Speakers at Ageing Assembly in Madrid address issues of International Solidarity, Women and Consequences of Conflict

By : United Nations
April 12, 2002

The Second World Assembly on Ageing this morning heard speakers address issues of international solidarity, women and the consequences of war for social policies on ageing as it continued its general exchange of views.

Poverty, social exclusion, poor health, physical and mental disability, and increasingly unaffordable costs cast shadows over society as a whole, the Minister of Social Affairs of Liechtenstein said. However, while the ageing of populations was no doubt a challenge, it was too often perceived exclusively as a threat.

To find solutions to numerous challenges posed by ageing, it was necessary to pay more attention to the positive aspects of longevity, he continued. The resources that older people had in store for society, their knowledge and practical experience needed to be explored. The goal must be a society in which all ages not only fitted in, but formed a whole, characterized by inter-generational interdependence and solidarity.

The Minister for Social Action of Paraguay said if people were seen only in relation to their worth in the labour market, a dignified life for them would not be achieved. Often, attempts were made to force older persons to join the labour market, but improving the quality of life involves meeting the overall needs of older persons, not only their material needs, and also providing a sense of belonging. Social protection policies must recognize that broad view of the standard of living.

The principle of justice in the free market economy was inadequate and detrimental to efforts to ensure equal opportunities for all, he said. There was a need for a more effective solidarity. Three concrete measures could contribute to affirming that: the elimination of tariff barriers, compliance with official development assistance targets and implementation of debt-relief initiatives.

Referring to the wars his country had to fight, the representative of Eritrea said coping with the immediate challenges of daily survival remained the major preoccupation of the people. The dismal situation of wars and poverty had kept average life expectancy in his country at 46 years, a figure that prevailed a century ago in the world at large. It was thus a very small proportion of the population who got to enjoy the blessings of a long life. The rehabilitation and reintegration of elderly refugees and deportees, moreover, required the country to cope with the diverse psychological, economic and health needs of them.

Addressing problems of older women, the Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Labour and Social Policy of Poland said men and women should share equally in opportunities society offered for economic security in old age. The most difficult task would be to eradicate two main sources of inequality -- the lower earnings of women that meant lower retirement benefits, and a shorter working life of many women, mainly due to their combined family and professional roles. Furthermore, the retirement age should be the same for men and women.

Echoing other speakers, the Deputy Minister for Labour and Social Policy of Bulgaria said that her country was currently reforming its social services system. The purpose of the reform was to create a new approach to care, shifting it from institutionalized towards community-based services.

Ministers from Nicaragua, Zimbabwe, Costa Rica, Czech Republic, Burkina Faso, Guinea-Bissau and Myanmar spoke as well, as did representatives of Estonia, Togo, and Trinidad and Tobago.

The Second World Assembly on Ageing will meet again at 3 p.m. to conclude its general exchange of views and to adopt the Assembly's report, the Political Declaration and International Plan of Action on Ageing 2002, and a resolution expressing gratitude to the host country. It will also consider the report of its Credential Committee.

Statements

AURELIO VARELA AMARILLA, Minister for Social Action of Paraguay: The challenge of development in a globalized and ageing world is such that we must make the necessary changes in order to foster the welfare of all. Economic growth is indispensable to development, but does not improve the welfare of everyone. Policies to distribute welfare for all, including older people, children and migrants, are crucial.

One cannot seriously think of a system of social protection if the institutions in the social sector are weak and uncoordinated. If we see people only in relation to their worth in the labour market, we will not achieve a dignified life for them. Often, attempts are made to force older persons to join the labour market, but we must look beyond their worth as a part of the labour force. Improving the quality of life involves meeting the overall needs of older persons, not only their material needs, and also providing a sense of belonging. Social protection policies must recognize that broad view of the standard of living.

We should also mention that the principle of justice in the free market economy is inadequate and detrimental to efforts to ensure equal opportunities for all. There is a need for a more rational and ethical principle of equity: solidarity. Poverty, inequality and social exclusiveness have shown that cooperation among individuals and among nations is essential. What we need is not arrogant solidarity, but sincere and rational solidarity. The future calls for more effective solidarity. Three concrete measures could contribute to affirming this: the elimination of tariff barriers, compliance with aid targets and implementation of debt-relief initiatives.

NATALIA BARILLAS DE MONTEIL, Minister of Family Affairs of Nicaragua: Given the social and economic vulnerability of our country, it can not meet all of the needs of older persons. We are providing old persons' homes, cafeterias and clubs, and encouraging integration into the family to avoid the institutionalization of older people. We are also trying to improve the services provided by our institutions, and have begun implementing a strategy of economic growth and poverty reduction which seeks to ensure the economic sustainability of older persons so that they can remain in the family.

Older persons contribute to the family's economic output in Nicaragua and also to the economy of the country. They take care of their grandchildren, if their children have migrated to seek better living conditions elsewhere. The Ministry of Health provides health services, but is lacking resources for complete coverage. We have been seeking to meet the fundamental needs of our population, but have come up against the constant obstacle of poverty. Despite our efforts, the economic crisis has become even more severe than in the past, and this has especially affected older persons.

We welcome the possibility of sharing our experiences and welcome the commitments of donors and international organizations to increase their contributions to poorer countries. My Government will attempt to implement the agreement reached at the Second World Assembly on Ageing to the extent it is able, and invite all other nations to combine their efforts in this respect.

JULY G. MOYO, Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare of Zimbabwe: My country has been constrained by the lack of resources in our efforts to provide for our increasing ageing population and to ensure that older persons have full access to their rights, as enshrined in the Principles for Older Persons. Older persons aged 60 years and above are about 5.3 per cent of the total population. The number of older persons is increasing while that of children has progressively been decreasing. The proportion of people with disabilities increases with age. For this reason, my delegation is pleased that the Plan of Action sees the link between poverty and ageing, particularly in the developing world.

