Help Age Canada

October 1st: International Seniors Day

Written by Administrator Friday, 30 September 2011 17:15

In Canada and around the world, October 1st is UN International Day of Older People. It is a good opportunity to talk about age discrimination and to highlight the positive role seniors play everywhere.

Age discrimination happens when older people are not treated according to their rights. Discrimination has many faces and happens everywhere. And it also means that the world is not fully benefitting from the contribution older people can make to their families and the wider community. The result is that they are too often forgotten in society, even in Canada.

HelpAge International is spearheading a global campaign called “Age Demands Action” (ADA) to fight age discrimination and combat the perception that older people are not important.

Thus October 1st is a key date for the campaign. On this day, activists of all ages in countries across the world take part in marches to make sure their voices are heard. They lobby their governments on issues that affect older people such as pensions, healthcare, housing or access to work.

The ADA campaign has been in existence since 2007 and has garnered some high profile support and had some great impact. Fifty five countries are participating in the ADA this year.

Through the grassroots of Age Demands Action, a global movement is growing that is pushing the international community for a convention on the rights of older people, who are older people are often some of the poorest in the world. 100 million live on less than US$1 a day.

And your voice can be heard. You can help stop age discrimination by signing our ADA global petition on the HelpAge International web site: www.helpage.org

By signing the petition you will join the thousands of people around the world who are taking a stand against age discrimination.

The petition will be used as part of the global campaign that is pushing for a convention on the rights of older people to ensure they are included in society as equal citizens with equal rights.

HelpAge Canada