General Assembly

Distr. GENERAL  

9 November 1981

ORIGINAL:
ENGLISH

                                               A/RES/36/20
                                               9 November 1981
                                               49th plenary meeting
 
                Question of the elderly and the aged
 
        The General Assembly,
 
  Recalling its resolution 34/153 of 17 December 1979 on the question of the
elderly and the aged,
 
  Recalling also its resolution 33/52 of 14 December 1978, in which it decided
to convene a World Assembly on Aging in 1982 to launch an international action
programme on aging,
 
  Considering that the international programme of action on aging should
respond to the socio-economic implications of the aging of populations and to
the specific needs of older persons, and should pay due regard to the special
situation of developing countries, in particular of the least developed
countries,
 
  Convinced that the objectives of an international plan of action on aging
must be adapted to the aims of the new international economic order and the
International Development Strategy for the Third United Nations Development
Decade,
 
  Noting with satisfaction the preparatory work for the World Assembly on
Aging, and the leading role being played by the Centre for Social Development
and Humanitarian Affairs of the Secretariat in the work of the United Nations
in the field of aging,
 
  Aware of the need for the continuing role of the Commission for Social
Development and other appropriate United Nations bodies in the monitoring and
evaluation of the international plan of action that would result from the
World Assembly on Aging,
 
  Appreciating the efforts of the specialized agencies and regional
commissions and of the non-governmental organizations concerned in the
promotion of awareness of the situation of the aging,
 
  Recognizing the important role of the United Nations Fund for Population
Activities in furthering solutions to the problems of the elderly and the
aged,
 
  Noting that a United Nations Trust Fund for the World Assembly on Aging has
been established by the Secretary-General in pursuance of General Assembly
resolution 35/129 of 11 December 1980,
 
  Taking note with appreciation of the progress report of the
Secretary-General on the question of the elderly and the aged,
 
1.  Recommends that Governments should continue to give attention to the
question of aging, particularly in the formulation of national development
policies and programmes in accordance with their national priorities;
 
2.  Invites Member States to consider designating in their respective
countries a "Day for the Aging" devoted to activities by, and on behalf of,
the elderly and the aged and to report their views and comments to the
Secretary-General;
 
3.  Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its
thirty-seventh session the views and comments received from Member States
pursuant to the invitation contained in paragraph 2 above;
 
4.  Appeals to Member States to make voluntary contributions to the United
Nations Trust Fund for the World Assembly on Aging;
 
5.  Requests the Secretary-General to use the Trust Fund to encourage further
interest in the field of aging among developing countries, particularly the
least developed among them, within the context of the World Assembly on Aging;
 
6.  Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its
thirty-seventh session on the status of the Trust Fund and to include in his
report an account of project activities financed by the Fund;
 
7.  Requests the Secretary-General to strengthen, with in the limits of
existing resources and voluntary contributions, activities in the field of
aging in co-operation with the organizations concerned, and in particular:
 
(a)  To assist Governments, at their request, in the formulation and
implementation of policies and programmes for the elderly;
 
(b)  To continue to monitor and research the implication of aging populations,
especially in developing countries;
 
(c)  To promote technical co-operation among developing countries in the
exchange of information and technology in this field;
 
8.   Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its
thirty-seventh session on the implementation of paragraph 7 above and also to
report any views received from Member States on the problems of the elderly
and the aged;
 
9.   Invites the United Nations Fund for Population Activities to continue to
provide financial support in the field of aging, particularly for the
implementation of the plan of action that would result from the World Assembly
on Aging;
 
10.  Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its thirty-seventh
session the item entitled "Question of the elderly and the aged".