In Zimbabwe, the impact of HIV/AIDS on older persons has been acknowledged. Older persons face a major problem of providing care and support for the sick, who usually revert to being cared for by their ageing parents. By the time the person with AIDS dies, they will have used up most of their resources, leaving the older persons who have cared for them, poorer. Older persons also face the challenge of caring for children orphaned as a result of AIDS.

The present agrarian reforms being undertaken by the Government have demonstrated that, contrary to conventional wisdom, the young and professional classes are eager to engage in agriculture. This phenomenon will ensure that agriculture will no longer be a means of subsistence, but a major agro-industrial development that will be an important factor in the poverty alleviation which is necessary for the well-being of older persons. Programs being implemented to assist older persons include: provision of free food and nutrition, care and protection; provision of free medical treatment and shelter; legislated care and protection for older persons; and income security. We are, however, constrained by the lack of resources to support them in income-generating activities and appropriate educational and training programs. Developing countries need financial assistance, and Zimbabwe welcomes the outcome of the Conference on Financing for Development.

XINIA CARVAJAL, Minister for the Status of Women of Costa Rica: Over the last decade, demographic changes in my country have occurred, and older persons over 60 now make up 9 per cent of the population. We have been transforming the historic reality of older persons, which in the past has been characterized by poverty and difficult conditions. We believe this transformation can come about if there is political will at all levels in countries around the world. The plans and strategies we have drawn up will allow our good intentions to become real, permanent change. One should encourage the participation of older persons in society, and then work out a multidisciplinary strategy.

We have drawn up a concrete program of change in several sectors. In education, we have developed programs for the training of health personnel, developed a plan for the accreditation of care facilities to ensure their high quality of service, and supported training for medical persons. We are now providing health care for 65 per cent of older persons. Regarding transport, we have reduced the cost of tickets for older persons, and encouraged their participation in civil society. We are establishing a forum to prevent the abuse of older persons. Older persons need commitment and support from the State, which must coordinate actions with the private sector. People grow older and their needs change and certain rights must be respected.

HANSJORG FRICK, Minister of Social Affairs of Liechtenstein: Poverty, social exclusion, poor health, physical and mental disability, and increasingly unaffordable costs cast shadows over society as a whole. However, while the ageing of populations is no doubt a challenge, it is too often perceived exclusively as a threat. We should not come here merely to add to the list of complaints about the historic demographic transformation we are witnessing.

Individual and societal problems brought about by ageing must be addressed and analysed carefully. To find solutions to numerous challenges posed by ageing, however, it is necessary to pay more attention to the positive aspects of longevity. The resources that older people have in store for society, their knowledge and practical experience need to be explored. Prejudices against older persons should be reduced, and opportunities created. Our goal must be a society in which all ages not only fit in, but form a whole, characterized by inter-generational interdependence and solidarity.

My country is in the fortunate position of being able to offer its older generation a healthy environment and good living conditions. A dignified existence for those who did not achieve prosperity during their working life can be guaranteed thanks to the existing social security system, including guaranteed access to medical care and social services. Among the issues that require attention are the needs of immigrants who go into retirement. With the foreign-born population amounting to over 30 per cent of the entire population, Liechtenstein is naturally expecting a substantial number of retired immigrants.

KRYSTYNA TOKARSKA-BIERNACIK, Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Labour and Social Policy of Poland: Society cannot be truly democratic if age is used to divide people into "haves" and "have-nots", and into those who are provided with care and those who are deprived of it. In 2000, over 16 per cent of the Polish populations was aged 60 and over. Thirty years from now, that percentage will be 26 per cent. In view of the approaching demographic peak of the elderly, the Government has been pursuing policies to ensure social security for the present and future older generations. The realization of a society for all requires not only the elimination of any discrimination based on age, but also taking positive action towards a society of solidarity. These two principles should be applied together with the principle of individual diligence and responsibility for one's life.

Senior citizens should enjoy adequate social security and should be empowered to fully participate in society. Combating poverty in the older generation should progress in two directions simultaneously: assisting those who have already fallen into poverty, and enabling the young and the middle-aged to secure an adequate income for themselves once they retire. Men and women should equally share in the opportunities society offers to provide for one's economic security in old age. The most difficult task in this regard is the effective eradication of two main sources of inequality: the lower earnings of women, which in turn result in lower retirement benefits; and the shorter working life of women, mainly caused by their need to combine family and professional roles.

Government policies should create incentives for the elderly to continue employment beyond retirement age. Furthermore, the retirement age should be the same for men and women and early retirement should be reduced, if not eliminated altogether. Work is presently under way on an act on volunteer service to encourage greater activism by and for senior citizens.

GILBERT OUE'DRAOGO, Minister for Social Action and National Solidarity of Burkina Faso: This conference is important for our country and developing countries in general, who are working to achieve sustainable human development. In our country, progress in health has allowed us to increase life expectancy levels. In the past, ageing has not been a particular problem, because older persons were cared for within family groups. Now, however, economic and social changes have given rise to poverty and marginalization, particularly in the older population.

Reports resulting from two studies conducted in Burkina Faso show that those without the necessary social networks suffered from exclusion. The lack of a care network leads to deficiencies in health, food, housing and recreational activities. We have developed social promotion and development strategies, which will be adopted in May. They will promote healthy and sufficient food, cooperation, grain banks and other necessities for older persons. They will also encourage physical fitness through walking, the development of recreational areas and the strengthening of income levels through training. The strategies will also work to combat social exclusion and strengthen structures for income-generation, as well as social insurance structures.

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