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

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In the future, we will be establishing a national council for older persons, and upgrading expertise in the field of ageing. The experiences we have exchanged in the last few days will help each country in its approach to the problem of population ageing.

BELA HEJNA, Deputy Minister of Labour and Social Affairs of the Czech Republic: A key aspect of current demographic trends in the Czech Republic is the shrinking population, due to natural decline and a sharp drop in the birth rate. In the last five years, the post-productive segment of our population has been larger than the pre-productive segment.

A significant consequence of population decrease is the gradual ageing of the population, which in future will be the greatest demographic problem faced by the Czech Republic. The percentage of the population aged over 60 is expected to rise, and there will be a long-term shrinking of the population group aged 15-59. We have not managed to avoid problems associated with population ageing -- problems other developed countries also face.

In December 2001, our Government approved the draft fundamental principles for the National Programme of Preparation for Ageing as a binding framework for elaborating the Programme. The document has now been completed, and once it has been supplemented to include the conclusions of the Second World Assembly on Ageing, it will be submitted to the Government and approved during the first half of this year. The Programme will be in effect for 2003-2007. The National Programme aims to create a favourable social climate to tackle the problems of ageing and change attitudes and approaches at all levels, resulting in a "society for all ages". Population ageing must be understood not only as an objective reality, but also as a challenge for society, which must be ready to tackle its problems. Necessary conditions must be developed in all areas of society, and individuals must be responsible for their own preparations for old age. The National Programme is therefore aimed at society as a whole -- the young and middle-aged, and older persons themselves.

BUBACAR RACHID DJALO, Minister of State and Representative of the President of Guinea-Bissau: In our ages-old African culture, we honour older people and recognize their important contribution to society. This international meeting is an excellent opportunity for me to voice my concern over the conditions of poverty, in which millions of older people live in developing countries, their solitude and despair, as well as over the retirement homes where people in developed countries are "stashed away". We are duty-bound to seriously consider the needs of those people, putting an end to their dehumanization.

We also need to think about the plight of older Palestinian people, and we need to adopt a resolution of solidarity with them. Measures also need to be taken to support developing countries and our programmes to address the needs of vulnerable groups of population, including older people. In my country, we are adopting programmes to ensure good living conditions for them. Let us all work to ensure that our elders may live -- and live well.

CHRISTINA CHRISTOVA, Deputy Minister for Labour and Social Policy of Bulgaria: Ageing affects all spheres of economic and social life in my country: health care, employment, labour markets, social protection and economic growth. In countries in economic transition, like Bulgaria, this process is accompanied by a decrease of the income of the population, which requires special measures to adapt to the situation. Our policies should encourage social integration of ageing persons and their active participation in economic and public life. Special attention and efforts should be directed towards meeting the needs of the elderly people living in rural areas.

In 2000, Bulgaria undertook a profound pension reform, making the pension insurance system obligatory for all employed and self-employed persons. Various legislative acts have been adopted to develop the system. To supplement the compulsory State system, voluntary social insurance is also available to people. The country is also undertaking a reform of its social services system, which aims at creating a new approach to care, shifting it from institutionalized towards community-based services. We have a good tradition in home-care services, which will be further developed.

A working group has been established within the Ministry of Labour and Social Policy to examine the best practices of European Union member States as far as ageing is concerned and analyse the United Nations strategy in this respect. A national report is being prepared on Bulgaria's policies towards elderly people, covering all aspects of life, including social insurance, possibilities for employment, life-long learning, health care, social services, culture and recreation.

U HLAING WIN, Deputy Minister for Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement of Myanmar: Our society is made up of extended families comprising senior relatives who traditionally receive care from their children, grandchildren and relatives. According to our religious teachings, cultural traditions and social code of conduct, Myanmar people have a high regard for older people. Therefore, the affairs of older people do not constitute a serious social problem in Myanmar. For those older people who require special care for various reasons, homes for the aged have been established by religious and voluntary social organizations. The State provides rice, funds for food and clothes and salaries for the administrators of those homes.

The country's elderly health-care project is aimed at increasing the accessibility of geriatric care services. At present, the project covers 34 townships, providing the needed equipment and offering basic health-care training courses for medical personnel and the elderly themselves. In collaboration with non-governmental organizations (NGOs), various other activities are also carried out, including the collection of data on the elderly and recording their health-care status.

Government servants in Myanmar may serve until the age of 60, which is the age of retirement. Afterwards, they are entitled to gratuity and pension under the relevant rules and regulations. The State may, if necessary, continue to employ retired skilled and experienced personnel or appoint them as advisors. Apart from the Government service, retirees also serve in other capacities. A large number of elderly persons are now serving in important positions in NGOs, voluntary organizations, companies and business firms. Under the social security act, workers covered by the scheme are entitled to free medical care and cash benefits.

ANDRES TOMASBERG, Estonia: Estonia is one of the most rapidly ageing nations in Europe. At the beginning of 2002, 15 per cent of the population was 65 years or older, compared to 11 per cent in 1989. At the same time, the percentage of young people under 14 had decreased by more than 20 per cent.

