News

Today, HelpAge board member and ageing expert, Isabella Aboderin is attending the UN High Level Panel meeting to discuss the post-2015 development framework.

As part of Age Demands Action in Europe, campaigners from across Europe and Kenya are marching to the European Parliament to urge the EU to make its development policy age-friendly on 4 October. The event will be chaired by Thijs Berman, MEP, and Coordinator for the Socialists and Democrats Group on the Development Committee.

Tokyo, 1 October 2012— The number of older persons is growing faster than any other age group, says a new report, Ageing in the Twenty-first Century: A Celebration and a Challenge, released today on International Day of Older Persons by UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund, and HelpAge International.

The number of older persons is growing faster than any other age group, according to our new report, Ageing in the Twenty-first Century: A Celebration and a Challenge, released today on International Day of Older Persons in collaboration with UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund. The landmark report underlines that, while the trend of ageing societies is a cause for celebration, it also presents huge challenges as it requires completely new approaches to health care, employment and living arrangements.

We are very sorry to share the news that incoming board member Faith Innerarity, 54, passed away on the 27th September in Florida, United States, after a short illness.

People across the UK are being urged to nominate inspirational older people, as part of the new 60 over 60 campaign to celebrate the growing numbers of older people in the UK and around the world.

To complement the release of a new report, Ageing in the Twenty-First Century: A Celebration and a Challenge, UNFPA and HelpAge International are creating a list of 60 inspiring and influential older people over 60, and we need your help.

Last week the European Commission released a new communication on social protection. This is the first time that the EU, the world’s biggest aid donor, has sought to explain how EU development cooperation can support the strengthening of social protection systems around the world.

The third session of the OEWG ended positively with a strong recommendation by the Chair for the continuation and renewal of the Working Group’s mandate. The OEWG was also a great opportunity for HelpAge to present our Age Demands Action petition to Ivan Simonovic, the UN Assistant Secretary-general for Human Rights.

The third session of the UN Open-ended Working Group on Ageing (OEWG) takes place in New York between 21- 24 August and will discuss gaps in the protection of older people's rights and how to address them

On 30 July 2012, the Philippines was struck by Typhoon Saola, which brought heavy rain and floods that have affected thousands of people. HelpAge is working with our local partner, The Coalition of Services of the Elderly (COSE), to provide immediate and essential relief to older people affected by the flood.

On 22 July the HIV world’s attention will be turned to Washington D.C. as the International AIDS Conference, AIDS 2012, gets underway. HelpAge CEO, Richard Blewitt, HIV Policy Adviser, Rachel Albone and other staff working on HIV and representatives from our partner organisations will be at the conference.