ICPD on Aging 1994

ICPD on Aging 1994

The Programme of Action, which was unanimously approved on September 13, 1994, in Cairo, supports a new approach that emphasizes the crucial connections between population growth and development and places more emphasis on addressing the needs of specific women's and men's needs than on meeting demographic targets. In addition, compared to prior global population conferences, the Cairo meeting was far bigger and more inclusive. 11000 people from governments, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), international organizations, and citizen activities attended.

It contains more than 200 recommendations within five 20 years goals in the areas of health, development, and social welfare. A total of 179 governments signed up to the ICPD Programme of Action which is as follows:

• Ensuring that all people have access to services for sexual and reproductive health, family planning, and reproductive rights.
• To promote women's emancipation, gender equality, and girls' equal access to education.
• To address the effects of urbanization and migration on the individual, social, and economic levels.
• To aid in sustainable development and deal with environmental problems brought on by population growth.

Objectives of ICPD on Ageing

• To improve older people's self-reliance through suitable methods, to foster situations that increase quality of life and provide them the freedom to work and live independently in their own neighborhoods for as long as desired.
• To create mechanisms for financial and social security in old age, as well as health care, if appropriate, with a focus on the requirements of women.
• To create a structured and informal social support network in order to improve families' capacity to care for older members of the family.

Plan on Action of ICPD on Ageing

• The population's aging trend should be considered by all governmental levels when making medium- and long-term socioeconomic planning decisions.
• Governments should create social security systems that support older people by promoting multigenerational families, offering long-term assistance and services to an increasing number of frail older people, and ensuring greater intergenerational equity and solidarity.
• For older people to continue participating in society, governments should work to increase their independence.
• Governments should make sure that the conditions are created in consultation with senior citizens to allow them to live autonomous, healthy, and productive lives and to fully utilize the skills and abilities they have accumulated throughout their lives for the good of society.
• It is important to acknowledge and support the valuable contributions that elderly people make to families and society, particularly as volunteers and caregivers.
• Services for an increasing number of elderly people who are frail.
• For older people to continue participating in society, governments should work to increase their independence.
• Governments should improve formal and informal safety nets for the elderly and work with non-governmental organizations and the private sector to end all forms of violence and discrimination against the elderly worldwide, paying particular attention to the needs of elderly women.