International Day of Older Persons today
International Day of Older Persons will be observed today in the country as elsewhere in the globe.
This year's theme of the day is “Stepping into the future: Trapping the Talents, Contributions and Participation of Older Persons in Society”.
President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina have issued separate messages, marking the day.
President Abdul Hamid said, “It is necessary to take steps to ensure basic and human rights of older persons so that they can live life with comfort and honour.”
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said, “The elderly people have main role in building the today's society; so it's the duty of families, society and state to take step for their care and welfare.”
The present government has launched old age allowance, formed National Policy for Older People 2013, Parents Maintenance Act 2013 for the welfare of senior citisens, she said.
Meanwhile, the UN Independent Expert on older people's rights Rosa Kornfeld-Matte is marking the day by urging those in power to provide decent futures for older people -- noting that they themselves will be affected by the issue in years to come.
“A demographic revolution is under way and we cannot continue to make commitments to older people and not follow through on them,” she said in a statement on Friday.
“I call on States to step up their efforts to determine the best way to strengthen the protection of the human rights of older people and to consider the various proposals that have been made, including the elaboration of a dedicated instrument on the rights of older people,” she said.
On December 14, 1990 the United Nations General Assembly voted to establish October 1 as International Day of Older Persons as recorded in Resolution 45/106. The holiday was observed for the first time on October 1, 1991.
The holiday is celebrated by raising awareness about issues affecting the elderly, such as senescence and elder abuse. It is also a day to appreciate the contributions that older people make to society.
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