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NGO MIPAA Progress Reports 2002-2008
Tell your story to the world on our widely-read website! NGOs are a
crucial part of the United Nations’ bottom-up strategy to implement the
Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing. On the occasion of the 5
year review of the Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing, Global
Action on Aging (GAA) invites you to share your organization’s
activities that have helped implement the Madrid Plan in your home
country. Please fill out the questionnaire as soon as possible and return
to globalageing@yahoo.com. Let
others know throughout the world what you are doing to make life better
for older people. The questionnaire is available in Microsoft Word format
in English, Spanish,
and Russian.
2008 | 2007
2008
Iran: The Ladies
Charitable Society (LCS) (February 2008)
According to the Ladies Charitable Society, the situation for older people
in Iran is improving. More than 3,000 LCS volunteers support the elderly
in facilities where they have access to care, leisure, education and
religious activities. In 1999, LCS organized the “First International
Ageing Conference of Iran,” successfully putting aging on the agenda of
the Iranian government. As a result, the Parliament formed an Ageing
Committee and the Iranian School of Medical Science opened a Department of
Geriatrics. To see some pictures, please click here.
Slovenia:
Federation of Pensioners’ Association of Slovenia (February 2008)
Older people in Slovenia live in vulnerable circumstances. Some 12% exist
below the poverty line and nearly 60% of people in their 80’s have
health problems. Moreover, some laws discriminate against older workers,
such as the Act of Social Welfare that forbids retired experts to lead
projects for the elderly. The Federation of Pensioners’ Association of
Slovenia—with 360,000 members in 502 local associations—are pressing
the government to put MIPAA into action.
Uganda: Voices of Older Persons in
Uganda (February 2008)
The Non Profit Organization, Uganda Reach the Aged Organization, explains
in this report the situation of older persons in Uganda. Some laws
discriminate against older persons who cannot, for example, access a bank
loan. Thanks to MIPAA, older people have been included in anti-poverty
programs. Moreover, the government has promised that over the next five
year it will give priority to health care and social pension policies.
Vietnam: Age Demand Action
(February 2008)
In Vietnam, more than 30% of old people live below the poverty line, and
more than 65% have no access to pension or health care coverage. However,
the government has taken initiatives to help older persons, such as the
financial and administrative support of 10,000 older persons’ clubs.
Other measures are planned. During the Age Demands Action Campaign, Help
Age International and its partners opened a website focused on old
persons’ issues and established working groups.
Bangladesh: NGO
Report on MIPAA Progress 2002-2008. Completed Questionnaire by the
Institute of Hazrat Mohammed (February 2008)
The Institute of Hazrat Mohammed in Bangladesh is a non-profit
organization that helps older people to find a place in society. Older
persons are hired to serve on the staff. Elders can read materials for
free and share their opinions with other seniors in a place allocated for
them in the institute. The Bangladesh government has been attentive to the
needs of seniors by providing a new and efficient pension scheme
especially meaningful to people living in rural areas.
Ukraine: NGO Report on MIPAA
Progress 2002-2008. Completed Questionnaire by the Ukrainian Charity
(February 2008)
The Ukrainian Charity, “Turbota pro Litnih v Ukraini,” (Age Concern
Ukraine) advocates for old people’s rights throughout Ukraine. The
charity wants to make seniors aware of their human rights. There are nine
information centers and six information points in sixteen Ukrainian cities
where volunteer advisors and advocates can help older people to protect
their rights. They also edit a magazine that focuses on aging issues.
Moreover, they train groups of volunteers to provide support to lonely
people and gather information to inform top officers of the Social
Protection Branch about the issues older people are facing.
Brazil: NGO Report on MIPAA
Progress 2002-2008. Completed Questionnaire by the Intercultural Adults
Association (February 2008)
The non-profit organization Intercultural Adults Association fights to
give elderly people access to leisure. Pedro Paulo Marques Cajaty,
president, believes that leisure is not a cure but “slows the effects of
the diseases.” Moreover, the NGO encourages wider knowledge and research
about the natural remedies and medicines of the Amazon Forest.
Nepal: NGO Report on MIPAA Progress
2002-2008. Completed Questionnaire by Nepan (February 2008)
Nepan, one of the biggest Nepalese non profit organizations related to
aging, has taken advocacy steps, both before and after the adoption of the
Madrid International Plan on Action on Ageing in 2002. They translated the
MIPAA into the Nepalese language as well as organized workshops and
lobbied throughout Nepal to educate older people. Currently, they also
lead a micro credit project and do research on social pensions. According
to the organization, the environment for older persons in Nepal is
changing positively and the government is moving forward to embrace MIPAA.
Russia: NGO
Report on MIPAA Progress 2002-2008. Completed Questionnaire by Dobroedelo,
the Resource Center of Gerontological NGOs (January 2008)
The Social Gerontologists of Russia have organized a Foundation that
carries out helpful work publicizing the Madrid International Plan of
Action on Ageing and advocating with elected officials for a national plan
on aging, to create a national committee on aging and to re-institute a
Department of Elder Affairs in the Health Ministry. Thus far, neither the
executive nor the legislative branch has accepted or instituted these
recommendations, to the continued detriment of older persons.
