Five years after UN member states signed the Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing (MIPAA), research from HelpAge International shows that older people are experiencing poverty and discrimination.

MIPAA commits governments to halve old-age poverty by 2015, in line with the first Millennium Development Goal (MDG).

Older people experience chronic poverty

Preliminary findings from HelpAge International’s 10-country review on how far MIPAA is being implemented, will be presented at the 45th session of the Commission for Social Development (CSD) in New York this week. They reveal the situation of older people has not improved:

• Older people disproportionately experience chronic poverty.
  
• Malnutrition and respiratory diseases kill far more older people than children.
  
• 9% of people over 50 in Africa are blind because of limited access to healthcare.
  

HelpAge International’s findings mirror those in the Secretary-General’s report on Major Developments in the Area of Ageing, which will be presented at the session. This report recognises that progress to implement MIPAA since 2002 is slow and uneven.

Death from starvation and cold

Tatiana lives in Moldova and says the fate of many older people in the region is death from starvation and cold. “My neighbour was found dead in her house. She died of starvation and was so poor that her neighbours paid for her funeral. Any money she received she used to pay utility bills so she would not have any debt towards the state.”

Increasingly support networks - such as the grandparent and grandchild groups in Moldova - set up by older people support other vulnerable groups by sharing skills, providing community canteens and regular day care.

In Africa, as elsewhere, migration, chronic poverty across generations, HIV and AIDS, and conflict mean older people cannot rely on their families. Often they are also caring for children and sick adults. In Uganda for example, one in five children are bought up by older people.

Many older people in developing countries do not have any regular income. Millions of older women and men have spent their lives working in the informal sector and have not had access to formal pension schemes. In many countries, there are no social pensions or other social protection measures for older people.

Decent work for all

The main theme of the CSD session this week is promoting full employment and decent work for all. In order to achieve the goals of decent work for all, HelpAge International is calling for the inclusion of social pensions to meet MDG targets.

Research shows that social security, and particularly social pensions, are a cost-effective instrument to support recipients and their dependants by improving access to healthcare and other services, provide funds for credit and small business, and give people back their dignity and independence.

HelpAge International advocates for a package of social pensions, free health care and anti-discriminatory legislation and practice, as a way of cutting old-age poverty by half by 2015 and meeting the goals set out in MIPAA.

Older people asking for action to deliver their rights

HelpAge International’s statement will be delivered by Tavengwa Nhongo, HelpAge International Regional Representative in Africa. “Older men and women, whether powerful or poor, are asking for action to deliver their right to social security, to health and to participation as equal members of society. They want to know that there is hope for their future and the future of older generations to come.”

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