners Organization.
In the 50 year period between 1950 and 2000, longevity, mainly caused by the decline of fertility and mortality, will have added 20 years to the average life span. That demographic transition has skyrocketed the proportion of older persons, those aged 60 and above, within a few generations from approximately 1 person in 14, to 1 in 4.
In countries of the Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), moreover, it is expected that by 2030 that proportion will have reached a ratio of 1 person in 3. Within this period, the median age of the world population will jump from 23.4 years in 1950 to 31.1 years in 2050.
Although the proportion of older people is higher in OECD countries and
countries with economies in transition, the major growth of the world's older population -- from half a billion people in 1990 to almost 1.5 billion people in 2050 -- will be in developing countries, particularly in Asia. Already by 2025, 72 per cent of the world's older persons, about 858 million people, will be living in developing countries. Further, it is projected that by 2030, more than three-quarters of the world's old people will live in industrial regions -- more than half in Asia and more than a quarter in China alone.
By resolution 45/106, adopted on 14 December 1990, the General Assembly declared 1 October, the International Day of Older Persons. The Assembly further decided in resolution 47/5 adopted on 16 October 1992, to observe the year 1999, as the International Year of Older Persons, "in recognition of humanity's demographic coming of age and the promise it holds for maturing attitudes and capabilities in social, economic, cultural and spiritual undertakings, not least for global peace and development in the next century".
The United Nations programme on ageing -- in partnership with governments, specialized agencies, non-governmental organizations and the private sector -- is seeking answers as to how that demographic transition can be handled smoothly in order to ensure the rights and security of older persons.
Note: For programme information, contact the Department for Policy Coordination and Sustainable Development, Division for Social Policy and Development, tel: (212) 963-3174; fax: (212) 963-3062; e-mail: Sidorenko@un.org. Internet home page: http://www.un.org/DPCSD.
For general information, contact the Department of Public Information, tel: (212) 963-1786 or 963-3771; Fax: (212) 963-1186; e-mail: Vasic@un.org. Internet home page: http://www.un.org.
* *** *