Condition of Elderly in Palestinian Occupied Territories, Countries in Economic Transition among issues raised in Ageing Assembly

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FLORENCE NAYIGA SSEKABIRA, Minister of State for Gender, Labour and Social Development in Charge of Elderly and Disability Affairs of Uganda: The twenty-first century is witnessing an unprecedented transition from high birth and death rates to low fertility and mortality. Already the majority of the world's older persons, 61 per cent, live in developing countries, a proportion that will rise to nearly 70 per cent by 2025.

Unlike our friends from developed nations who have already institutionalized mechanisms and support systems for older persons, the case for developing countries, specifically in Africa, warrants urgent measures to cater for the aged. This is more apparent in Africa due to a number of factors that make older persons vulnerable. These include the following: socio-economic changes have weakened the ability of the family to perform its responsibilities, to the disadvantage of older persons; HIV/AIDS is greatly affecting older persons, who are expected to look after the sick and perhaps later assume responsibility for the orphans; poverty eradication programmes have not focused on older persons to the extent that the elderly are unable to meet their own needs, as well as those of their grandchildren; health services are insensitive to the needs of the elderly and the principle of cost-sharing further disadvantages them; with the restructuring of economies in the world, there is no right to employment, and older persons are the victims of this process.

The last population and housing census report of 1991 put the number of people aged 60 or more at 4.11 per cent of the population, and this is expected to increase. The Government has come to appreciate the predicament of older persons, and is doing its best to ensure that they are catered for as well as any other segment of the population. The needs of each individual are of equal importance and must be made the basis of planning for societies. We are striving to change the image of the elderly and allow them to participate in all aspects of society.

HERZL INBAR (Israel): Examination of the developed world's policies makes it clear that there is a tremendous lack of knowledge among the public at large and even among professionals about ageing and appropriate care. Society has failed to effectively apply social and medical models with respect to understanding and reducing dependency. Different countries display a huge diversity in their approaches to the care of the elderly, and a unified model for national systems is yet to emerge.

National policies relating to the aged in Israel are based on the need to promote older persons' independence and autonomy; empower the consumer; increase older people's right to participation and representation; and maintain their active roles in society. Other principles relate to promoting equality among the elderly, providing an adequate standard of living in old age; and maintaining inter-generational partnerships and mutual responsibility. Attention must be paid to inter-generational equity in the allocation of resources. Other elements of policy include encouraging children to be responsible for financing the care of the elderly, and using the media to change the negative attitudes and stereotypes towards the elderly and ageing. The Government's recent actions include the adoption of the national health insurance law; extension of women's mandatory retirement age from 60 to 65; efforts to expand services to the growing Arab elderly population; and expansion of professional and academic training and research in gerontology.

We must not permit this Assembly -- like so many other international conferences before it -- to be hijacked by those with a narrow and hostile political agenda. Those who use this podium to attack Israel instead of focusing on the real issues of this Assembly should ask themselves what their own countries have done to further the needs of their ageing populations, as well as other parts of their society, instead of wasting their resources and energies on policies that are based on hatred and violence against Israel. We must also remember that the perpetrators of vicious acts of terrorism, and especially those who have targeted innocent civilians with suicide bombers, have claimed victims among the elderly. Among the Israeli civilians murdered at the hands of ruthless killers, more than 50 were people over the age of 60. Last month alone, terrorism claimed the lives of 25 elderly Israeli citizens, some of them survivors of the Holocaust some 60 years ago. In a gathering like this, and indeed, nowhere in the world, should their murderous criminal approach be given any legitimacy whatsoever.

JACQUES L. BOISSON (Monaco): At the dawn of the new century, increases in life expectancy, rapid urbanization and population ageing have changed the way the international community approaches issue related to older persons. The effects of these transformations have been most exemplified by the situation of older persons living on the African continent. We should particularly focus on the affects these sociological changes will have on the elderly populations in Africa, where widespread poverty and underdevelopment continue to overshadow many aspects of their lives. We must make their lot a priority. Africa is, after all, the cradle of civilization and we cannot continue to let the collective memory of humankind -- our African elders -- suffer under the conditions that exist today.

With longer life expectancies and improvements in health care and medicines, our older persons will continue to find ways to play an active role in society and fulfil their destinies. This is a destiny that we owe to them as they have provided us with the wealth of experience and history from which we all benefit today. In Monaco, we have instituted a series of measures to address many of the problems associated with growing older, including health concerns, fears of isolation and other issues exacerbated by lack of access to basic services. We must bear in mind, that like all people, elderly populations must be allowed to exercise not only their civil and political rights, but their social and economic rights as well. To that end, an international instrument ensuring the rights of older persons could be envisaged as one of the follow-up mechanisms to this Assembly.

Most of the recommendations of the draft Plan of Action will be shortly implemented in Monaco. They will be carefully examined to ensure their early implementation. The percentage of our elderly population is forecast to continue to increase in the coming years. While our Government works to ensure that those older persons continue to participate in their communities, civil society actors and volunteers have also done their part, particularly in assisting with home care, food deliveries and planning social activities for persons with reduced mobility. We have enhanced our hospital facilities and have established many private clinics. Much has been done for older persons in Monaco, but we realize that many obstacles need to be overcome. We are certain that the outcome of this Assembly will contribute to our national efforts.

DJAMEL OULD ABBAS, Minister of Social Action and National Solidarity of Algeria: Since the First World Assembly, the world has experienced great upheavals in all areas of social and economic activities. As a result, we have been forced to take action to meet the challenges facing the world today. Among those challenges is the ageing of the world population. International cooperation and the participation of all levels of society are of great importance for tackling the problems that arise.

