PREPARATORY COMMITTEE FOR SECOND WORLD ASSEMBLY ON AGEING RESUMES FIRST SESSION; WILL CONSIDER DRAFT ACTION STRATEGY
| Press Release SOC/4586 |
Commission for Social Development
Acting as Preparatory Committee for
Second World Assembly on Ageing
8th Meeting (AM)
PREPARATORY COMMITTEE FOR SECOND WORLD ASSEMBLY ON AGEING RESUMES
FIRST SESSION; WILL CONSIDER DRAFT ACTION STRATEGY
The Commission for Social Development, acting as the Preparatory Committee for the Second World Assembly on Ageing, resumed its first session this morning and decided to hold two informal meetings daily for the remainder of the week. During its final meeting on Friday, 14 December, it will discuss the accreditation and participation of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in the Second World Assembly and its preparatory process.
Chairman Felipe Paolillo (Uruguay) announced that the Eastern European Group of States had yet to submit a nominee for the remaining post of Vice-Chairperson. He encouraged the Group to act as soon as possible so that the Bureau would be complete. At two previous preparatory sessions in 2001 -– held from 26 February to 6 March and from 30 April to 1 May, respectively -- the Committee elected Ms. Maria Jose Carrilho (Portugal), Mr. Asith Kumar Bhattacharjee (India) and Mrs. Aicha Afifi (Morocco) as vice-chairpersons.
The Second World Assembly on Ageing will be held from 8 to 12 April 2002 in Madrid, Spain. Marking the twentieth anniversary of the First World Assembly, the Second Assembly will conduct a comprehensive review of the outcome of that event. The event hopes to adopt a revised action plan and long-term strategy on ageing to reflect the rapid demographic changes in the world.
During this week, the Preparatory Committee will also consider the draft 2002 International Strategy for Action on Ageing (document E/CN.5/2001/PC/L.9), which aims to respond to opportunities and challenges of individual and population ageing in the twenty-first century. The ultimate goal of the Strategy is to promote the development of a society for all ages.
According to the draft strategy, the concept of such a society was developed as the theme for the 1999 International Year of Older Persons. It contained four dimensions -- individual lifelong development; multi-generational relationships; the interrelationship between population ageing and development; and the situation of older persons. The International Year helped to advance awareness, research and policy action worldwide, including efforts to mainstream the issue of ageing in all sectors and foster opportunities integral to all phases of life.
To facilitate the Preparatory Committee’s discussions, the draft strategy contains recommendations for action in three priority directions.
8th Meeting (AM)
The first concerns development for an ageing world, which includes specific recommendations for action in the following eight areas: active participation in society and development; work and the ageing labour force; rural development, migration and urbanization; access to knowledge, education and training; intergenerational solidarity; poverty eradication; income security, social protection and poverty prevention; and emergency situations.
The second priority direction concerns advancing health and well-being into old age. This includes recommendations in the areas of health promotion, universal and equitable access to health care services, older persons and HIV/AIDS, training of care providers, mental health needs and disabilities.
The third priority direction refers to ensuring an enabling and supportive environment, with recommendations in the areas of housing, care, abuse and violence, and images of ageing.
The Committee will meet again formally at a time to be announced.
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