UN Secretary-General's Message on the International Day of Older Persons
New York, 1 October 2010


联合国秘书长潘基文在2010年国际老年人日的献词
2010年10月1日


This Day marks the twentieth anniversary of the International Day of Older Persons. Older persons play an invaluable role in all societies -- as leaders, caregivers and volunteers – yet are also vulnerable to discrimination, abuse, neglect and violence.


今天是国际老年人日二十周年纪念日。作为领袖、照顾者和志愿人员，老年人在所有社会中发挥宝贵的作用。然而，他们也很容易遭受歧视、虐待、冷落和暴力行为。


The United Nations has long fought for the rights and well-being of older persons, and to make their voices heard. On this year's observance, we celebrate hard-won achievements, especially those related to the Millennium Development Goals. In many countries older persons have benefited from reduced rates of poverty and hunger, improved access to medicines and health services, and greater education and work opportunities.


联合国一直为争取老年人的权利和幸福而长期奋斗，并使他们呼声得到倾听。在今年纪念活动中，我们庆祝得来不易的成就，特别是与千年发展目标有关的成就。很多国家的老年人因贫穷和饥饿率降低、更易获得医药和保健服务和有更多的教育工作机会而受益。


Yet, progress has been uneven, as it has been for the MDGs overall in all countries and regions. For example, in those countries hardest hit by the AIDS pandemic, it is often grandparents who are left to care for AIDS orphans. In sub-Saharan Africa, 20 per cent of rural women aged 60 and older are the sole supporters for their grandchildren. These caregivers, who take on added and often unexpected responsibilities, typically with little or none of the necessary resources, desperately need social services, especially social pensions, so that they and their families have a chance for life beyond mere survival.


然而，就像所有国家和区域的整体千年发展目标方面的进展不均匀那样，这方面的进展也一直不均匀。例如在受到艾滋病大流行病打击最严重的国家，到头来照顾艾滋病孤儿的往往是祖父母。在撒哈拉以南非洲，60岁和60岁以上的农村妇女有20%是她们孙辈的唯一抚养者。这些照顾者负起额外和往往是突如其来的责任，一般获得的所需资源不多或根本没有资源，迫切需要社会服务特别是社会养恤金，以便让她们及其家属有机会过上除了挣扎生存以外的较佳生活。


The number and proportion of older persons is growing rapidly. In the past three decades their numbers have doubled. By 2050, the global population of older persons will total two billion– a significant shift in the world's demographic profile, with implications for us all.


老年人人数和比例正在迅速增加。在过去30年中，他们的人数翻了一番。到2050年，全球老年人人口总数将达20亿，大大改变了世界人口面貌，对我们大家都产生影响。


On this International Day, I call on governments to do more to address the needs of older persons. The key interventions are well-known: granting universal access to social services; increasing the number and worth of pension plans; and creating laws and policies that prevent age and gender discrimination in the workplace. With five years left before the 2015 MDG deadline, it is time for governments everywhere to institute the financial, legal and social protections that will lift millions of older persons out of poverty and ensure their rights to dignified, productive and healthy lives.


值此国际日之际，我吁请各国政府进一步努力解决老年人的需要。大家熟悉的重要措施是：普及提供社会服务；增加养恤金计划的数目和价值；制定防止工作场所实行年龄歧视和性别歧视的法律和政策。在离2015年千年发展目标截止日期尚余五年的期间内，世界各国政府必须把握时机，采取财政、法律和社会保护措施，使数以百万计的老年人摆脱贫穷，并确保他们享有尊严的、老有所为和健康的生活的权利。