The problems associated with globalization often put the vulnerable groups of societies, including the elderly, in special peril. Africa is one of the regions where older people suffer from the consequences of the economic problems encountered by their societies. One cannot remain silent over the tragic conditions of the Palestinian people who are struggling for their fundamental rights. The most elementary rights of the Palestinian people are being denied. We must condemn Israeli policies and practices, for it is not only the young people, but also older people who are being victimized. We must put an end to this humanitarian disaster.

In Algeria, the problem of the ageing of the population is becoming more evident. Older people are receiving attention from the State, which is setting up mechanisms to provide material and moral support to them, so that they can take an active part in the life of society. In our society, older people are respected and venerated for their wisdom, but the modern world can affect the traditional balance. For this reason, we are protecting older people through legal guarantees. We believe in inter-generational solidarity, and these principles are deeply rooted in our traditional and cultural beliefs. We have set up a national plan of action for older persons that envisions increased social protection, health services and care for the elderly.

HUSSEIN MAJED (Lebanon): In compliance with the international strategy and recommendations set by the First World Assembly on Ageing, the Lebanese Government has decided to establish a permanent national commission on the elderly, with primarily advisory functions, acting as an executive arm of the Ministry of Social Affairs. My country also participates in regional efforts to address the issue of ageing.

As one of the Arab countries that continue to suffer from the repercussions of the Israeli occupation, we believe that the sufferings of the Palestinian people represent unjustified genocide and a violation of their human rights. Those of the elderly in Palestine and in my country, who survived the massacres and remained outside of prisons, are in the vanguard of those who are defending their dignity, their honour and their land. Arab Lebanon -- the Muslim and Christian Lebanon, which embodies peace and love -- entreats this Assembly to call for the establishment of a just and comprehensive peace in the Middle East in accordance with relevant resolutions. Each and every human being deserves life without discrimination.

Our national agenda on ageing focuses on the implementation of a needs-assessment study on the status of the elderly people in Lebanon and creation of a sound database. Among the activities of the national commission are the organization of seminars, conferences and media-oriented programmes dealing with the problems faced by the elderly. The commission has also declared a national grandparents' day, which is observed every year in June. A steering committee was formed in order to follow-up with the ministries involved in the care of senior citizens. The Ministry of the Interior has asked all municipalities to submit plans of action on medical and social services for the elderly. Several projects are being developed to respond to the priority needs of the elderly, and legislation is being formulated to improve their situation.

DECLAN O'DONOVAN (Ireland): As a developed country, the relative youth of Ireland's population -- we are graying, but some 45 per cent of our population is still 25 years or younger -- has been highly important to our recent and sustained economic growth and our rapid transition from a largely agrarian society to one that now has the ability to take advantage of advances in new information technologies. The lengthening of the average lifespan in Ireland over the last 50 years has changed the way we look at all aspects of our social existence, including childhood, marriage, health and leisure activities.

The way we perceive lives shortened by malnutrition, disease, lack of development or war has also been affected. We can now see even greater disparities in the human condition throughout various regions of the world. Because of the improvement in our economy during the mid-1990s, Ireland has been able to significantly improve the lot of older people in a broad range of areas, including health, social security and housing, among others. While we have made significant steps towards establishing a health policy for our older persons, which aims to keep them active and living in their own homes as long as possible, we fully accept that a lot more remains to be done. The recently published health strategy, "Quality and fairness -- A Health System for You", sets out actions which will be taken in the area of services for older people. These include proposals on long-term financial care, improved eligibility and assessment, ensuring an integrated approach to ageing, improved support for informal caregivers and providing thousands of extra spaces in day-care centres. Social insurance and contributory old-age pensions have been increased by nearly 50 per cent over the last five years. This is well ahead of increases in the cost of living and increases in average earnings. A new Pensions Act has been passed and it will now be easier for people to take out private and occupational pensions to ensure their future. Our Government greatly values our older people and stands ready to support the Political Declaration that is under consideration by the Assembly.

TALAT H. ALWAZNA (Saudi Arabia): The First World Assembly on Ageing placed emphasis on a Plan of Action on behalf of older persons throughout the world. We now seek to complement, enhance and strengthen those commitments. Our Government provides care to all of our citizens, particularly older persons. We provide for their security and dignity, based on the precepts of Islam and traditional Arab cultural values. The percentage of older persons in our country now stands at about 4 per cent and is expected to quickly rise to 7.9 per cent. We extend every effort to meet the needs of our older persons and to provide them with adequate health care, medical services and social activities.

We recognize what our elderly populations mean to us -- they are significant part of our national wealth. We include older persons in national development projects so that we can make full use of their experiences. We also ensure that they take part in community and volunteer activities. All our policies aim to ensure the place of older persons within their families. We also take advantage of their life experiences to inculcate religious values within families. This will help unite families and allow older persons to live better lives. We also seek to provide material support to older persons once they have retired so that their needs can be met. Our Government provides a pension for retired civil servants and retired military. Our social security system covers retired professionals as well as all older persons who have never worked. We provide health care through clinics, including care in specialized hospitals when necessary. We have also established elder-care homes for those that are unable to remain in their own homes.

We believe in a modern, integrated and holistic approach to ageing that will ensure independence for persons of all ages and ensure that proper social care is provided for all age groups. As this Assembly is about to adopt a revised Plan of Action and Political Declaration, it is critical to consider the situation of older Palestinian people, as they are powerless and have no recourse to address what was being done to them through Israeli aggression. We, like other delegations participating in this conference, condemn what is being to done to them and all Palestinian people and we hope that the outcome of the Assembly will ensure the rights of older persons throughout the world.

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