PREPARATORY COMMITTEE FOR SECOND WORLD ASSEMBLY ON AGEING TO MEET AT HEADQUARTERS, 26 FEBRUARY - 2 MARCH

Background Release

PREPARATORY COMMITTEE FOR SECOND WORLD ASSEMBLY ON AGEING TO MEET

AT HEADQUARTERS, 26 FEBRUARY - 2 MARCH

The Commission for Social Development, acting as the Preparatory Committee for the Second World Assembly on Ageing, will hold its first substantive session from 26 February to 2 March at United Nations Headquarters in New York.

The convening of the Second World Assembly, which will be held from 8 to

12 April 2002 in Madrid, Spain, will be devoted to an overall review of the outcome of the First World Assembly held in 1982 in Vienna.  The Madrid Assembly will adopt a revised plan of action and a long-term strategy on ageing in the context of "a society for all", the theme of the 1999 International Year of Older Persons.  Marking the twentieth anniversary of the 1982 First World Assembly, the General Assembly decided to convene the Second World Assembly by its resolution 54/262 of 25 May 2000.

The debate in the preparatory process leading up to the Second World Assembly is expected to focus on the revision of the International Plan of Action on Ageing, which was adopted at the First World Assembly in 1982.  During its first session, the Preparatory Committee is expected to review a draft of the revised International Plan.  The Preparatory Committee is also expected to agree on the participation of non-governmental organizations in both the World Assembly and preparatory meetings and on the organization of work of the World Assembly, including the establishment of committees and procedural matters.

By the time of the 2002 Madrid Assembly, according to documents before the Committee, the ageing of the global population will be one of the defining characteristics of the twenty-first century.  As compared to 1982 -- when ageing was very evident in developed countries -- in 2002 the majority of older persons will be living in developing countries.  The rapid rate of ageing in developing countries will challenge the institutional framework and capacity of many governments to sustain development and ensure the well-being of ageing societies.  Also, because the pace of ageing in developing countries is more rapid than in developed countries, developing countries will have less time to adapt to the consequences of population ageing.

The ageing of the world's population in the last 50 years is the result of the combination of increased life expectancy and low fertility rates.  Although large differences exist between countries, some 20 years has been added to the average lifespan, bringing global life expectancy to 66 years.  Currently, one out of every 10 persons is 60 years or above.  By 2050, one out of five persons will be 60 years or older and by 2150, one out of three persons will be 60 years or older.  Some 55 per cent of older persons are women and approximating 51 per cent of older persons live in urban areas.

In light of this rapid demographic change, the Second World Assembly on Ageing will review the 1982 International Plan of Action on Ageing -- the first international instrument on ageing.  Endorsed by the General Assembly in the same year, the International Plan aimed to strengthen the capacities of governments and civil society to deal with the ageing of populations and to address the developmental potential and dependency needs of older persons.  It included 62 recommendations for action on research, data collection and analysis, training and education.  The Plan also included recommendations on health, nutrition, protection of elderly consumers, housing, environment, family, social welfare, income security, employment and education.

In 1991 the General Assembly adopted the United Nations Principles for Older Persons.  The Principles established universal standards pertaining to the status of older persons in five areas, including independence, participation, care, self-fulfillment and dignity.  In 1992 -- the tenth anniversary of the adoption of the International Plan -- the Assembly devoted four plenary meetings to an International Conference on Ageing, which established the direction for implementing the Plan in its second decade.  The Conference also proclaimed the year 1999 the International Year of Older Persons.  The conceptual framework for the Year, introduced by the Secretary-General in 1995, was based on both the International Plan and the Principles.

In preparation for the 2002 Madrid Assembly, the Secretary-General was asked to appoint a technical committee to provide advice to the United Nations Secretariat on technical issues related to the preparatory process, in particular the content of the revised Plan and proposed long-term strategy.  The Technical Committee -- a group of experts serving in their personal capacity -- met twice in Germany and the Dominican Republic in 2000.  A third meeting is expected to take place this year in Austria.

Reports before Preparatory Committee

During the session, the Preparatory Committee will have before it a report of the Secretary-General, entitled Towards the Second World Assembly on Ageing (document E/CN.5/2001/PC/2).  The report provides background information and contains a review of ongoing preparations for the Second World Assembly, a proposed format for the Assembly and an overall review of the outcome of the first World Assembly based on responses to surveys sent to principal stakeholders.  Annexed to the report is an extended draft framework of the revised International Plan of Action on Ageing.  The long-term strategy on ageing, which was called for by the General Assembly in November 1999, is presented in the form of a preamble to the Plan of Action and is entitled "Strategy for a society for all ages". 

The report states that to varying degrees, countries have incorporated ageing issues in their plans, policies and programmes.  The United Nations Principles for Older Persons is internationally recognized as an important guide to developing national legislation and plans, but implementation of the International Plan of Action on Ageing has been uneven and insufficient, particularly in some developing and transition countries.  Achievements include improved health care and insurance, housing, retirement benefits, income security, and accessibility to facilities and mobility for older persons.

According to the report, provision of services in developed countries is well established.  Although developing countries lag behind, many of them have introduced health and social services for older persons.  Achievements and ongoing

efforts, reflected in national legislation, were promoted during the observance of the International Year of Older Persons in 1999.  Older persons are increasingly recognized as contributors to society, rather than simply as dependants, and as agents of change.

Also according to the report, the major challenges to the implementation of the International Plan of Action on Ageing include lack of funding and the shortage of, or lack of expertise among, government staff, particularly in developing countries.  In addition, economic difficulties have strained the ability of several transition countries to provide full services to their older populations.  Housing, income security, employment and social welfare have also been difficult areas to address.  Non-governmental organizations and government agencies have promoted ageing issues, although corporations and the private sector in general are not yet perceived as playing a significant role.

The report states that, although the current International Plan of Action has proven useful, respondent nations and entities recommended ideas to improve its coverage and to incorporate demographic, economic and technological developments, including on the implications of the migration of younger workers.  Protection against violence, neglect or abuse, welfare of older people in rural areas and other concerns of developing countries were also raised.

Responding countries, non-governmental organizations and United Nations entities identified areas for future international cooperation, the report states.  They also expressed the need to exchange ideas on best practices, including policy and programme development, research, training of health and social professionals, income-generation programmes, health care and human rights issues.  The most important priority for developing countries was research to support policy and programme development, followed by training of health and social professionals.

Other documents before the Preparatory Committee include:  the provisional annotated agenda (document E/CN.5/2001/PC/1); a note by the Secretariat on the draft provisional rules of procedure for the Second World Assembly on Ageing (document E/CN.5/2001/PC/3); a note by the Secretariat on the accreditation andparticipation of non-governmental organizations (document E/CN.5/2001/PC/4); a note by the Secretariat on the organization of work of the Second World Assembly on Ageing, including establishment of committees and procedural matters (document E/CN.5/2001/PC/L.2), and a note by the Secretariat on the organization of work of the session (document E/CN.5/2001/PC/L.1).

Membership, Officers

The Commission for Social Development acting as the Preparatory Committee is open to all Member States and members of United Nations specialized agencies and observers. 

The Bureau of the thirty-eighth session of the Commission recommended that a separate Bureau be established for the meetings of the Commission for Social Development acting as the Preparatory Committee.  The Preparatory Committee will, therefore, elect a Chairman, one or more Vice-Chairmen, and other officers as may be required.

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