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


聯(lián)合國秘書長潘基文在2010年國際老年人日的獻(xiàn)詞
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.


今天是國際老年人日二十周年紀(jì)念日。作為領(lǐng)袖、照顧者和志愿人員，老年人在所有社會(huì)中發(fā)揮寶貴的作用。然而，他們也很容易遭受歧視、虐待、冷落和暴力行為。


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.


聯(lián)合國一直為爭取老年人的權(quán)利和幸福而長期奮斗，并使他們呼聲得到傾聽。在今年紀(jì)念活動(dòng)中，我們慶祝得來不易的成就，特別是與千年發(fā)展目標(biāo)有關(guān)的成就。很多國家的老年人因貧窮和饑餓率降低、更易獲得醫(yī)藥和保健服務(wù)和有更多的教育工作機(jī)會(huì)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，就像所有國家和區(qū)域的整體千年發(fā)展目標(biāo)方面的進(jìn)展不均勻那樣，這方面的進(jìn)展也一直不均勻。例如在受到艾滋病大流行病打擊最嚴(yán)重的國家，到頭來照顧艾滋病孤兒的往往是祖父母。在撒哈拉以南非洲，60歲和60歲以上的農(nóng)村婦女有20%是她們孫輩的唯一撫養(yǎng)者。這些照顧者負(fù)起額外和往往是突如其來的責(zé)任，一般獲得的所需資源不多或根本沒有資源，迫切需要社會(huì)服務(wù)特別是社會(huì)養(yǎng)恤金，以便讓她們及其家屬有機(jī)會(huì)過上除了掙扎生存以外的較佳生活。


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.


老年人人數(shù)和比例正在迅速增加。在過去30年中，他們的人數(shù)翻了一番。到2050年，全球老年人人口總數(shù)將達(dá)20億，大大改變了世界人口面貌，對(duì)我們大家都產(chǎn)生影響。


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.


值此國際日之際，我吁請(qǐng)各國政府進(jìn)一步努力解決老年人的需要。大家熟悉的重要措施是：普及提供社會(huì)服務(wù)；增加養(yǎng)恤金計(jì)劃的數(shù)目和價(jià)值；制定防止工作場所實(shí)行年齡歧視和性別歧視的法律和政策。在離2015年千年發(fā)展目標(biāo)截止日期尚余五年的期間內(nèi)，世界各國政府必須把握時(shí)機(jī)，采取財(cái)政、法律和社會(huì)保護(hù)措施，使數(shù)以百萬計(jì)的老年人擺脫貧窮，并確保他們享有尊嚴(yán)的、老有所為和健康的生活的權(quán)利。