Mr. President,

Permit me, on behalf of my delegation, to extend to you, and to the friendly people of the City of Madrid, our sincere appreciation for the warm reception that has been accorded my delegation since its arrival in this city. 

I also wish to express our appreciation to the government and people of Spain for offering to host this important meeting in their beautiful city. 

In the same context I wish to extend our congratulations to you and the Bureau for leading this auspicious Assembly. My delegation wishes to assure you of its full cooperation.

Mr. President,

Twenty years ago we met in Vienna and adopted the International Plan of Action. Today, we are gathered at this august assembly to exchange experiences, and to review progress achieved in implementing the Plan of Action and in addressing the seven issues that were identified in Vienna, namely: health and nutrition of older persons; safety; the habitat and the environment; family; social well-being; income security and employment, and education. 

In the two decades that have elapsed since Vienna, the world has witnessed great advances. The impact of this global phenomenon has been different on different countries. For most countries in Africa South of the Sahara, these advances have mostly posed great challenges with little, if any, opportunities. However, as actors in the global economy, our countries have had to respond as best as they could to these new challenges.

It is therefore important that as we appraise the Vienna International Plan of Action, we recognize the needs and constraints facing developing countries.

Advances in science and technology have brought along what has been termed: "the demographic revolution without precedents in history". As longevity is celebrated in most developed countries as a major achievement of the twentieth century, in developing countries, where the number of older persons is expected to triple in the next three decades, longevity is a source of great concern. Older people are vulnerable, due to, among others, a lifetime of poverty, hardships, malnutrition and diseases. 

In the case of Tanzania, life expectancy at independence in 1961 was 35 years. In the mid eighties, it had risen to 52. Today, however, with the prevalence of the HIV/AIDS pandemic, it is estimated to have declined to 47 years. In statistical terms, there have been appreciable improvements, but in real terms, the situation is precarious.

The HIV/AIDS pandemic has exacerbated older persons' vulnerabilities. It is a sad commentary of our times that in families where the HIV/AIDS pandemic has claimed both parents, it is the grandparents who keep the family going. It is tough and saps the energies of older persons to the limit, impacting negatively on their health and general well-being.

Mr. President,

There is no gainsaying that the traditional way of looking at older persons as dependents is increasingly giving way to a different perception, where older persons are now actively participating and contributing to society. Not only do older persons serve as advisers in the community's development plans where their lifelong skills and expertise are much needed, and as role models for the youth, they also do provide the link between generations which is so crucial in ensuring continuity and a guide for the way forward. My government has not been impervious to the changing roles of older persons. Whereas at independence the compulsory retirement age was put at 50, today, the voluntary age of retirement is 55 years and compulsory retirement is 60 for both women and men. This is a recognition of the fact that the average person in the public service now lives longer and can continue contributing to the development of society for much longer than was the case before.

For many societies in Africa, the family is still the basic social unit which binds, protects, supports and educates its members. Yet, ironically, more families today, more than ever before, are living in absolute poverty. For many societies in Africa South of the Sahara, this means that more older persons than ever before are living in insecure, unhealthy and difficult circumstances. It therefore behooves us at this assembly to rededicate our efforts to ensuring that the family in that predicament is supported and strengthened as it struggles to adjust to the fast tempo of development.

Mr. President,

For my government, the issue of aging is a very important aspect of social development. Therefore, in order to create the requisite conditions for the improvement in the lives of older persons, the issue of poverty reduction has to be addressed in a coherent and comprehensive manner. Poverty reduction programmes and strategies have to be implemented while targeting the needs of the less privileged, including older persons. We will need to come up with innovative measures, including enacting and reviewing policies that will provide and promote social security for older persons.

Mr. President,

Since the majority of older persons are women, and in developing countries, the majority of them are to be found in rural areas, and are likely to be poorer, it is important to take into consideration the gender dimensions of ageing when policies and programmes addressing the needs of older persons are formulated.

Mr. President,

My delegation is of the opinion that material circumstances differentiate between developed and developing countries. Therefore, when we speak of older persons we need to be specific and to situate the issue of ageing in context. We should all strive to make this Second World Assembly on Ageing the turning point in the lives of older persons everywhere. We need to put in place policies and programmes that will ensure the active participation of older persons in the society's development agenda by creating an appropriate environment, both at the national and international levels, that will improve the lives of older persons and generate a sense of dignity and worth. Similarly, we need to ensure that older persons have access to quality health care services in order to enable them to lead decent and healthy lives while eliminating all forms of discrimination against them.

Our aspirations will only be realized through concerted efforts at international cooperation and partnership. For as the late Dag Hammarskjold once wrote, "… the only kind of dignity which is genuine is that which is not diminished by the indifference of others."

I thank you Mr. President.