Doha/ October 1, 2009
IIMSAM Middle East Director & Goodwill Ambassador Dr. Naseer Homoud’ message on International Day of Older Peoples. Dr. Naseer calls upon to develop respect and dignity for elderly peoples while caring for them as important and valuable assets.
Recognizing ageing as one of the major achievements, and at the same time, challenges of contemporary world, the UN General Assembly in 1990 designated October 1 to be marked as International Day of Older Peoples (IDOP).
Addressing the media on the occasion of IDOP Dr. Naseer said “we are marking the UN International Day of Older Persons as an opportunity to highlight the importance of demographic changes for societies, and for social security systems in particular”.
The UN estimates that, globally, one out of every ten persons is now 60 years or above; by 2050, one out of five will be 60 years or older; and by 2150, one out of three persons will be 60 years or older. The UN celebrates 1 October as the International Day of Older Persons. The 2009 theme is “Celebrating the 10th Anniversary of the International Year of Older Persons: Towards a Society for All Ages”.
“The theme for 2009 is a reminder that human dignity and value must be at the centre of our focus,” said Dr. Naseer Homoud “Experience shows that there are few instruments that are as effective at ensuring the basic security and dignity of older persons as universal social security health and pension schemes, in both developed and developing countries.”
For social security, population ageing is at the heart of the challenge brought by demographic changes. The impact of an ageing population on social security is manifold. It increases the dependency ratio between the non-working and the working population, as well as the demand on the healthcare system. In some contexts, ageing may weaken the sustainability of old-age insurance schemes, and increase needs for long-term care programmes. Worldwide research confirms that social security schemes worldwide are adopting proactive policies and measures to invest in people, and to promote health and employment, in order to cope with these developments.
