Overviews and Factsheets

An ageing world
Populations are ageing in almost every country in the world.
HelpAge International

An ageing world: Myths and Misconceptions
Here are some examples of the kind of myths and misconceptions which exist about ageing and older people, and some facts which challenge some of our most commonly held beliefs and views.
HelpAge International

Elder abuse - a hidden reality
Elder abuse is a serious problem across the globe, but it is still under-acknowledged and largely under-reported.
HelpAge International

Population Ageing: A Public Health Challenge
By 2020 More than 1,000 Million People Aged 60 Years and Older Will Be Living in the World, More Than 700 Million of Them in Developing Countries.
World Health Organization

The Ageing of the World's Population
Over the past few years, the world's population has continued on its remarkable transition path from a state of high birth and death rates to one characterized by low birth and death rates. At the heart of that transition has been the growth in the number and proportion of older persons. Such a rapid, large and ubiquitous growth has never been seen in the history of civilization.  R
UN Programme on Ageing / Population Division, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, United Nati

Abuse of Older Persons: Report of the UN Secretary General (PDF)
The report surveys the issues on abuse of older persons from a global perspective based on studies conducted in the past 20 years.
UN - UN Secretary General

Ageing and development
Today, human society is being "restructured" by three simultaneous processes: globalization, urbanization and population ageing. Developing countries, once again, are being hit hardest.
Second World Assembly on Ageing, Madrid, 2002

Ageing of the World's Population: The Demographic Revolution in Pictures
Provides population and population ageing graphs.
UN Programme on Ageing

Declaration of the World NGO Forum on Ageing
Final declaration and recommendations adopted by the World NGO Forum on Ageing, held concurrently with the Second World Assembly on Ageing (UN), held in Madrid, Spain, 2002.
World NGO Forum on Ageing

Draft Charter for a Society for All Ages (for the International Year of Older Persons)
A draft of a proposed Charter for a Society for All Ages developed for consideration by the United Nations for the International Year of Older Persons in 1999. The Charter was developed by staff at AARP.
Charlotte Nusberg, American Association of Retired Persons (AARP)

Elder abuse widespread and unreported
A report recently released by United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan surveys abuse of older persons around the world and finds that abuse is widespread, is usually not reported, and has significant financial and human costs.
Second World Assembly on Ageing, Madrid, 2002

Equal treatment, equal rights: Ten actions to end age discrimination
HelpAge International has set out ten concrete actions to ensure that older people across the world benefit from the full range of internationally accepted human rights.
Help Age International

International Plan of Action on Ageing 2002: A summary of the plan
HelpAge International

International Plan of Action on Ageing 2002: A summary of the plan
The Madrid Plan lists 33 objectives and 117 concrete recommendations, grouped into three priorities: Older persons and development, Advancing health and wellbeing into old age, Enabling and supportive environments.  R
HelpAge International

Madrid International Plan of Action 2002 (Report of the Second World Assembly on Ageing)
The Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing, adopted at the Second World Assembly on Ageing, is the first international agreement that specifically recognises the potential of older people to contribute to the development of their societies, and commits governments to including ageing in all social and economic development policies.
UN Second World Assembly on Ageing

Madrid Political Declaration (on Ageing) - (from Second World Assembly on Ageing, Madrid, 2002)
Political Declaration on Ageing - a key document from the Second World Assembly on Ageing.  R
Second World Assembly on Ageing, Madrid, 2002

Mark of a noble society: Human rights and older people (PDF)
A briefing paper produced to mark United Nations Human Rights Day 2000. The paper challenges the way poverty, social exclusion and discriminatory attitudes effectively set age limits to human rights.
HelpAge International

Population ageing: facts and figures
Factsheet, overview on population ageing, from the Second World Assembly on Ageing
UN Second World Assembly on Ageing

Second World Assembly on Ageing (Background Info / Factsheet)
Background and information on the Second World Assembly on Ageing.  R
Second World Assembly on Ageing

State of the world's older people 2002 - Executive summary
Summary of State of the World's Older People report.
Help Age International

The Economic, Social and Cultural Rights of Older Persons
The economic, social and cultural rights of older persons
United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights

United Nations Principles for Older Persons
The UN Principles aim to ensure that priority attention will be given to the situation of older persons. The UN Principles address the independence, participation, care, self-fulfillment and dignity of older persons.  R
UN (International Year of Older Persons 1999)

Vienna International Plan of Action on Ageing
The Vienna International Plan of Action on Ageing is the first international instrument on ageing, adopted at the World Assembly on Ageing at Vienna, Austria, in 1982.
UN Programme on Ageing

World Assembly on Ageing (Background Info)
 R Global Action on Ageing

World Population Ageing 2002 Wall Chart (PDF)
UN Programme on Ageing

Equal Treatment, equal rights: ten actions to end age discrimination (PDF)
This document sets out 10 concrete actions to ensure that older people across the world benefit from the full range of internationally accepted human rights.
HelpAge International

Global Aging: The Challenge of the New Millennium (PDF)
Report to World Leaders from the CSIS Commission on Global Aging
CSIS - Center for Strategic and International Studies

State of the World's Older People 2002 (PDF)
This provides new evidence on the situation of older people in developing countries and in eastern and central Europe, drawing on recent statistics and research by the global network. Its unique feature is to reflect older people's views and experience, recorded in consultations held in 32 countries during 2001/2 in preparation for the Second World Assembly on Ageing.
HelpAge International

The Ageing and Development Report: Poverty, independence and the world's older people (Summary) - (PDF)
A report on the circumstances of older people in developing countries and countries in transition, with chapters on economic security, health, family and community life, poverty, gender and emergencies.
HelpAge International

Ageing issues in Africa: a summary (PDF)
This booklet highlights issues facing older people in Africa, and makes suggestions about what can be done to address their problems, needs and concerns.
HelpAge International

Gender and ageing pack (PDF)
A series of briefs discussing key issues on gender and ageing, produced in preparation for the Second World Assembly on Ageing in Madrid in April 2002.
HelpAge International

HIV/AIDS and ageing: a briefing paper (PDF)
This briefing paper describes the impact of HIV/AIDS on older women and men; explains how to make older people visible in HIV/AIDS research; highlights the need for older people to be included in strategies to address HIV/AIDS; and sets out an agenda for action.
HelpAge International

Implications of an Ageing Society
The world is changing as it ages, and just as older persons have been agents of that change, they must also be its beneficiaries.  R
UN Program on Ageing

New Age for All Ages
The far-reaching effects of the demographic revolution have been relatively ignored. It has been called "the silent revolution".  R
UN Programme on Ageing

Women, Ageing and Health
Three basic considerations impel the greater recognition of health of ageing women as a major health and development issue for the future.  R
World Health Organization