A/RES/52/80
Page 2
Conference on Human Rights, held at Vienna from 14 to 25 June 1993,3 as well as of the Beijing Declaration
a n d t h e P l a t f o r m f o r A c t i o n o f t h e F o u r t h
World Conference on Women4 and the Habitat Agenda adopted by the second United Nations Conference
on Human Settlements (Habitat II), held at Istanbul, Turkey, from 3 to 14 June 1996,5
Keeping in mind that the ageing of societies in the twentieth century, unprecedented in the history of
humankind, is a major challenge for all societies and requires a fundamental change in the way in which
societies organize themselves and view older persons,
1. Encourages all States, the United Nations system and all other actors, in reaching out for a future
society for all ages, to take advantage of the International Year of Older Persons to increase awareness of
the challenge of the demographic ageing of societies, the individual and social needs of older persons, the
contribution of older persons to societies and the need for a change in attitudes towards older persons;
2. Welcomes the activities undertaken by States, United Nations organizations and bodies and
non-governmental organizations in preparation for the observance of the Year, and encourages them to
continue their efforts;
3. Invites States to take account of the increasing number, in absolute figures and in percentages, of
older persons in need of help;
4. Also invites States to develop comprehensive strategies at the national, regional and local levels to
meet the increase in demand for care and support for older persons as individuals, within their families and
communities and within institutions, bearing in mind the changing socio-economic, technological and cultural
environment;
5. Encourages States, with the support of United Nations organizations, bodies and programmes and
of non-governmental organizations, to formulate policies and programmes on ageing with a view to offering
older persons opportunities to utilize their experience and knowledge to promote a society for all ages based
on solidarity between generations, so that they can contribute to and benefit from full participation in society;
6. Also encourages States to establish a national focal point and formulate national programmes for
the Year, bearing in mind the conceptual framework referred to in its resolution 50/141 of 21 December
1995;
7.
Calls upon States to include a gender dimension in their national programmes for the Year;
8. Encourages States to consider establishing ad hoc, broad-based national coordinating mechanisms
for the Year in order to enhance, inter alia, collaboration with representatives of civil society;
9. Invites States to consider convening high-level and other meetings at the regional level to discuss
the theme "A society for all ages";
3
A/CONF.157/24 (Part I), chap. III.
4
Report of the Fourth World Conference on Women, Beijing, 4-15 September 1995 (United Nations
publication, Sales No. E.96.IV.13), chap. I, resolution 1, annexes I and II.
5
A/CONF.165/14, chap. I, annex II.
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