Age Demands Action in Manila has had to change course following Typhoon Ondoy (also known as Ketsana). Meetings with local councillors and a march have been cancelled and instead the delegation of older people are distributing aid to their peers in the worst affected areas.

These inspirational community leaders still managed to take a stand for older people’s rights by joining with campaigners around the world and raising their index finger to show support for Article 1 at 1pm on 1st October, which states: ALL people are born free and equal in dignity and rights.

Yayasan Telaga Amal (YTA) activists in Banda Aceh have shown they stand for the principle that everybody, including older people, have rights. They’ve done this by raising their index finger at 1pm on 1st October to show support for Article 1 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which states: ALL human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights.

This is happening across the world today. Click here to see more photos

Older people in Korea have taken a photo of themselves at 1pm with their index fingers raised to join others around the world and say ALL people, including older people, have human rights.

The Fiji Council of Social Services (FCOSS) has just completed their meeting with Dr Jiko Luveni, the Minister for Women and Social Affairs. and got photos of her with the ADA delegation raising their index fingers at 1pm in support of Article 1 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The message: all older people have rights that must be respected.

Dr Luvenie said the Government will discuss the issues that were presented today in the next cabinet meeting.  She said that even the prime minister of Fiji is committed to develop a policy for older people. Hopefully this is the start of things to come.

Well done FCOSS on holding such a great event.

The Coalition of Services for the Elderly (COSE) in the Philippines is responding to the devastating floods in Manilla by using its ADA money and older people’s groups to distribute relief packs to those in need. More updates will follow, but for now, click here to see the Philippines ADA page.

Moldovan actress and older perons, Ninela Caranfil has met with organisers of Age Demands Action in the country and expressed support for the campaign. Aged 62, the actress has a television and film career which spans five decades, with her first role in 1969. Click here to find out what’s happening in the country.

Yesterday, 120 older people marched through Nairobi finishing with a delegation meeting with Prime Minister Raila Odinga!! The streets of Nairobi were brought to a standstill as the procession marched with a band to raise awareness of older people being accused of witchcraft. The key request for action was for the existing law that bans witchcraft accusations to be enforced and those who have been guilty of killing older people accused of being witches to be brought to justice. Click here to find out more:

All of us… together.

The beginnings of a pension campaign in Sri Lanka.

It’s been an eventful week here in Sri Lanka. Myself and Tai from our Asia office, have been working with our partner HelpAge Sri Lanka on designing a strategy to campaign for a universal pension in the country.

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