International Day of Older Persons

International Day of Older Persons, 1 October 2009. The theme this year is: "Celebrating the 10th Anniversary of the International Year of Older Persons: Towards a Society for All Ages".

International Day of Older Persons, 1 October 2009

Message of the Secretary-General
AARP Statement by Barry Band, CEO
Press Release, 7 October 2009
New York commemoration
Geneva commemoration
Photos of the Event
UN Radio's Alicia Wood talked to Dr. John Beard, Director of the Department of Aging and Life Course with the World Health Organization in Geneva about the importance of valuing the elderly.

International Day of Older Persons, 1 October 2008: Theme for 2008: "Rights of Older Persons". The International Day of Older Persons 2008 was celebrated at UN headquarters on 2 October 2008. It was organized by the New York NGO Committee on Ageing in cooperation with the Department of Economic and Social Affairs and the Department of Public Information. The theme for 2008 Rights of Older Persons was chosen to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Programme for the International Day of Older Persons -- UN Headquarters celebration
Message of the Secretary-General
| English | French | Spanish | Chinese | Arabic | Russian |
Keynote Statement by Sergei Zelenev, Chief, Social Integration Branch, DESA
Message of H.E. Father Miguel d’Escoto Brockmann, President of the General Assembly, delivered by H.E. Norman Miranda, Chef de Cabinet
Press Release, 26 September 2008

International Day of Older Persons, 1 October 2007: Theme for 2007: Addressing the Challenges and Opportunities of Ageing". The 2007 theme coincides with the theme of the first cycle of the review and appraisal of the Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing, as was endorsed by the Commission for Social Development at its 44th session in 2006 (Resolution of the 44th session).
Observances of the International Day of Older Persons 2007 at the UN Headquarters.
Message of the Secretary-General | A | C | E | F | R | S |

International Day of Older Persons, 1 October 2006:
Theme for 2006: "Improving the Quality of Life for Older Persons: Advancing UN Global Strategies". Click here for more information. Programme Outline. Message of the Secretary-General. Reflections.

International Day of Older Persons, 1 October 2005: Theme for 2005: "Ageing in the new millennium. Focus on poverty, older women and development". Message of the Secretary-General

International Day of Older Persons, 1 October 2004: Theme for 2004: Older persons in an intergenerational society. Message of the Secretary-General

International Day of Older Persons 2003, 13th Annual Celebration

International Day of Older Persons 2002, 12th Annual Celebration

International Day of Older Persons 2001, 11th Annual Celebration

International Day of Older Persons 2000, 10th Annual Celebration

International Year of Older Persons 1999

International Day of Older Persons, 1 October 1998