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LONDON, England / HelpAge International / Press Release / October 1, 2009
Age United; older people demand global action to end age discrimination
By 2050 there will be 2 billion older people globally. As this number grows, the number of older women and men who experience discrimination will increase if action is not taken.
That’s this year’s message from
Age Demands Action, an international campaign calling for the protection of older people’s rights. Older people in over 40 countries will join together on October 1, the
UN International Day of Older People.
Older Persons during their meeting
Photo: © COSE/HelpAge International
Campaigning groups and organisations will take part in national and local activities that push for improved policies and urge for recognition and support of older people’s vital contribution to society.
From witchcraft allegations in Kenya, to landgrabbing in Bolivia, older people face discrimination every day.
Richard Blewitt, Chief Executive of HelpAge International, says:
"At last the world is beginning to wake up to the issue of global ageing. Within 10 years, for the first time in human history, there will be more people aged 65 and over in the world than children under 5. Increased longevity is a sign of progress for human development. Yet all too often older people are portrayed as a drain on economies. Age Demands Action shows that around the world older people are no longer accepting that image. They’re fed up at being ignored. They’re outraged about global ageism, and so are we.
“Older people remain among the poorest and most vulnerable groups in our society. Worldwide, over 100 million live on less than US$1 a day. Yet, despite this chronic poverty, the majority of these older people support themselves and continue to contribute to their families and communities.
“Now that we have the facts about global ageing, it’s time for governments and international donors to start investing in the productive and social capacities of older people.
Highlights of the campaign include:
Serbia says: Age Demands Action
© Red Cross Serbia/HelpAge International 2009
People around the world raise their index finger to show support for Article 1 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which states: All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights
* In Bangladesh, hundreds of older people, celebrities, students and activists will attend a rally in Dhaka where a delegation will meet with the Minister for Social Welfare. They’ll call for an increase in the old age allowance, for ID cards for older people so they can get concessions on public transport and in hospitals, and the inclusion of ageing issues in the school curriculum so future generations are aware of the challenges and opportunities that age brings.
* In Jamaica, older campaigners are demanding the enforcement of the maintenance law to ensure that children support their aged parents, an increase in the value of the state pension in line with the cost of living, and enforcing of tax laws to ensure employers pay their share of employee pension contributions so people can access their pensions on retiring.
* In Kyrgyzstan, older people’s groups will campaign for controlled prices for electricity and fuel in the harsh winter months, and for pensions to be increased to a level that meets more than basic survival needs.
* In Kenya, campaigners are calling for the government to take immediate action on the killings of older people accused of witchcraft. These killings must be treated as murder and be investigated, prosecuted, and punished by the police and judiciary.
* In The Philippines, older people’s organizations will call for the government to implement a social pension for the poorest older people, and that local governments will spend their 1% of budget (amount they have allocated to older people’s services) in a constructive way, for example through free healthcare.
Age Demands Action is the first worldwide campaign of its kind, launched in 2007 by HelpAge International, the global network fighting for the rights of older people. Alongside individual country’s activities, the campaign is calling on the international community to protect older people’s rights by introducing a UN Convention on the Rights of Older People.
At 1pm on October 1, Age Demands Action activists across the world will be raising their index fingers to signify their support for Article 1 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights which reads: “all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights”.
Age Demands Action 2009 is being supported by politicians, celebrities, artists and musicians including Archbishop Desmond Tutu. [
rc]
Older Persons during their meeting
Photo: © COSE/HelpAge International
Campaigning groups and organisations will take part in national and local activities that push for improved policies and urge for recognition and support of older people’s vital contribution to society.
From witchcraft allegations in Kenya, to landgrabbing in Bolivia, older people face discrimination every day.
Richard Blewitt, Chief Executive of HelpAge International, says:
"At last the world is beginning to wake up to the issue of global ageing. Within 10 years, for the first time in human history, there will be more people aged 65 and over in the world than children under 5. Increased longevity is a sign of progress for human development. Yet all too often older people are portrayed as a drain on economies. Age Demands Action shows that around the world older people are no longer accepting that image. They’re fed up at being ignored. They’re outraged about global ageism, and so are we.
“Older people remain among the poorest and most vulnerable groups in our society. Worldwide, over 100 million live on less than US$1 a day. Yet, despite this chronic poverty, the majority of these older people support themselves and continue to contribute to their families and communities.
“Now that we have the facts about global ageing, it’s time for governments and international donors to start investing in the productive and social capacities of older people.
Highlights of the campaign include:
Serbia says: Age Demands Action
© Red Cross Serbia/HelpAge International 2009
People around the world raise their index finger to show support for Article 1 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which states: All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights
* In Bangladesh, hundreds of older people, celebrities, students and activists will attend a rally in Dhaka where a delegation will meet with the Minister for Social Welfare. They’ll call for an increase in the old age allowance, for ID cards for older people so they can get concessions on public transport and in hospitals, and the inclusion of ageing issues in the school curriculum so future generations are aware of the challenges and opportunities that age brings.
* In Jamaica, older campaigners are demanding the enforcement of the maintenance law to ensure that children support their aged parents, an increase in the value of the state pension in line with the cost of living, and enforcing of tax laws to ensure employers pay their share of employee pension contributions so people can access their pensions on retiring.
* In Kyrgyzstan, older people’s groups will campaign for controlled prices for electricity and fuel in the harsh winter months, and for pensions to be increased to a level that meets more than basic survival needs.
* In Kenya, campaigners are calling for the government to take immediate action on the killings of older people accused of witchcraft. These killings must be treated as murder and be investigated, prosecuted, and punished by the police and judiciary.
* In The Philippines, older people’s organizations will call for the government to implement a social pension for the poorest older people, and that local governments will spend their 1% of budget (amount they have allocated to older people’s services) in a constructive way, for example through free healthcare.
Age Demands Action is the first worldwide campaign of its kind, launched in 2007 by HelpAge International, the global network fighting for the rights of older people. Alongside individual country’s activities, the campaign is calling on the international community to protect older people’s rights by introducing a UN Convention on the Rights of Older People.
At 1pm on October 1, Age Demands Action activists across the world will be raising their index fingers to signify their support for Article 1 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights which reads: “all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights”.
Age Demands Action 2009 is being supported by politicians, celebrities, artists and musicians including Archbishop Desmond Tutu. [rc]
