United Nations • Population Division • Department of Economic and Social Affairs

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The United Nations General Assembly in resolution 47/5 of 16 October 1992 designated the year 1999 as the International Year of Older Persons, which would have the theme "A society for all ages", "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" (Proclamation on Ageing as contained in Assembly resolution 47/5, annex). The resolution also reaffirmed the International Plan of Action on Ageing (see Report of the World Assembly on Ageing, Vienna, 26 July - 6 August 1982, United Nations publication, Sales No. E.82.I.16, chap. VI.), endorsed by the Assembly in 1982, and the United Nations Principles for Older Persons, adopted in 1991 (General Assembly resolution 46/91 of 16 December 1991, annex).

The Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development (Report of the International Conference on Population and Development, Cairo, 5-13 September 1994, United Nations publication, Sales No. E.95.XIII.18, chap. I, resolution 1, annex), adopted by the Conference on 13 September 1994, addressed a number of issues concerning population ageing and older persons. As regards older persons, the objectives set forth in the Programme of Action are (a) to enhance self-reliance and promote quality of life and productive and independent living; (b) to develop systems of health-care services and economic and social security schemes, recognizing the special needs of women; and (c) to develop formal and informal social support systems to enhance the ability of families to take care of older persons within the family.