Ministerial Conference adopts the Berlin Ministerial Declaration - A Society for all Ages in the UNECE Region and a Regional Implementation Strategy (Berlin, Germany, 11-13 September 2002)

Press Release

[Index]

Geneva, 13 September 2002

Ministerial Conference Adopts the Berlin Ministerial Declaration - A Society for all Ages
in the UNECE Region and a Regional Implementation Strategy
(Berlin, Germany, 11-13 September 2002)

On 13 September 2002, during its concluding session, the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) Regional Ministerial Conference on Ageing, organized in cooperation with the Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth of Germany, adopted two documents: The Berlin Ministerial Declaration - A Society for all Ages in the UNECE Region, and the Regional Implementation Strategy for the Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing 2002.
In her concluding remarks, Dr. Christine Bergmann, Federal Minister for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth, emphasized: "We must deal with the challenges and opportunities of demographic changes in time.
Demographic change affects all spheres of society as well as the economy, and population ageing concerns all our countries. The joint political strategy for our region, which we adopted today, is a further step towards a society fit for old age throughout the whole of Europe, Central Asia and North America."
Commenting on the Regional Implementation Strategy Mrs. Brigita Schmögnerová, UNECE Executive Secretary stressed that: "The overall approach of the Strategy is praiseworthy: it is holistic, all-inclusive and multifaceted, just to mention a few of its attributes." She further added that "As the numbers and proportions of older persons continue to rise, the Strategy rightly places ample emphasis on this group. Older persons are recognised as a valuable resource, who make essential contributions to families, communities and societies."
In their Declaration Ministers inter alia recognise that the UNECE region is experiencing unprecedented demographic changes and has the highest proportion of older persons. These changes are the result of a profound socio-economic transformation, they pose multiple challenges and provide numerous opportunities for our societies. Ministers further stress that they have a responsibility, in collaboration with all relevant actors of civil society and the private sector, to seize these opportunities and fully respond to these challenges.
They are also convinced that putting into effect the Regional Implementation Strategy is the best way of implementing the Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing 2002 in the UNECE region and, therefore, they will spare no effort at achieving this objective.
The Regional Implementation Strategy (RIS) adopted by the Conference includes ten commitments, namely:

To mainstream ageing in all policy fields with the aim of bringing societies and economies into harmony with demographic change to achieve a society for all ages;
To ensure full integration and participation of older persons in society;
To promote equitable and sustainable economic growth in response to population ageing;
To adjust social protection systems in response to demographic changes and their social and economic consequences;
To enable labour markets to respond to the economic and social consequences of population ageing;
To promote life-long learning and adapt the educational system in order to meet the changing economic, social and demographic conditions;
To strive to ensure quality of life at all ages and maintain independent living including health and well-being;
To mainstream a gender approach in an ageing society;
To support families that provide care for older persons and promote intergenerational and intra-generational solidarity among their members;
To promote the implementation and follow-up of the regional implementation strategy through regional cooperation.
All these commitments are carefully elaborated in the detailed document adopted by the Conference.
For further information, please contact:

Jean Michel Jakobowicz
Public Information Officer
United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE)
Palais des Nations
CH - 1211 Geneva 10, Switzerland
Tel.: +41(0)22 917 44 44
Fax: +41(0)22 917 05 05
E-mail: [email protected]
Web site: http://www.unece.org/ead/berlin2002/

Pressereferat
Bundesministerium für Familie, Senioren, Frauen und Jugend
Taubenstraße 42/43
D - 10117 Berlin, Germany
Tel.: 030/ 206 55 1061/-1062
Fax: 030/ 206 55 1111
E-mail: [email protected]
Web site: http://www.mica2002.de/
http://www.bmfsfj.de

Ref: ECE/GEN/02/25