Mr. Juan Carlos Aparicio,
Minister of Labour and Social Affairs,
His Excellency Mr. Felipe Paolillo,
Chairman of the Second World Assembly on Ageing,
Excellencies,
Distinguished Delegates,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

It is indeed an honour for me to represent Thailand in the Second World Assembly on Ageing held in the magnificent capital city of Madrid, which now has joined the rank of other major cities that were venues to major international conferences on development from Rio de Janeiro, Vienna, Cairo, Copenhagen to Beijing. 

As Spain plays host to this important event during her assumption of the Presidency of the European Union, I would like to express the most sincere thanks to the Government of Spain, on behalf of the Thai Delegation, for the hospitality accorded to our delegation and to the participants in this assembly and more importantly for bringing "ageing" to the forefront of global issues of the century, paving the way towards building a nobler society through policy integration on ageing at the international level. 
 

Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,

This demographic transformation of the globalized world with its limited resources thus truly qualifies the twenty- first century as the century of "Ageing". 

The relationship between population and quality of life leads us to explore fresh strategies to overcome the new obstacles and challenges which present themselves in the form of a "demographic agequake". This phenomenon is concurrently compounded by several factors other factors ranging from poverty, health, HIV/AIDS, employment, the environment, social pension schemes to human rights, etc. 
 

It is the change in demographics. 

There is a profound change that poses both for developmental and humanitarian issues. 

The Secretary-General of the United Nations has aptly pointed out that " We are in the midst of a silent revolution that extends well beyond demographics with major economic, social, cultural, psychological and spiritual implication." 

In contributing to an Ageing Trust Fund of the United Nations, Thailand hopes to contribute in whatever small way it can to highlight "ageing" as an issue of global common concern in modern society. 

Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,

I would like to share with you Thailand's predicament on "ageing". 

Thailand, with over 60 million people, will graduate into an ageing society,within the next 10 years. The proportion of population age 60 and over is projected to increase from 9 percent at present to 15 percent in the year 2020 and 30 percent in the year 2050. The increase in the proportion of the elderly population in Thailand is far faster than what have been happened in the developed countries. 

Although, to a great extent, the problem of taking care of older persons in Thailand has been comfort in the merit of traditional values of reciprocating the older members of the family by taking care of them once they are in dependent state and frail, children of today, as safety net provider to their parents, may not be in a position to or lack the necessary support for attending to the needs of older persons. 

Factors that undermine their capacity range from industrialization, urbanization, migration, socioeconomic development, HIV/AIDS, drug abuse to the phenomenon of high morbidity expansion etc. 

Hence it is incumbent upon government and societies to lend them a helping,hand. The Government of  Thailand is in the process of proposing a Second National Longterm Plan on Ageing to be approved by the Carbinet. The plan using lifecourse perspective approach addresses all the multidimension aspects of ageing as both long term and short term planning. 

Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,

First and foremost, the emerging demographic pattern should not be perceived in terms of numbers and statistics alone; behind this pattern are real people albeit divided by territorial borders, differing economic and political status, gender and race. Therefore, the approach taken must rely on holistic perspectives, juxtaposing all the elements of obstacles, challenges, resources and capital. 

Secondly, promoting pillars in Quality of life in old age is the concept that country should aim to prepared its citizens for, they are: health with independece, security and social participation. 

Thirdly, among priority areas of action crucial to bring changes is the need to reverse the negative views of ageing. A campaign for a "paradigm shift" on "ageing" and "ageism" as well as related issues will be of paramount importance to move the issue ahead. 

Fourthly, in creating a society for all ages, mainstreaming ageing into the global agenda is essential to bring about the "inclusive society 
 

Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,

Thailand fully supports the outcome of the Asia and Pacific Regional Preparatory Consultation for the Second World Assembly on Ageing held in Macao, in September 2001, which called upon the United Nation to:
 

1)effectively expand the existing institutional capacity of the UN to address the challenges of ageing. 

2) mainstream ageing- related issues into the work of the relevant UN agencies. In this connection, focal points on ageing and inter-generational issues should be set up and /or maintained in these UN agencies and in relevant international financial institutions and 

3) support and promote regional and international exchanges on ageing programmers and approaches to ageing-related issues. 

Finally I would like to emphasize that today, the elderly in different parts of the world are excluded and discriminated against, deprived of and denied their rightful place in society.