Honourable President of Parliament Drs. Gracita Arrindell would like to announce that the Central Committee of Parliament will be meeting with the Sint Maarten Seniors and Pensioners Association.
The Central Committee will meet at 9.00am on Tuesday, march 29 in the General Assembly Chamber of Parliament in the former Caribbean Palm building.
The Association would like to discuss Sint Maarten Parliament recognizing the rights of senior citizens with respect to the implementation of the International Action Plan of Ageing 2002.
The International Plan of Action on Ageing, adopted at the first World Assembly on Ageing in Vienna, has guided the course of thinking and action on ageing over the past 20 years, as crucial policies and initiatives evolved.
Issues of human rights for older persons were taken up in 1991 in the formulation of the United Nations Principles for Older Persons, which provided guidance in the areas of independence, participation, care, self-fulfillment and dignity.
The International Plan of Action on Ageing 2002 calls for changes in attitudes, policies and practices at all levels in all sectors so that the enormous potential of ageing in the twenty-first century may be fulfilled.
Many older persons do age with security and dignity, and also empower themselves to participate within their families and communities.
The aim of the Plan of Action is to ensure that persons everywhere are able to age with security and dignity and to continue to participate in their societies as citizens with full rights.
While recognizing that the foundation for a healthy and enriching old age is laid early in life, the Plan is intended to be a practical tool to assist policy makers to focus on the key priorities associated with individual and population ageing.
The common features of the nature of ageing and the challenges it presents are acknowledged, and specific recommendations are designed to be adapted to the great diversity of circumstances in each country.
The Plan recognizes the many different stages of development and the transitions that are taking place in various regions, as well as the interdependence of all countries in a globalizing world.