WORLD VIEW ON AGING

by BETTY LETZIG
Response, January 1983

"Of all the major UN conferences held in recent years, the World Assembly on Aging is the one whose subject matter intimately touches upon the present or future of every man, woman and child who lives a normal span of life on this earth." These words of United Nations Secretary-General Javier Perez de Cuellar at the closing plenary session of the recent World Assembly on Aging are truly prophetic. The Assembly, which met at the Hofburg Palace in Vienna, Austria, July 26 through August 2, 1982, was called into being in response to a unique demographic fact.

Until the second quarter of this century there were far too few people who lived into their 60s to constitute a true age group. The situation is now fundamentally and dramatically different.

A series of UN demographic projections show the worldwide 60 and older population increasing 224 percent between the years 1975 and 2025. An increase of only

102 percent for the total, worldwide population during the same period is forecast. About 72 percent of the elderly (the majority of whom will be women) by the year 2025 will probably reside in developing nations. An estimated 52 percent of the elderly presently reside in rural areas.

Assembly reports indicated that many countries do not have well-defined program approaches for the needs that a rapidly increasing elderly population will have created by the year 2000.

Urbanization presents a problem for the elderly. By the year 2000, the number of the aged living in urban areas will have increased to more than 40 percent. Families have been the traditional means of caring for the elderly, but with urbanization those structures are no longer available.

In terms of realistic planning, Dr. Leo Caprio, of the World Health Organization, stated: "We are really sitting on a social time bomb. We must avoid fatalism, but we must also avoid the danger of being too cozily sentimental about the situation."

The International Plan of Action

It was out of that context that the 121 nations, and the 250-plus representatives of Non-Governmental Organizations (NGO) worked together to produce "The International Plan of Action on Aging."

Intrinsic to the plan is the statement in the preamble: "The countries gathered in the World Assembly on Aging, aware that an increasing number of their population is aging, having discussed together their concern for the aging, and in the light of this the achievement of longevity and the challenge and potential it entails. . . (1) Do solemnly reaffirm their belief hat the fundamental and inalienable rights enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights apply fully and undiminishedly to the aging; and (2) Do solemnly recognize that quality of life is no less important than longevity, and that the aging should therefore, as far as possible, be enabled to enjoy in their own families and communities a life of fulfillment, health, security and contentment, appreciated as an integral part of society."

The issue in the Plan of Action fell under two main topic - humanitarian and developmental.

The humanitarian focuses include specific needs of the aging, namely health, housing and environment, social welfare, income security, education and the family. Obviously interrelated with the humanitarian issues, the developmental issues are concerned with the role of the aged in the context of society at large, particularly the relationship between the population's increasing elderly and economic and social progress.

Of concern to Non-Governmental Organizations representing religious bodies was the fact that in the draft of the plan there were few references to the spiritual/religious need of the elderly. Some proposed amendments resulted from the concern.

Of special concern to those among the NGO's who represented the religious bodies was the fact that the Draft Plan as originally submitted had few references to the spiritual/religious needs of the elderly. Working together they drafted some proposed amendments and lobbied to get delegations to introduce their concerns. They were successful at three specific points:

The Plan concentrates on the following basic principles:

That the aging are, and should be regarded as a valuable national resource.

That essential and proper medical care should be viewed by the world as the key to the attainment and preservation of a level of health that permits individuals to lead a socially and economically productive life.

The Plan will be presented to the General Assembly of the United Nations at its next session, where it is expected that the Plan will be adopted, though perhaps with minor revisions. Then comes the implementation.

Implementation of the Plan

On national levels, each country is requested to devote more attention to aging, including in its national strategy "a clear commitment" at all levels of government to the implementation of targets and priorities.

At the global level, the UN General Assembly and its specialized agencies are called upon to respond to the Plan of Action. Coordination of the implementation of the action plan has been assigned to the Center for Social Development and Humanitarian Affairs. The UN Fund for Population Activities is asked to relate aging issues to its International Conference on Population in 1984, and a similar recommendation was addressed to those planning for the International Youth Year, scheduled for 1985, with special emphasis to be given to intergenerational matters.

The World Health Organization, with its goal of "Health for all by the year 2000," has indicated an heightened concern for including the elderly in its plans.

Mrs. Leticia Shahani, Assistant Secretary General of the Center for Social Development and Humanitarian Affairs, and a member of the World YWCA, stressed the unique role that Non-Governmental Organizations should play, saying that if it were not for the pressure and influence of NGO's at the UN, the issues regarding women would not be on the agenda. She urged NGO's to contact their nation's leadership and offer their assistance with special emphasis on legislation as a logical part of the follow-up in establishing government policies on aging-especially in developing countries; to help inform the appropriate leadership of the developing countries of the availability of Trust Fund monies for technical assistance in developing their national plans; and to assist sister organizations in those countries with both technical and material resources.

Assuring that the momentum gained not be lost, the UN Commission for Social Development was recommended as the agency to review implementation of the Plan of Action each four years and make proposals for updating it.

Linking the Generations

Today a new tree stands in Rathaus Park in front of the Vienna City Hall. It was placed there in a special tree-planting ceremony, sponsored by the New York and Vienna United Nations Committees on Aging and Youth, and set into the ground by a 79-year-old Austrian woman and a five-year-old Filipino boy, emphasizing the importance of linking the emphasis on aging with the forthcoming 1985 International Youth Year.

The tree symbolizes longevity, self-reliance, continuing growth and a community meeting place.

Inspiration for the ceremony came from the story of an old man who was seen planting a fruit tree. When asked if expected to live long enough to partake of the fruit he replied: "I did not find the world empty in my lifetime. My forebears planted trees and I ate of the fruit. Now I plant, so that future generations will be able to eat."