The monitoring, review and appraisal of the Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing, 2002: Addressing the Challenges and Opportunities of Ageing

9 January 2007

THE MADRID INTERNATIONAL PLAN OF ACTION ON AGEING

THE 5 YEARS REVIEW AND APPRAISAL OF THE MIPAA
The 45th Session of the Commission on Social Development (2007)
Toward the 46th Session of the Commission on Social Development (2008)
A guide of action for NGOs

OFFICIAL DOCUMENTS

OTHER USEFUL DOCUMENTS

PUBLICATIONS

USEFUL LINKS

THE MADRID INTERNATIONAL PLAN OF ACTION ON AGEING

The Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing (MIPAA) was adopted by the Second World Assembly on Ageing, held in Madrid in 2002. As stated in Article 1 of the Madrid Political Declaration, the Madrid Plan of Action was created “to respond to the opportunities and challenges of population ageing in the twenty-first century and to promote the development of a society for all ages.” Since then, the task of national governments has been to translate the objectives and recommended actions of the MIPAA into national policies and practices that impact positively on the lives of older people. The broad aim of the MIPAA is “to ensure that persons everywhere are able to age with security and dignity and to continue to participate in their societies as citizens with full rights.” Policy actions taken by governments to implement this aim are shaped by the widely differing economies, political structures, resource bases, cultural norms and social and demographic conditions that exist among nations and regions. Implementation of the Plan of Action is a continuous and dynamic process that goes hand in hand with its review and appraisal: these processes are highly interdependent and are continuously evolving.

Bearing these objectives in mind, the Commission for Social Development (CSocD), in its 42nd session, decided to do a mid-term review and appraisal of the MIPAA on a five-year basis. The CSocD has also taken the responsibility for the follow up of the MIPAA at the global level, while the UN Department for Economics and Social Affairs (DESA) has become responsible for promoting the implementation of the MIPAA. The process, however, as stated both in the MIPAA and the resolution adopted by the Commission for Social Development (E/ CN. 5/ 2004/ L. 7), is to be carried out by Member States through the UN Regional Economic Commissions. Additionally, both the MIPAA and the resolution adopted by the CSocD call for immediate participation of local and national organizations working for the welfare of older people. In synthesis, through the backing of CSocD and based on the guidelines offered by DESA, Member States, along with NGOs, are encouraged to discuss best practices and lessons learned in the implementation of the MIPAA.

THE 5 YEARS REVIEW REVIEW AND APPRAISAL OF THE MIPAA

The 45th Session of the Commission on Social Development (2007)

Ageing was a main of focus of the 45th Commission on Social development since 2007 was the first review and appraisal of the 2002 Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing (MIPAA), five years after its implementation.

The minister of social affairs of Mauritius, Sheilabai Bappoo, opened the general discussion by stating that global ageing would not be an obstacle to development if properly managed. She recalled the five principles of the MIPAA: participation of elderly people, employment of elderly labor force, generational aspects of rural migration and urbanization, access to education and training, inter-generational solidarity, and eradication of poverty among older persons. She emphasized the need for global governance systems to back-up national efforts. Professor Frederick Fenech, Director of the International Institute on Ageing (INIA), presented the different trainings offered by the Institute and highlighted the need for national focal points on ageing in every country. Martha B. Pelaez, International Consultant on Ageing, stressed the need for participatory approaches, public health care programmes and professional trainings. Care keepers, usually women and family members need recognition and financial support.

Representatives from Germany, Japan, Jamaica, Bangladesh, the UK and El Salvador expressed their views and questions on the issue of ageing. Their concerns related mainly to the economic implications of ageing, the efficiency of insurance and public health pension, the participation of the private sector in the MIPAA, the inclusion of ageing in cross-cutting policies and PRSPS, as well as the economic consequences of large informal sector on financing social policy.

Participation and concerns of NGOs during the 45th session of the Commission:

The only NGO panelist during the general debate on ageing, Mary Ann Tsao, who is President and Chief Executive Officer of the Tsao Foundation in Singapore, gave priority to social pension as a financial empowerment tool for older people. She called upon further engagement of senior groups with governments and financial support to home care givers. Deprivation of access to information and autonomy are also concerned that should be talked by policy makers, according to her.

Several NGOs working on ageing issues (Help Age International, AARP, Global Action on Ageing, etc.) organized side-events during the commission to review best practices, exchange experiences of the implementation of the MIPAA and promote participatory approaches.

Civil society organizations working on ageing showed common concerns with the practical implementation of the participatory framework of the first 5-year review of the 2002 Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing (MIPAA), the principal outcome document of the Second World Assembly on Ageing. NGOs are now looking forward the next Commission for Social Development to review best practices, exchange experiences of implementation in different countries and promote further participatory approaches. NGLS co-sponsored a side event of the Commission. Access the Report of NGLS Panel Discussion of the First Review and Appraisal Process of the Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing.

Toward the 46th Session of the Commission on Social Development (2008)

The way forward until the 2008 Commission for Social Development provides an excellent opportunity for NGOs to review best practices, exchange experiences of implementation in different countries and promote further participatory approaches.

The 17th annual International Day of Older Persons (IDOP)

Meanwhile, the 17th Annual United Nations International Day of Older Persons (IDOP) observance, taking place on October 4th 2007 in New York, provides a good opportunity to give a first recognition to the achievements since 2002 in the implementation of the MIPAA. Each year the NGO Committee on Ageing organizes the celebration of the IDOP in New York. Because 2007 is the year of the bottom-up review and appraisal of the implementation of the Madrid Plan, the Committee decided to organize a panel of community-based NGO’s that have been recognized in their country, if not their region, for their outstanding efforts in behalf of older persons. The IDOP Planning Committee is soliciting your assistance in identifying one or more NGO’s whose successful efforts merit international recognition. The mission statement and instructions to NGOs are available.

In November 2007, the third committee of the General Assembly, as it pressed on with its discussion of key human rights issues (Social, Humanitarian and Cultural), acting without a vote, approved a draft resolution that would have the General Assembly call upon States to "focus attention on the upcoming review of the Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing". For further information, please click here.

A guide of action for NGOs

DESA has developed guidelines for the review process through a bottom-up approach, in an attempt to provide Member States with set of ideas to carry out the review process. The guidelines are essentially suggestions as to how States could arrange their meetings to include participation of all stake-holders. There are, for instance, ideas to engage even small local organizations. The general idea is to emphasize that the review process should promote the participation of all relevant civil society organizations.

The dates for the review process are not yet defined. By the beginning of 2007, the UN Regional Economic Commissions shall be preparing the first meetings. NGOs should repeatedly check the UN Commissions’ calendar or this site for updates.

OFFICIAL DOCUMENTS:
A/ CONF. 197/9 - Report of the Second World Assembly on Ageing (E)(F)
E/ CN. 5/ 2004/ L. 7 - CSocD resolution on agenda item 3 (b) (iii)(E)(F)
E/CN.5/2006/2 - CSocD resolution on agenda item 3 (b) (iii)(E)(F)
A/61/167 - Follow up to the Second World Assembly on Ageing (2006) (E)(F)
DESA Guidelines