Poland: NGO Report on MIPAA
Progress 2002-2008. Completed Questionnaire by Foundation for Womens'
Issues "I am Women" (January 2008)
The Polish-based Foundation for Womens’ Issues works on seniors’
concerns in a larger coalition of non-political NGOs in 9 cities. Since
the adoption of the Madrid Plan, the Foundation surveyed attitudes of age
discrimination and media treatment of older persons. Its programming
focuses on women’s needs and resources, inter-generational cooperation
and equality in society. At every opportunity, the MIPAA goals are
discussed. The Polish government did not contact or invite the
organization to contribute to a “bottom up” evaluation of MIPAA.
US: NGO Report on MIPAA Progress
2002-2008. Completed Questionnaire by the Society for the Psychological
Study of Social Issues (January 2008)
The Society for the Psychological Study of Social Issues looks at aging,
among many other topics, in both a regularly published journal and a
newsletter. Members who are attracted to aging focus on health of elders
as their primary interest. Thanks to consultative status with the United
Nations, the organization’s members have taken leadership in the NGO
Committees on Aging based in Geneva and New York. No government where the
Society is active requested its help in a “bottom up” evaluation of
MIPAA.
2007
Argentina:
NGO Report on MIPAA Progress 2002-2007. Completed Questionnaire by the
Eckman Foundation (August 2007)
The Eckman Foundation based in Buenos Aires, Argentina, has worked on
numerous projects in cooperation with the government and other
non-governmental organizations and gerontology associations. Projects
included seminars on improving health care services for older persons, the
human rights of older persons and a campaign on empowering the elderly.
The Argentinean government along with the foundation and other
organizations are preparing a progress report for the upcoming 5-year
review of the Madrid Plan.
Uganda:
NGO Report on MIPAA Progress 2002-2007. Completed Questionnaire by Reach
the Aged (August 2007)
The Uganda Reach the Aged Association works and advocates for improved
quality of life and preservation of the dignity of older persons in
Uganda, working with various stakeholders to support older persons and
national age care organizations. Reach the Aged supports MIPAA
implementation in several ways. Specifically, the organization assisted in
drafting a national policy on older persons and successfully works on
mainstreaming aging into national health policies, such as in the National
HIV/AIDS Five Year Strategic Plan, as well as poverty-related policies.
Ukraine: NGO
Report on MIPAA Progress 2002-2007. Completed Questionnaire by “Turbota
pro Litnih v Ukraini” (August 2007)
(Also available in
Russian)
The Ukrainian charity “Turbota pro Litnih v Ukraini” (Age Concern
Ukraine) was the principal organization translating the Madrid Plan and
the Political Declaration into Ukrainian. The organization circulates
copies free of charge and keeps seniors up to date with current issues
with its publication “Life Time.” The organization further aims at
involving older persons in decision making processes and has
representation in local governments. Please also have a look at the pictures
provided by the NGO “Turbota pro Litnih v Ukraini”.
India:
NGO Report on MIPAA Progress 2002–2007. Completed Questionnaire by
Anugraha
Anugraha, a national level NGO in India, is one of the organizations
helping to advance the Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing (MIPAA)
in that country. Anugraha’s stated mission is to “empower the
destitute and neglected persons,” focusing on helping the disadvantaged
rural and urban communities in six states of India. See the report to
learn how Anugraha helps promote implementation of the Madrid Plan, the
organization’s achievements and interaction with the government, as well
as other organizations working in the field of aging.
Lebanon:
NGO Report on MIPAA Progress 2002–2007. Completed Questionnaire by Dar
Al-Ajaza Al-Islamia Hospital (DAIH)
Following a Global Action on Aging call for NGOs around the world to
evaluate the implementation of the Madrid International Plan of Action on
Ageing (MIPAA) in their respective countries, Dar Al-Ajaza Al-Islamia
Hospital (DAIH) of Lebanon responded to the GAA survey, emphasizing the
predicament of older persons in politically unstable and insecure
societies. DAIH has been expanding since the year of its foundation, 1954,
and now accommodates 700 patients and provides free medical services to
about 98% of them. This report answers questions about specific
accomplishments of this NGO, its role in promoting the Madrid Plan and how
the Government of Lebanon contributes to the implementation of the Madrid
Plan.
Belize:
NGO Report on MIPAA Progress 2002 – 2007 Completed Questionnaire by the
National Council of Ageing (NCA)
The National Council of Ageing (NCA) of Belize responded to a Global
Action on Aging and an NGO/NY Committee on Ageing survey on the occasion
of the 5 year review of the Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing.
Since 2003, NCA has been working to implement the National Policy for
Older Persons promoting issues affecting older persons and encouraging the
use of the Madrid International Plan of Action to serve as the main
reference for age-related initiatives. Read the answers to questions about
specific accomplishments of this NGO, its role in promoting the Madrid
Plan and how the Government of Belize is using the Madrid Plan.
World: NGO
MIPAA Follow-up Reports 2002-2007 (May 2007)
NGOs play a big
part in the Madrid Plan’s “Bottom-up” implementation strategy. The
following NGO country reports from Bangladesh,
India, Indonesia
along with regional reports from Latin America (click here for the
Spanish version and here for the English
version), East Africa, and Asia Pacific (report in French),
demonstrate how NGO activities and innovative projects have helped put
MIPAA into action.
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