EDITORIAL
The world’s population is ageing. Almost every country in the world is undergoing growth in the number and proportion of older persons in their population.
Population ageing is poised to become one of the most significant social transformations of the twenty-first century, with implications for nearly all sectors of society, including labour and financial markets, the demand for goods and services, such as housing, transportation and social protection, as well as family structures and intergenerational ties.
Older persons are increasingly seen as contributors to development whose abilities to act for their betterment and their societies should be woven into policies and programmes at all levels. In the coming decades, many countries will likely face fiscal and political pressures concerning public healthcare systems, pensions and social protections for a growing older population.
Globally, the population aged 65 and over is growing faster than all other age groups.
According to data from World Population Prospects: the 2019 Revision, by 2050, one in six people in the world will be over age 65 (16%), up from one in 11 in 2019 (9%). By 2050, one in four persons living in Europe and Northern America could be aged 65 or over. In 2018, persons aged 65 or above outnumbered children under five globally for the first time in history. The number of persons aged 80 years or over is projected to triple, from 143 million in 2019 to 426 million in 2050.
A population’s size and age composition are determined jointly by three demographic processes: fertility, mortality and migration.
All regions have experienced substantial increases in life expectancy since 1950. As life expectancy at birth increases, improvements in survival at older ages account for a growing proportion of the overall improvement in longevity.
While declining fertility and increasing longevity are the key drivers of population ageing globally, international migration has also contributed to changing population age structures in some countries and regions. In countries that are experiencing large immigration flows, international migration can slow the ageing process, at least temporarily, since migrants tend to be the young working ages. However, migrants who remain in the country eventually will age into the older population.
To address these issues, the General Assembly of the United Nations convened the first World Assembly on Ageing in 1982, which produced a 62-point Vienna International Plan of Action on Ageing. It called for specific action on such issues as health and nutrition, protecting elderly consumers, housing and environment, family, social welfare, income security and employment, education, and the collection and analysis of research data.
In 1991, the General Assembly adopted the United Nations Principles for Older Persons, enumerating 18 entitlements for older persons — relating to independence, participation, care, self-fulfilment and dignity. The following year, the International Conference on Ageing met to follow up on the Plan of Action, adopting a Proclamation on Ageing. Following the Conference’s recommendation, the UN General Assembly declared 1999 the International Year of Older Persons. The International Day of Older Persons is celebrated on 1 October every year.
Action on behalf of the ageing continued in 2002 when the Second World Assembly on Ageing was held in Madrid. Aiming to design international policy on ageing for the 21st century, it adopted a Political Declaration and the Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing. The Plan of Action called for changes in attitudes, policies and practices at all levels to fulfil the enormous potential of ageing in the twenty-first century. Its specific action recommendations prioritize older persons and development, advancing health and well-being into old age and ensuring enabling and supportive environments.
Even though Senior Citizens possess the same universal rights as the younger generation, specific rights are significantly relevant to facilitate the experience of ageing. These universal rights include the right to dignity, the right to freedom from discrimination, the right to freedom from violence, the right to health, the right to social security, the right to an adequate standard of living, the right to work, and the property right. It is essential to comprehend that the natural rights accrued to a person being human do not change with age (GAROP, 2021). Nonetheless, Senior Citizens face institutionalized discrimination in all walks of life, specifically with access to justice in healthcare, employment, social security, inheritance etc. Besides, they become physically dependent on other people, contributing to the increase in violence and abuse against Senior Citizens. This adverse discrimination based on age is called Ageism, also defined as the denial of fundamental human rights of Senior Citizens, possibly one of the most prevalent prejudices despite the professed value and respect of Senior Citizens in many societies (International Longevity Center, 2006).
In Pakistan, the country has ratified the Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing (MIPAA, 2002), which focuses on building an all-age inclusive society. Additionally, Pakistan is dedicated to the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which endorse and support age-inclusive development worldwide. On a provincial level, three provinces of Pakistan have promulgated laws for the welfare of Senior Citizens: the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Senior Citizens Welfare Act 2014, the Baluchistan Senior Citizen Act 2017, and the Sindh Senior Citizens Welfare Act 2017. Moreover, the province of Punjab has also passed the Senior Citizens Welfare and Rehabilitation Bill 2013, which is awaiting approval. These legislations include the provisions for establishing Welfare Council (s) for Senior Citizens, social security, welfare fund, eligibility for the Senior Citizens Card, and the establishment of old-age homes etc.
Recently, the Capital Territory Senior Citizens Bill 2021 (the “Islamabad Bill”) has been promulgated.
Ageing is a biological process. Like all generations, the rights of older people are a moral obligation of a nation. Pakistan enjoys a robust family system where older people are respected and cared for. However, this culture has been waning in recent years. Then, there are so many older people without family support. Therefore, the state must take care of older people and provide all the facilities to ensure their fundamental rights.
