NOTE TO CORRESPONDENTS

Press Release

NOTE TO CORRESPONDENTS

conference on ‘caring communities for twenty-first century’

to be held at headquarters on 10 february

With the goal of building communities that can support the physical and social needs of people of all ages, a conference, “Caring Communities for the 21st Century”, is bringing experts together to discuss new approaches that will allow everyone to live longer and better. The conference will be held at United Nations Headquarters on 10 February, from 10 a.m to 6 p.m., in Conference Room 4.

With the theme of “Imagining the Possible”, the conference is the third in a series aimed at building bridges between private industry and professional firms, the United Nations, government agencies, and non-governmental organizations. The conference is organized by the United Nations Centre for Human Settlements (Habitat), the Department of Economic and Social Affairs, in cooperation with the Department of Public Information, and the International Council for Caring Communities.

This year’s conference is dedicated to three main themes that will attempt to answer questions on how communities and cities can prepare for the “Age of Longevity”, as well as explore the ways older persons benefit the community. Panellists will speak on the financial and employment opportunities for people over 60 years old, and on how technology, tourism and “people friendly cities” can contribute to multigenerational communities.

The world’s older population increases by 1.2 million people every month, and by 2020, it is expected that over 1.4 billion persons will be over 60. The largest increases in the numbers of older persons will occur in developing countries. By 2025, it is expected that the worldwide life expectancy will reach 73 years.

The keynote address will be delivered by Gabor Demszky, Mayor of Budapest, Hungary. Other speakers include Jesus Norberto Fernandez Munoz, Subdirector General of Programmes for Seniors, of the Institute for Migration and Social Services, Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs, Spain; Margaret Bergen, Editor of the World Bank’s magazine Urban Age; Steven Newman, Vice-Chairman of the Xybernaut Corporation; Jean Claude Oppeneau, Deputy Director of the Agency for Environment & Energy Management, France; and Erzebet Vajdovich Visy, Director of Regional Planning, Research and Development Division, Hungary.

For more information, please contact Dan Shepard, tel: (212) 963-8104; fax: (212) 963-1186, Department of Public Information, Development and Human Rights Section.

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