The COVID-19 epidemic has made already existent disparities worse, and the last three years have seen an increase in the socioeconomic, environmental, health, and climate-related effects on older people’s lives, particularly older women, who make up the bulk of older people.

While older women continue to make a significant contribution to their political, civic, economic, social, and cultural lives, their efforts are still mostly unseen and ignored due to gendered disadvantages that have accrued over the course of their lifetimes. Negative stereotypes that mix ageism and sexism are amplified by the interaction between discrimination based on gender and age.

International Day of Older Persons History

The International Day of Older Persons was declared by the UN General Assembly on December 14, 1990 (resolution 45/106). This was preceded by programmes like the Vienna International Plan of Action on Aging, which was approved by the UN General Assembly and the World Assembly on Ageing in 1982.

The United Nations Principles for Older Persons were approved by the General Assembly in 1991 (resolution 46/91). The Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing was adopted in 2002 by the Second World Assembly on Ageing in order to address the opportunities and challenges presented by the population’s ageing in the twenty-first century and to advance the creation of a society that is inclusive of people of all ages.

International Day of Older Persons Theme 2022

The United Nations International Day of Older Persons Theme for 2022 is a call to action and an opportunity to embrace the voices of older women and showcase their resilience and contributions to society while promoting policy dialogues to enhance the protection of older people. Recognizing the vital contributions of older women and promoting the inclusion of their voices, perspectives, and needs are critical to creating meaningful policies to enhance a holistic response to local, national, and global challenges and catastrophes.

The International Day of Older Persons (UNIDOP) theme for 2022 acts as a marker and a reminder of the crucial role older women play in navigating global difficulties and making valuable contributions to their solutions with fortitude and tenacity.

International Day of Older Persons 2022: Facts and Statistics

The population of the globe has seen a significant transformation in recent decades. The average age of death increased globally from 46 to 68 years between 1950 and 2010. In 2019, there were 703 million people over the age of 65 in the world. Eastern and South-Eastern Asia (261 million) have the most elderly people living there, followed by Europe and North America (over 200 million).

• – The number of elderly people is expected to more than quadruple over the next three decades, reaching more than 1.5 billion people in 2050. Between 2019 and 2050, the senior population will grow in size across the board. Eastern and South-Eastern Asia are expected to have the highest rise (312 million), going from 261 million in 2019 to 573 million in 2050. 
• – Northern Africa and Western Asia are predicted to have the fastest increases in the number of elderly people, from 29 million in 2019 to 96 million in 2050. (an increase of 226 per cent). Sub-Saharan Africa is expected to have the second-fastest growth, with the number of people 65 and older rising from 32 million in 2019 to 101 million in 2050. (218 per cent).

In contrast, the growth is anticipated to be considerably less in Australia and New Zealand (84%), as well as in Northern America and Europe (48%), where the population is already considerably older than in other regions of the world. 

Why is International Day of Older Persons Important?

More than two-thirds of the world’s elderly population (1.1 billion) would live in less developed nations, excluding the least developed countries, in 2050. However, the least developed nations are expected to have the highest growth, with the number of people 65 and older possibly increasing by 225% from 37 million in 2019 to 120 million in 2050.

Objectives

1. To demonstrate the adaptability of older women in the face of enduring social, economic, and environmental injustices.

2. To increase public awareness of the significance of better global data collecting that is broken down by age and gender

3. To demand that all policies put older women at the forefront and ensure gender equality as outlined in the Secretary-report, General’s Our Common Agenda, among member states, UN organisations, UN Women, and civil society.

FAQs

Why is The International Day of Older Persons (UNIDOP) celebrated?

It is celebrated in order to raise awareness and combat harmful stereotypes and preconceptions about older people and ageing, as well as to help older people reach their full potential.

What is the theme of The International Day of Older Persons (UNIDOP) for the year 2022?

The theme of the 2022 commemoration of International Older Persons Day is “Resilience of Older Persons in a Changing World”

What are The United Nations Principles for International Day of Older Persons?

As stated by the UN General Assembly, following are the United Nations Principles for Older Persons:

Independence

1. Older persons should have access to adequate food, water, shelter, clothing and health care through the provision of income, family and community support and self-help.

2. Older persons should have the opportunity to work or to have access to other income-generating opportunities.

3. Older persons should be able to participate in determining when and at what pace withdrawal from the labour force takes place.

4. Older persons should have access to appropriate educational and training programmes.

5. Older persons should be able to live in environments that are safe and adaptable to personal preferences and changing capacities.

6. Older persons should be able to reside at home for as long as possible.

Participation

1. Older persons should remain integrated with society, participate actively in the formulation and implementation of policies that directly affect their well-being and share their knowledge and skills with younger generations.

2. Older persons should be able to seek and develop opportunities for service to the community and to serve as volunteers in positions appropriate to their interests and capabilities.

3. Older persons should be able to form movements or associations with older persons.

Care

1. Older persons should benefit from family and community care and protection in accordance with each society’s system of cultural values.

2. Older persons should have access to health care to help them to maintain or regain the optimum level of physical, mental and emotional well-being and to prevent or delay the onset of illness.

3. Older persons should have access to social and legal services to enhance their autonomy, protection and care.

4. Older persons should be able to utilize appropriate levels of institutional care providing protection, rehabilitation and social and mental stimulation in a humane and secure environment.

5. Older persons should be able to enjoy human rights and fundamental freedoms when residing in any shelter, care or treatment facility, including full respect for their dignity, beliefs, needs and privacy and for the right to make decisions about their care and the quality of their lives.

Self-fulfilment

1. Older persons should be able to pursue opportunities for the full development of their potential.

2. Older persons should have access to the educational, cultural, spiritual and recreational resources of society.

Dignity

1. Older persons should be able to live in dignity and security and be free of exploitation and physical or mental abuse.

2. Older persons should be treated fairly regardless of age, gender, racial or ethnic background, disability or other status, and be valued independently of their economic contribution.

Which part of the world has the most elderly population in terms of density?

Eastern and South-Eastern Asia (261 million).

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