ADA 2011: Highlights
2011 marked five years of Age Demands Action (ADA), the only globally coordinated campaign led by older people themselves. They decide which issues they want to raise with their governments, meet politicians and decision makers face-to-face and demand real change to improve their lives.
This year's ADA was bigger and better than ever, building on past successes and bringing together people who are passionate about older people's rights in 59 countries.
There are too many highlights to mention, but here are just a few examples of the impact older people are making around the world:
Young and old take part in an Age Demands Action march in Ethiopia.
(c) Erna Mentesnot Hintz/HelpAge International
Highlights from Africa
Sudan: ID cards and prioritised transport
Having met Age Demands Action campaigners in western Darfur, the Director General of the Ministry of Social Welfare decided to provide health insurance ID Cards for 4,000 internally displaced older people living in refugee camps, helping them access vital healthcare.
Campaigners also achieved more success in the capital Khartoum, where the same ministry agreed to provide prioritised seating for older people on 740 public buses across the country.
Kenya: Protection from abuse
Mr Mutula Kilonzo, Minister for Justice and Constitutional Affairs, pledged to work with the police to implement measures to better protect older people from violence and to offer more support to the victims of abuse.
Ethiopia: HIV and AIDS
Older people will be included in the country's new HIV and AIDS strategic plan.
Ghana: Cash transfers
The Government will release a total of US$ 1.6 million as part of the livelihood empowerment against poverty programme. The poorest people over 65 should receive the cash transfer, but it had been withheld by the Government for over ten months. This sum represents the arrears owed to beneficiaries.
Impact in Asia
Indonesia: home care services
Up to 100,000 older people will be able to access home care services as the Government's home care programme has been expanded to reach an additional 33 regions around Indonesia.
Pakistan: Discounted public transport
Northern Areas Transport Corporation was one of many transport associations to pledge a 50% discount for older people.
Myanmar: Older people's self-help groups
A National Ageing Committee will be established and older people's self-help groups will be supported to set up their own bank accounts and register with the Ministry of Home Affairs.
Fiji: National Policy on Ageing
Campaigners won the Pacific region's first ever National Policy on Ageing after two years of concerted ADA campaigning in Fiji. At a meeting with 85 older people in Suva, Minister for Social Welfare, Women and Poverty Alleviation, Dr Jiko Luveni announced that a new National Council Of Older Persons would be established to monitor the implementation of the policy.
In Moldova, Age Demands Action campaigners demanded an increase in their pension.
(c) HelpAge International Moldova
Progress in Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean
Moldova: Social pension
The Minister of Labour, Social Protection and Family has pledged to increase the social pension by 10%.
Peru: Pensions
Congress has now passed Pensión 65, an non-contributory pension pledged by President Humala for people over 65. The roll out has started with 25,000 older people in 13 regions being the first to receive the pension.
Jamaica: Health and education
The Programme of Advancement through Health and Education, a conditional cash transfer scheme will be reviewed to see if more older people without a pension can be included.
Age Demands Action 2011 in pictures
Take a look at some images of ADA activities from around the world:
