The United Nations Population Fund’s (UNFPA) report titled “Ageing in the Twenty-first Century a Celebration and a Challenge” released on Monday stated that the global rate of increase in the number of humans aged 60 and above in 2012 was more than any other age cohort.
The report underscored that, while the trend of ageing societies is a cause for celebration as it represents the collective maturity of humanity, it was also a challenge for governments and IGOs to ensure health care, retirement benefits and old age housing for the most experienced cohort of humanity alive today. The report said that the number of humans above the age of 60 would number 1 billion by 2020. It said that today two out of three senior citizens of the world were inhabitants of the third world and predicted the figure to reach four out of five or 80 percent by 2050.
UNFPA Representative in Karachi Rabbi Royan said that like most countries, Pakistan had not adopted steps to ensure smooth and healthy lifestyles of the senior citizens. He said that demographic change had caught empires and states off guard throughout history and if timely measures were not adopted, one may waste the great human resource hidden in old age by treating them as second class citizens. He said that over 100 nation sates had ratified conventions for protection of senior citizens in the last decade alone and had put in place non-contributory social pensions, in recognition of old age poverty.
The report highlighted that forty-seven per cent of older men and nearly 24 per cent of older women participate in the labour force. Yet, despite their contributions towards a socially and economically active, secure and healthy society, many older persons all over the world face continued discrimination, abuse and violence. HelpAge International Pakistan Country Director Ajeeba Aslam said that “Population ageing – especially in the developing countries like Pakistan – requires urgent, strategic actions at national, regional and global level. We need to start investing in our older population through increased employment, business opportunities and pensions, supporting their roles as caregivers and mentors to children, improving access to quality healthcare, particularly by increasing investment in prevention and treatment of non communicable diseases”.
A Qureshi from HelpAge International highlighted the importance of the report and mentioned that the report was drafted in consultation with all the regional office of the 12 united nation agencies in collaboration with NGO’s working for betterment of senior citizens. The report also includes the stories of 1,300 older men and women who participated in group discussions in 36 countries around the world. Their first-hand accounts and testimonies help in better understanding the immediate action plans needed to address their needs.
