THE RIGHT TO BE HEARD

By : NGO Forum on Ageing
April 6, 2002

Helen R. Hamlin, president of the NGO Committee on Aging.

Q. If you had to choose an aim to present to the UN next week, which should it be?

A. I will ask governments to put into practice what they always promise and also to guarantee the elderly people the opportunity to stand up for their rights, participating in the decisions that are important to them. In fact, it is about the right to be heard.

Q. What task does IFA carry out?

A. Our organization is focused mainly on elderly people, but we also try to get the younger generations to take part in it. We live in an intergenerational world, and what is good for young people is good for elderly people. Although they are two different parts of the population they both collaborate. The elderly help the young mentally, in history, etc., and the elderly people, for their part, get energy and life from the younger ones. In IFA, the young help handicapped people go shopping and above all are company in lonely or isolated situations.

Global Action on Aging
PO Box 20022, New York, NY 10025
Phone: +1 (212) 557-3163 - Fax: +1 (212) 557-3164
Email: globalaging@globalaging.org

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