Resolution 47/5 | Division for Inclusive Social Development (DISD)

42nd plenary meeting
16 October 1992

Proclamation on Ageing

The General Assembly,

Noting the unprecedented ageing of populations taking place throughout the world,

Conscious that the ageing of the world's population represents an unparalleled, but urgent, policy and programme challenge to Governments, non-governmental organizations and private groups to ensure that the needs of the aged and their human resource potential are adequately addressed,

Conscious also that population ageing in developing regions is proceeding much more rapidly than it occurred in the developed world,

Aware that a revolutionary change in the demographic structure of societies requires a fundamental change in the way in which societies organize their affairs,

Optimistic that the coming decade will see an increase in partnerships, practical initiatives and resources devoted to ageing,

Welcoming the increasing contributions of older persons to economic, social and cultural development,

Welcoming also broad participation in the United Nations programme on ageing,

Recognizing that ageing is a life-long process and that preparation for old age must begin in childhood and continue throughout the life cycle,

Recognizing also that older persons are entitled to aspire to and attain the highest possible level of health,

Recognizing further that with increasing age some individuals will need comprehensive community and family care,

Reaffirming the International Plan of Action on Ageing, which it endorsed in its resolution 37/51 of 3 December 1982, and the United Nations Principles for Older Persons, annexed to its resolution 46/91 of 16 December 1991,

Noting the many United Nations activities that address ageing in the context of development, human rights, population, employment, education, health, housing, family, disability and the advancement of women,

Having considered the challenges inherent in implementing the Plan of Action,

Recognizing the need for a practical strategy on ageing for the decade 1992-2001,

1. Urges the international community:

(a) To promote the implementation of the International Plan of Action on Ageing;

(b) To disseminate widely the United Nations Principles for Older Persons;

(d) To support the continuing efforts of the Secretariat to clarify policy options by improving data collection, research, training, technical cooperation and information exchange on ageing;

(e) To ensure that the ageing of populations is adequately addressed in the regular programmes of competent United Nations organizations and bodies, and that adequate resources are assigned through redeployment;

(f) To support broad and practical partnerships within the United Nations programme on ageing, including partnerships between Governments, specialized agencies and United Nations bodies, non-governmental organizations and the private sector;

(g) To strengthen the Trust Fund for Ageing as a means of supporting developing countries in adjusting to the ageing of their populations;

(h) To encourage donor and recipient countries to include older persons in their development programmes;

(i) To highlight ageing at major forthcoming events, including, in the near future, events in the areas of human rights, the family, population, the advancement of women, crime prevention, youth and the proposed world summit for social development;

(j) To encourage the press and the media to play a central role in the creation of awareness of population ageing and related issues, including the celebration of the International Day for the Elderly on 1 October and the dissemination of the United Nations Principles for Older Persons;

(k) To promote intraregional and interregional cooperation and exchange of resources for programmes and projects on ageing, including those for life-long healthy ageing, income generation and new forms of productive ageing;

(l) To provide the immense human and material resources now urgently needed for adjustments to humanity's coming of age, which can be understood as a demographic phenomenon, but also as a social, economic and cultural one of great promise;

2. Also urges the support of national initiatives on ageing in the context of national cultures and conditions, so that:

(a) Appropriate national policies and programmes for the elderly are considered as part of overall development strategies;

(b) Policies which enhance the role of Government, the voluntary sector and private groups are expanded and supported;

(c) Governmental and non-governmental organizations collaborate in the development of primary health care, health promotion and self-help programmes for the elderly;

(d) Older persons are viewed as contributors to their societies and not as a burden;

(e) The entire population is engaged in preparing for the later stages of life;

(f) Old and young generations cooperate in creating a balance between tradition and innovation in economic, social and cultural development;

(g) Policies and programmes are developed which respond to the special characteristics, needs and abilities of older women;

(h) Older women are given adequate support for their largely unrecognized contributions to the economy and the well-being of society;

(i) Older men are encouraged to develop social, cultural and emotional capabilities which they may have been prevented from developing during breadwinning years;

(j) Community awareness and participation is encouraged in the formulation and implementation of programmes and projects with the involvement of older persons;

(k) Families are supported in providing care and all family members are encouraged to cooperate in caregiving;

(l) Local authorities cooperate with older persons, businesses, civic associations and others in exploring new ways of maintaining age integration in family and community;

(m) Decision makers and researchers cooperate in undertaking action-oriented studies;

(n) Policy makers focus attention and resources on tangible opportunities rather than on desirable but unobtainable goals;

(o) International cooperation is expanded to the extent feasible in the context of the strategies for reaching the global targets on ageing for the year 2001;

3. Decides to observe the year 1999 as the International Year of Older Persons, supported by the regular programme budget for the biennium 1998-1999 and by voluntary contributions, in recognition of humanity's demographic coming of age and the promise it holds for maturing attitudes and capabilities in social, economic, cultural and spiritual undertakings, not least for global peace and development in the next century.