Thank you Ms. Finkel for your welcoming remarks.
Excellencies,Distinguished Colleagues,Ladies and gentlemen,
Welcome to the 11th joint AARP/UNDESA luncheon briefing series.
Let me thank our co-host, AARP, for its long-standing role in championing the interests of older persons. I look forward to our continued collaboration in this regard.
Ladies and gentlemen,
The Commission for Social Development’s ongoing effort to promote people-centered and inclusive development, is crucial to implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
During this 56th session, Member States and other stakeholders will examine key policies that have been effective at reducing poverty. They will identify policy options to accelerate progress in eradicating poverty and leaving no-one behind. These efforts must include older persons, front and center.
Despite progress towards poverty eradication, too many people live in extreme poverty. Some 767 million people still live on less than 1.90 US dollars a day. This is a reality that affects many older persons, and which must be addressed.
Today, I will highlight four areas where urgent action is needed:
• First, poverty is a major threat to the well-being of older persons. In many countries, the absence of social protection systems are usually not sufficient to guarantee adequate income security until the end of their lives.
• Second, estimates of poverty among older persons are limited. Data on poverty rates disaggregated by age are sorely lacking. Currently, evidence of poverty rates among older persons is limited to few countries and regions. It is particularly limited in developing countries.
• Third, in most countries, the risk of poverty increases with age. The “oldest-old”, 80 years and older, are less able to work; are more likely to have exhausted their savings; and are most in need of health and long-term personal care services. Their numbers are growing fast, particularly in developing countries.
• Fourth, older women are at much greater risk of falling into poverty than older men. Discrimination in access to education, the labour market and other opportunities accumulate over time and increase vulnerability. On average, older women fare notably worse than older men, both in access to pensions and in the level of benefits that these pensions provide.
Without addressing these challenges, we cannot achieve the central tenet of the 2030 Agenda - to end poverty in all its forms everywhere. By 2030, the number of older persons globally is projected to outnumber youth as well as children under age 10. Successful poverty eradication hinges on paying greater attention to the challenges older persons around the world.
Our Department supports the General Assembly’s Open-ended Working Group on strengthening the protection of the human rights of older persons, which will hold its 9th working session this July. I take this opportunity to welcome members of the Bureau who are joining us this afternoon.
Ladies and gentlemen,
We are holding this briefing prior to the High-level Panel on the third review and appraisal of the Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing, which will take place tomorrow morning. This is no coincidence. Implementing the Madrid Plan of Action and related regional strategies will help achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, and contribute to leaving no one behind.
While the primary responsibility for action remains at national level, coordinated UN system support at the global level is key. I am happy to share with you that an informal network of interested entities of the UN system, has recently been launched by our Department, together with UNDP.
This network was formed to:
Today we have with us a diverse group of partners – allowing for meaningful exchange of experiences on new evidence and innovations in poverty eradication efforts for older persons. This afternoon, our aim is clear. Our dialogue will enable a better understanding of progress made and challenges faced in eradicating poverty and insecurity in old age.
Only by joint action, can we ensure a better future for all.
I thank you.
Excellencies,Distinguished Colleagues,Ladies and gentlemen,
Welcome to the 11th joint AARP/UNDESA luncheon briefing series.
Let me thank our co-host, AARP, for its long-standing role in championing the interests of older persons. I look forward to our continued collaboration in this regard.
Ladies and gentlemen,
The Commission for Social Development’s ongoing effort to promote people-centered and inclusive development, is crucial to implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
During this 56th session, Member States and other stakeholders will examine key policies that have been effective at reducing poverty. They will identify policy options to accelerate progress in eradicating poverty and leaving no-one behind. These efforts must include older persons, front and center.
Despite progress towards poverty eradication, too many people live in extreme poverty. Some 767 million people still live on less than 1.90 US dollars a day. This is a reality that affects many older persons, and which must be addressed.
Today, I will highlight four areas where urgent action is needed:
• First, poverty is a major threat to the well-being of older persons. In many countries, the absence of social protection systems are usually not sufficient to guarantee adequate income security until the end of their lives.
• Second, estimates of poverty among older persons are limited. Data on poverty rates disaggregated by age are sorely lacking. Currently, evidence of poverty rates among older persons is limited to few countries and regions. It is particularly limited in developing countries.
• Third, in most countries, the risk of poverty increases with age. The “oldest-old”, 80 years and older, are less able to work; are more likely to have exhausted their savings; and are most in need of health and long-term personal care services. Their numbers are growing fast, particularly in developing countries.
• Fourth, older women are at much greater risk of falling into poverty than older men. Discrimination in access to education, the labour market and other opportunities accumulate over time and increase vulnerability. On average, older women fare notably worse than older men, both in access to pensions and in the level of benefits that these pensions provide.
Without addressing these challenges, we cannot achieve the central tenet of the 2030 Agenda - to end poverty in all its forms everywhere. By 2030, the number of older persons globally is projected to outnumber youth as well as children under age 10. Successful poverty eradication hinges on paying greater attention to the challenges older persons around the world.
Our Department supports the General Assembly’s Open-ended Working Group on strengthening the protection of the human rights of older persons, which will hold its 9th working session this July. I take this opportunity to welcome members of the Bureau who are joining us this afternoon.
Ladies and gentlemen,
We are holding this briefing prior to the High-level Panel on the third review and appraisal of the Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing, which will take place tomorrow morning. This is no coincidence. Implementing the Madrid Plan of Action and related regional strategies will help achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, and contribute to leaving no one behind.
While the primary responsibility for action remains at national level, coordinated UN system support at the global level is key. I am happy to share with you that an informal network of interested entities of the UN system, has recently been launched by our Department, together with UNDP.
This network was formed to:
- discuss information on ageing-related work;
- identify areas of cooperation and synergies;
- raise the profile of ageing issues on the UN agenda;
- promote the engagement of older persons in the implementation of the 2030 Agenda; and
- integrate the concerns and interests of older persons into the work of this informal group.
Today we have with us a diverse group of partners – allowing for meaningful exchange of experiences on new evidence and innovations in poverty eradication efforts for older persons. This afternoon, our aim is clear. Our dialogue will enable a better understanding of progress made and challenges faced in eradicating poverty and insecurity in old age.
Only by joint action, can we ensure a better future for all.
I thank you.
File date:
Tuesday, January 30, 2018