Mr. President
Excellencies
Distinguished Delegates.

I wish at the outset to congratulate members of the Bureau of the Preparatory Committee for the Second World on Ageing for the work they have done towards holding this Assembly.

My delegation also wishes to thank the Government of Spain for hosting the Assembly, for the warm hospitality and for the Excellent facilities put at our disposal.

Mr. President,

The projected dramatic population growth of older persons, particularly in developing countries compels the international community to find ways and means of supporting and caring for them. In Zambia, the population of people aged 60 years and above is expected to double by the year 2030. This growth will have implications on health, public welfare assistance and other services.

The aged people are a valuable segment of the Zambian Society. They are a source of wisdom and also conduits of socialisation and culture from one generation to another. The Government of Zambia continues to put in place policies and programmes aimed at addressing their well being.

My Government is, in this regard, reviewing its national population policy to incorporate issues of ageing. The social welfare programme will also be refocused in order to spell out the special needs of older persons. It is important to note in this regard, that Zambia is already implementing one of the major safety nets which addresses the basic needs of the vulnerable aged persons.

Mr. President,

The Government of Zambia believes that programmes put in place to provide support for the aged should be designed to take into account the country's social, economic, cultural and historic factors. Zambia upholds the fundamental principles of the family as the main social unit. The Government is also promoting of the role of the family in the care of its older members and their rights in the same sphere.

Due to the poor economic situation obtaining in my country, in which about 70 percent of the population are living at poverty levels, Zambia's traditional support system for the aged has been seriously eroded. The changing cultural values, compounded by the effects of globalisation, are also undermining traditional values of respect and support for the aged persons. As a consequence of this, some aged persons, are left to fend for themselves. This is evident in both urban and our rural areas.

Mr. President,

The HIV/AIDS pandemic has impacted negatively on the well being and support for older persons. The high death rate among the productive age group of 15-49 years has resulted in the old people, particularly elderly women, being heads of households and care givers. In addition, they have taken up responsibilities for the upkeep of orphaned children. The effects of this development on the aged and orphaned children, are far reaching.

Finally, my delegation reaffirms Zambian's commitment to the realisation of the objectives to create a society for all ages, including the implementation of the revised plan of action on ageing. In view of our limited resources compounded by a devastating drought that is affecting Southern Africa, we will need the goodwill support and cooperation from the international community as well as the civil society including NGOs for us to effectively address the needs of the elderly.

I thank you.