'AGE QUAKE DEBATES' OPEN AT UNITED NATIONS
Press Release
PI/1117
SOC/4496
'AGE QUAKE DEBATES' OPEN AT UNITED NATIONS
19990303 The needs of growing populations of older persons will be the focus of a series of four "Age Quake Debates", to be held at United Nations Headquarters. The first debate, on 4 March, will deal with the theme "Ageing and Gender: Are There Different Scripts for Men and Women?". Four experts from the fields of health, demographics and the media will participate.The panellists include: Stanley Bernstein, Senior Research Adviser, United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA); Ruth Engo, President and Founder of African Action on AIDS in New Jersey; Myrna Lewis, M.S.W. of Mount Sinai Hospital in New York; Ruth Limjuco, Minister Counsellor of the Philippine Mission to the United Nations; and Thomas Miller, Group Senior Vice-President of International Roper-Starch Worldwide.
The "greying of the planet" is no surprise to demographers, poll-takers or politicians. Every month, 1 million people turn 60 years of age. Dealing with demographic change is a growing focus of national policy or at least national concern worldwide. "One can't perform plastic surgery on demographics", says Ambassador Julia T. de Alvarez, Alternate Permanent Representative of the Dominican Republic to the United Nations. According to Ambassador Alvarez, a leading spokesperson on ageing issues at the United Nations, population ageing is a worldwide phenomenon, and the world is experiencing an "age quake".
In an effort to spotlight some of the ageing issues, the New York NGO Committee on Ageing, in cooperation with the United Nations and with the support of the United Nations Consultative Group for the International Year of Older Persons, has planned the "Age Quake Debates" as part of the observance of the International Year of Older Persons, 1999. The debates are dedicated to Ambassador Alvarez, whose efforts and belief in the new and dynamic concept of meaningful ageing have helped to make the International Year a reality.
The International Year is the culmination of years of efforts by the United Nations and Ambassador Alvarez. The World Assembly on Ageing in Vienna in 1982 produced the International Plan of Action on Ageing, that was adopted that same year by the United Nations General Assembly. In 1991, the General Assembly adopted the Principles for Older Persons, and designated 1 October as the International Day of Older Persons. During the same year, the General Assembly adopted a resolution initiated by Ambassador Alvarez, which called
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for the International Year of Older Persons to be observed in 1999. She chose 1999, believing it would symbolize the end of an era of old ideas and the birth of a new perspective on ageing.
The first debate will be held in the Dag Hammarskjöld Library Auditorium from 2:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. on 4 March.
For further information, contact Shala Mokgethi, Development and Human Rights Section, Department of Public Information, tel: (212) 963-3771, and fax: (212) 963-1186.
For media accreditation, contact Media Accreditation Unit, Department of Public Information, tel: (212) 963-6934 and fax: (212) 963-4642.
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