Population ageing results in significant changes in the society's socio-economic and political situation. Needs and consumption structures change, and the burden on the public sector tends to increase. In September 1999, our Government approved the "Basics of Estonian Senior Citizens Policy". Its priorities include: offering assistance to ensure that older persons remain active; promoting opportunities for activity and creativity; creating opportunities to participate, decide and bear responsibility in different political levels; promoting the value of voluntary work; and assisting families to help in caring for members.

The purpose of the programme is to prevent senior citizens from being socially excluded and provide them with equal opportunities to actively take part in social life. It also aims to improve the coping skills of older persons in a changing world, improve social welfare services and inform the general public about ageing issues. In future, greater emphasis will be laid on voluntary work, and the activities of various senior citizen organizations will be supported. Home care for older persons will be prioritized and nursing care will be improved. Considering the rapid ageing of the population, we have initiated pension reform, whereby the State pension system will be supplemented with private-funded pensions.

TANTE-GNANDI ADJA (Togo): In Togo, some 240,000 people, or 6 per cent of its population, are 65 years or older. This figure could reach 10-12 per cent by the year 2025. Older persons in rural areas are mostly farmers, tradesmen and shopkeepers, without resources after completing their working lives, although another smaller group has some retirement pension. In rural areas, in particular, we are seeing changing attitudes that are harmful to older persons. These have led to reduced family and social solidarity, which has been exacerbated by the social and political upheaval of recent years.

We need to promote conditions to ensure that the rights and freedoms of older persons are actually respected. Twenty years have passed since the First World Assembly on Ageing took place, and now is the time to take steps. Much has been achieved, but major challenges remain before we achieve a "society for all ages". Our Assembly should help us to identify the way to human and sustainable development.

I would like to stress a phenomenon which has important consequences for ageing in general -- the policy of sanctions. Because of sanctions exercised against certain countries, those nations are having difficulties upholding the principles of social justice. We would invite the international community to review this policy.

ANTONIA POPPLEWELL (Trinidad and Tobago): My country has been guided in its policies and programmes for older persons by the International Plan of Action and the United Nations Principles for Older Persons, which we view as blueprints for the development of policies and programmes that advance the cause of older persons, especially in light of statistics which indicate that the majority of older persons live in developing countries. In this regard, Trinidad and Tobago wishes to associate itself with the statement made by Venezuela on behalf of the "Group of 77" developing countries and China, in particular to the reference made to the obstacles that prevent developing countries, including small island developing States, from fully participating in the global economy.

In Trinidad and Tobago, persons 60 years and over account for 9 per cent of the population. By 2020, this figure is expected to increase to 15 per cent. My country has had a long history of providing social security for older persons, via public transfers to persons 65 years and over. Over the past five years, we have progressively increased the welfare grant to older persons. A task force has been established to review pensions. Free health care is provided for all citizens at the public health institutions. Improvement is needed in the delivery and quality of this service, and in the area of preventive and rehabilitative health care. In the area of housing and supportive environments, the Government has adopted a policy of making available to older persons apartments at a very low cost. A number of NGOs also provide care for older persons.

On the issue of the family, we have not been spared the impact of industrialization and urbanization, as evidenced by the number of women entering and remaining in the labour force. This has affected the ability of the family to meet the traditional role of caretakers of older family members. The Government has established a geriatric adolescent partnership programme to train and sensitize young persons in care of the elderly. An area that requires further development is social and community care of older persons. The proposed Division of Ageing will facilitate this process.

ANDEBRHAM WELDEGIORGIS (Eritrea): Eritrea is a young country risen from the ashes of a protracted war of liberation and one of national defence. Coping with the immediate challenges of daily survival remains the major preoccupation of our people. The dismal situation of wars and poverty has kept average life expectancy at 46 years, a figure that prevailed a century ago in the world at large. It is thus a very small proportion of our people who get to enjoy the blessings of a long life.

The Government has launched a programme of emergency recovery and poverty reduction, with a wide range of all-inclusive social services, designed to uplift the human condition and nurture a society for all ages. Traditional culture holds the elderly in high esteem as the repository of experience, wisdom and moral authority. The extended family structure of society provides collective care and protection for the elderly. A preliminary needs-assessment indicates that, with improvements in adult education and basic public health care, the number of old persons is growing and that they have a variety of needs. The rehabilitation and reintegration of elderly refugees and deportees in particular, require coping with diverse psychological, economic and health needs.

Eritrea, as a young nation, is faced with many challenges. It has made the strategic choice to build upon and strengthen the traditional roles of the family and the community to ensure a reliable and self-sustaining safety net for its older persons. State intervention aims to combine the integration of the elderly with income-generation so as to safeguard their self-esteem, respect and independence. Obviously, the country needs and deserves international support for its efforts to nurture a communal safety net that ensures economic security, social protection and human solidarity for its elderly.

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