Mr. President

Allow me, firstly, to thank the Secretary-General and the Chairpersons and Executive Directors of the Organisations of the United Nations System for their outstanding preparatory work. I would also like to thank the Chairperson and Vice-chairpersons of the Preparatory Committee for all the efforts developed throughout the negotiating process. 

Portugal fully supports the statement made on Monday by Spain, on behalf of the European Union, and at this stage, I would like to give you a brief picture of the demographic ageing situation in my country. 

In the last decade, the percentage of older persons over 65 increased from 13.8% to 16.4% of the total population, with a higher growth rate for the group aged 75 and over and even of 85 and over. Population ageing is the result of a strong decline in fertility rates and a longer life expectancy. 

According to the provisional results of Census 2001, the total resident population of Portugal rose to around 10,5 million persons of which 1,7 million are aged 65 and over. The proportion of older women, 18,4%, is higher than that of older men, 14,3%. The ageing ratio is about 103 older persons aged 65 and over per 100 young persons, under 15 years old. 

It is clear, therefore, that the age group of 65 and over, is becoming increasingly important in policy formulation for the coming decades and that greater attention has to be paid to the quality of life of the very old. 

Mr. President

I would like to briefly point out a few aspects of policies for older persons in three important fields: income maintenance, full integration and participation in society and social protection for dependent persons. 
Income maintenance is important to keep out of poverty older persons who can no longer participate in the labour market. The Portuguese system for old age, disability and survivors' pensions can be characterised as having a predominant mandatory publicly run first pillar for private sector workers and civil servants and an increasingly important voluntary third pillar of pension funds managed by authorized life insurance and pension fund companies. 

The social pension, a flat benefit for older persons of low income is also an important component of our social protection system. Since last year, recipients of this pension are entitled to an extraordinary flat rate monthly supplement for persons who are 70 or over. 

In the field of income maintenance, a final reference to the fact that 7.4% of the beneficiaries of the targeted minimum guaranteed income benefit that was established in 1996, are 65 or over. 

Employment, life long learning, health care and social services play an important role in full integration and participation of older persons in society. 

In what concerns employment, Portugal is aware that a longer work career is an important factor to improve the quality of life in an increased life span and that is why the Portuguese pensions favour workers who remain longer in the labour market. 
In our country the activity rate of persons aged 65 and over has continuously risen till 26% of men and 14 % of women, in 2001. 

Mr President

Portugal adopted a strategy for life long learning based on the principle that education and training are fundamental for the individual cultural, social and economic well-being as well as a as a way to enable older workers to respond to the technological evolution. 

In what concerns health issues and according to Census 2001, the disability rate of older persons is 12,2% and, in general, men register higher rates. Life expectancy without long term impairments is higher among men, except in what concerns life expectancy without communication impairment, where the values are very similar. 

To reach old age in good health and well being requires efforts throughout life and it is a responsibility of both individuals and governments. 

Older persons live in family settings - over 30% of the Portuguese families have at least one member aged 65 or over. It is also true that 15% of the total number of families is exclusively composed of older persons and that a considerable number - about 2.5% of the total population - lives alone. Our main concern in social service provision is to maintain older persons in their normal habitat and environment for as long as possible with support services, such as home help, day care centres and recreation centres, provided by public, non-profit and for-profit institutions, as an alternative to institutionalisation. 

However, the very old and the very frail need institutional care settings that cover approximately 3.5% of this age group, mostly women. Almost all of them provide nursing care. 

Participation of older persons in voluntary activities is also a very important component of social integration and it has significantly increased in the last decade. According to the Portuguese report on the International Year of Volunteering, 10.5% of volunteers are aged between 65 and 74 and 8% are over 75 years old. 

Finally, social protection for dependent persons. Although it does not only affect older persons, dependency caused by physical ailments and mental health problems creates extreme difficulties for the very old. Based on a 1998 model of integrated health and social support measures for dependent persons, we have very recently launched a national network of integrated health and social care services to respond to dependency problems. Dependent pensioners are also entitled to a specific financial benefit. 

Mr. President,
Portugal is taking measures to face the challenges posed by population ageing in order to ensure the sustainability of the pensions system in terms of its ability to meet social objectives while maintaining sustainable public finances and intergenerational equity. Gender issues in social protection and health systems will become increasingly important. The ageing process of migrants also raises specific issues. 

We recognise the paramount importance of building societies for all ages, which ensure the full enjoyment of human rights and reinforce conditions for older persons to be real agents in the development process. 

The success of active ageing policies depends on the participation of all generations. It is in our hands to build the foundation of a society for all ages.