MESSAGE FROM MR KIM HAK-SU, EXECUTIVE SECRETARY,
UNITED NATIONS ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMISSION FOR ASIA AND THE PACIFIC
AT THE INTERCOUNTRY EXCHANGE PROGRAMME ON SUCCESSFUL PRACTICES
IN EMPOWERING OLDER PERSONS 10-12 NOVEMBER 2003, CHIANG MAI

Distinguished participants, Ladies and gentlemen, It gives me great pleasure to welcome all of you to the Intercountry Exchange Programme on Successful Practices in Empowering Older Persons. I am pleased, at the collaboration between UNESCAP, HelpAge International and Kirara No Kia, from Japan, in making this event possible. We are grateful to the United Nations Population Fund for its generous support of this programme.

UNESCAP has been active in exploring ways to bring about effective partnerships between governments, civil society, the business community and the United Nations. We believe that these partnerships contribute to realizing the commitments made at the various United Nations world conferences over the past decade. The Political Declaration and the Madrid Plan of Action on Ageing that emerged from the Second World Assembly on Ageing in 2002 marked a turning point in the ways the international community would address the challenges posed by population ageing in the 21st century, challenges that are being turned into opportunities for “building a society for all ages”.

Years of hard work and cooperation between governments, civil society and the United Nations have brought about this turning point, both at the global and regional levels. Asia and the Pacific is home to the world’s largest share of older persons. A great need has arisen for meeting basic social needs of older persons, needs that include food, housing, health and social care and rehabilitation, participation, integration into the community, social security and independence. In Asia and the Pacific, governments have adopted a regional platform known as the Shanghai Implementation Strategy. This strategy provides guidelines on the implementation of the international and regional commitments on ageing made under the Madrid and Macao Plans of Action on Ageing, and a platform for governments and other actors in the region to cooperate and share their experience concerning programmes and policies designed to meet the challenges of ageing.

The regional platform for action focuses on three key areas related to ageing issues. These are: (a) ageing and development, (b) health and well being, and (c) enabling and supportive environments for ageing. In keeping with the regional platform, UNESCAP will continue to provide technical assistance and advice and facilitate the exchange of experience among members States and civil society.

The intercountry exchange programme aims to bring about a strengthened awareness of the issues relating to ageing and to enhance collaboration among all concerned in achieving the above goals. We look forward to joining you in many more activities for the benefits of older people and national development in the years to come.

Thank you.