25th Annual International Day Of Older Persons
25th Annual International Day Of Older Persons
Theme: Sustainability and Age Inclusiveness in the Urban Environment
Copy: On December 14, 1990 the United Nations General Assembly voted to establish October 1 as the International Day of Older Persons. The holiday was observed for the first time on October 1, 1991 and has been recognized every October 1st since. The holiday is celebrated by raising awareness about issues affecting the elderly, such as senescence and elder abuse. It’s also a day to appreciate the contributions that older people make to society.
The 2015 celebration of the 25th anniversary of International Day of Older Persons (IDOP) — in anticipation of the third United Nations Conference on Housing and Sustainable Urban Development (Habitat III) to be held in 2016 — focused not only on the impact of the new urban environment on older persons, but also the impact of older persons on the new urban environment.
Already, the move of people worldwide to cities is happening at a record pace, with 6 out of every 10 people in the world expected to reside in urban areas by 2030. Consistent with the phenomenon of urbanization, the number of older persons is increasing most rapidly in urban areas of developing countries. The combined effect of both phenomena means that the number of people over 60 living in cities may grow to over 900 million by 2050, making up a quarter of the total urban population in developing countries.
In principle, these trends offer older persons prospects for improving their quality of life. Well planned cities are more likely to provide income generating and education opportunities, in addition to housing and urban environments that are more accessible and safe for older persons, including the incorporation of age-friendly features in public facilities. This includes access to affordable, reliable, safe and physically accessible transportation, which is one of the cornerstones of older persons’ participation, independence and social inclusion.
The 2015 IDOP celebration sought to demonstrate that an age inclusive agenda is crucial for sustainable urban environments to promote equity, welfare and shared prosperity for all.
The objectives of the 2015 IDOP were to draw attention to:
- Opportunities for older persons to participate in planning and addressing their needs in an urban environment in order to improve access to resources and services.
- The fundamental principles and rights that guide the provision of services in age-inclusive cities, so as to protect the dignity and fundamental rights of older persons, as well as prevent their isolation, abuse and neglect.
- Initiatives that can be undertaken through partnerships between governments and the private sector to provide affordable and appropriate housing and transportation for older persons.
- The role that innovative technology plays in contributing to the creation of more age-inclusive environments.
- The importance of intergenerational support for the social, economic and cultural arenas of urban environments;
- The upcoming third review of the Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing, particularly with regard to its “Priority direction III: ensuring enabling and supportive environments”.
“Making cities inclusive of older persons means generating opportunities for their economic and social participation in accessible and safe environments,” said Ban Ki-moon, United Nations Secretary-General. “It also means providing affordable housing as well as the health and social services needed to support ageing in place.”
Living up to the Secretary-General’s guiding principle of “Leaving No-One Behind” necessitates the understanding that demography matters for sustainable development and that population dynamics will shape the key developmental challenges that the world in confronting in the 21st century. If our ambition is to “Build the Future We Want”, we must address the population over 60 which is expected to reach 1.4 billion by 2030.
The United Nations Conference on Housing and Sustainable Urban Development (Habitat III) to be held in Quito Ecuador, from 17 – 20 October, 2016 offers an opportunity to advance this effort.
BLOG Date: Thursday, October 1, 2015
Writer: Ryan Allen