October 1 is observed as the International Day of Older Persons across the globe. The day was introduced by the United Nations General Assembly with an aim of honouring the contribution of older persons and looking into the problems that they face. Older people make significant contributions to society via volunteer work, passing on experience and knowledge, and assisting their families with different responsibilities. As today we celebrate this occasion, let’s glance at its history and significance.
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International Day of Older Persons 2022: Theme
The overall umbrella theme for the United Nations International Day of Older Persons in 2022 is “Resilience of Older Persons in a Changing World.” This theme will be celebrated by the NGO Committees on Ageing in New York, Geneva and Vienna – each with a unique and complementary approach to the overall theme. See below for more information.
International Day of Older Persons 2022: Objective
- To highlight the resilience of older women in the face of environmental, social, economic and lifelong inequalities.
- To raise awareness of the importance of improved worldwide data collection, disaggregated by age and gender.
- To call on member states, UN entities, UN Women, and civil society to include older women in the centre of all policies, ensuring gender equality as described in the Secretary-General’s report, Our Common Agenda.
International Day of Older Persons: History
On 14 December 1990, the United Nations General Assembly designated October 1 as the International Day of Older Persons (resolution 45/106). This was preceded by initiatives such as the Vienna International Plan of Action on Ageing, which was adopted by the 1982 World Assembly on Ageing and endorsed later that year by the UN General Assembly.
In 1991, the General Assembly adopted the United Nations Principles for Older Persons (resolution 46/91). In 2002, the Second World Assembly on Ageing adopted the Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing, to respond to the opportunities and challenges of population ageing in the 21st century and to promote the development of a society for all ages.