HelpAge International
4th Session of the Open Working Group on the Sustainability
Development Goals
United Nations New York
19 June 2013
Population Dynamics
HelpAge International
Statement from the floor by Ms Silvia Stefanoni
The world is ageing at an unprecedented rate, and it is happening fastest in developing
countries. Ageing is a global megatrend, alongside climate change and migration.
Already there are more people over 60 than children under 5. By 2030 people aged over
60 will outnumber children under the age of 10. Ageing well is a universal concern that is
relevant for all ages and associated with cultural and social wellbeing in all societies.
Young people of today are the older centenarians of the future. Expectations around
having a dignified and secure old age is just as much a concern of present day youth
and future generations of younger people, as well as of older people themselves.
HelpAge International welcomes the articulation of the issue of ageing, alongside other
important demographic trends, in the technical support brief for this session. But we are
concerned that the sporadic and inconsistent references to ageing in the reports of the
High Level Panel and the SDSN puts at risk the ambition of the post 2015 process to
eliminate extreme poverty and ’ leave no one behind’ .
This is why we are asking for a strong and consistent narrative on ageing in the
Secretary General’s report and background to the next framework.
Services must respond to the facts of ageing and deliver on the rights of older people in
all countries. Changing age structures in society require all stakeholders to complement
the focus on access in the current MDG’s with quality service provision for all.
Development gains felt by populations as a whole are under threat if policy and practices
are not adapted to respond to population ageing. For example evidence from Bangladesh
tells us that future achievement in poverty reduction overall will be undermined if policy
and practice does not take account of the increasing older population.
We are fully behind the proposals for a ‘data revolution’. We have pointed out the
problems of existing data gaps, including within the Demographic Health Surveys that
still only include people up to the age of 49. Data gaps give rise to serious errors of
analysis, policy and programming relevant for all age groups. This year HelpAge together
with the UNFPA will launch the first Global AgeWatch Index which examines the well
being of people in old age globally and will reflect on how countries across the globe are
dealing with the coming demographic explosion. We have put together a dashboard of
12 separate indicators that comprehensively measure the economic, social and political
elements that interact to create a secure and healthy environment for later life.
This work has exposed the limitations of current data on people over 60.
The data proposals must therefore include age as a core instrument of analysis.
We fully support the proposals on the table for human rights to inform the framework.
We suggest that the next framework be fully based on the international human rights
framework, with a strong commitment to monitor and deliver human rights for all across
the life-course.
Additionally we propose the following concrete actions
1. Ensure that all goals take account of people at all stages of their lives – from cradle to
grave. The proposal for a goal on social protection floors is a strong example of a
framework that recognises how social protection systems can and do apply to all stages
of the life course. The health goals can have similar application with a target on healthy
life expectancy to ensure we are on track to support the health of all people across the
life-course. Ageing is a key driver of non-communicable disease with three quarters of
the global burden of chronic disease affecting people over 60.
2. Member States to measure progress on ageing by looking at policies, attitudes and
budgets to ensure regular income, health, rights to education and decent work and a
supportive and safe environment for all across the life-course. HelpAge with UN partners
are developing a framework to support Member States to measure progress on ageing
across these domains which we offer as a monitoring tool for future goals
3. Include Age in the target and indicator setting with monitoring tools that are old age
specific.
As population structures change, laws, policies, budget allocation, social attitudes and
institutional practices must celebrate and support ageing populations. The Open Working
Group has a historic opportunity to ensure that ageing is fully integrated in the
development framework, necessary to achieve sustainable and equitable development
for all.
June 19 2013 New York
www.helpage.org
Development Goals
United Nations New York
19 June 2013
Population Dynamics
HelpAge International
Statement from the floor by Ms Silvia Stefanoni
The world is ageing at an unprecedented rate, and it is happening fastest in developing
countries. Ageing is a global megatrend, alongside climate change and migration.
Already there are more people over 60 than children under 5. By 2030 people aged over
60 will outnumber children under the age of 10. Ageing well is a universal concern that is
relevant for all ages and associated with cultural and social wellbeing in all societies.
Young people of today are the older centenarians of the future. Expectations around
having a dignified and secure old age is just as much a concern of present day youth
and future generations of younger people, as well as of older people themselves.
HelpAge International welcomes the articulation of the issue of ageing, alongside other
important demographic trends, in the technical support brief for this session. But we are
concerned that the sporadic and inconsistent references to ageing in the reports of the
High Level Panel and the SDSN puts at risk the ambition of the post 2015 process to
eliminate extreme poverty and ’ leave no one behind’ .
This is why we are asking for a strong and consistent narrative on ageing in the
Secretary General’s report and background to the next framework.
Services must respond to the facts of ageing and deliver on the rights of older people in
all countries. Changing age structures in society require all stakeholders to complement
the focus on access in the current MDG’s with quality service provision for all.
Development gains felt by populations as a whole are under threat if policy and practices
are not adapted to respond to population ageing. For example evidence from Bangladesh
tells us that future achievement in poverty reduction overall will be undermined if policy
and practice does not take account of the increasing older population.
We are fully behind the proposals for a ‘data revolution’. We have pointed out the
problems of existing data gaps, including within the Demographic Health Surveys that
still only include people up to the age of 49. Data gaps give rise to serious errors of
analysis, policy and programming relevant for all age groups. This year HelpAge together
with the UNFPA will launch the first Global AgeWatch Index which examines the well
being of people in old age globally and will reflect on how countries across the globe are
dealing with the coming demographic explosion. We have put together a dashboard of
12 separate indicators that comprehensively measure the economic, social and political
elements that interact to create a secure and healthy environment for later life.
This work has exposed the limitations of current data on people over 60.
The data proposals must therefore include age as a core instrument of analysis.
We fully support the proposals on the table for human rights to inform the framework.
We suggest that the next framework be fully based on the international human rights
framework, with a strong commitment to monitor and deliver human rights for all across
the life-course.
Additionally we propose the following concrete actions
1. Ensure that all goals take account of people at all stages of their lives – from cradle to
grave. The proposal for a goal on social protection floors is a strong example of a
framework that recognises how social protection systems can and do apply to all stages
of the life course. The health goals can have similar application with a target on healthy
life expectancy to ensure we are on track to support the health of all people across the
life-course. Ageing is a key driver of non-communicable disease with three quarters of
the global burden of chronic disease affecting people over 60.
2. Member States to measure progress on ageing by looking at policies, attitudes and
budgets to ensure regular income, health, rights to education and decent work and a
supportive and safe environment for all across the life-course. HelpAge with UN partners
are developing a framework to support Member States to measure progress on ageing
across these domains which we offer as a monitoring tool for future goals
3. Include Age in the target and indicator setting with monitoring tools that are old age
specific.
As population structures change, laws, policies, budget allocation, social attitudes and
institutional practices must celebrate and support ageing populations. The Open Working
Group has a historic opportunity to ensure that ageing is fully integrated in the
development framework, necessary to achieve sustainable and equitable development
for all.
June 19 2013 New York
www.helpage.org
Stakeholders