UN’s International Day of Older Persons ‎

The United Nations urged nations on Thursday to improve older persons’ accessibility to urban infrastructure, facilities and services as rapid urbanization and ageing populations are combining to dramatically change the face the world’s cities in the coming decades.  “Older persons are an enormous asset to society and make a significant contribution to global development” United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said in a message marking the Oct. 1st International Day of Older Persons.

“In implementing the newly adopted 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, we must account for the demographic changes of the next 15 years. These will have a direct bearing on the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals,” the UN chief said.

In a separate statement on the annual observance, Rosa Kornfeld-Matte, the UN Human Rights Council’s Independent Expert on the enjoyment of all human rights by older persons, said, “We need to re-think our cities. Over 900 million older persons will be living in cities across the world by 2050, but our cities are not fit for this global demographic revolution.”   She spoke of existing barriers in public spaces and buildings, as well as the lack of safe, affordable, accessible and barrier-free housing and transportation that prevent older persons from fully enjoying their rights and from living in dignity and safety in their communities.  Echoing the Secretary-General’s call to address such matters while implementing the new Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Kornfeld-Matte urged States to innovate housing, transportation and buildings programmes.

Ban ki-Moon said that making cities inclusive of older persons means generating opportunities for their economic and social participation in accessible and safe environments. It also means providing affordable housing as well as the health and social services needed to support ageing in place. (Source: UN)