HelpAge International

The contribution older women and men make to society – as carers, advisors, mediators, mentors and breadwinners – is invaluable. But growing older is not without its problems.

HelpAge International helps older people claim their rights, challenge discrimination and overcome , so that they can lead dignified, secure, active and healthy lives.

We are driven by a fundamental understanding that older people themselves have the wisdom and the personal drive to contribute their own wellbeing and that of their families.

Our work in over 75 countries is strengthened through our global network of like- minded organisations – the only one of its kind in the world.

HelpAge is governed by a board of trustees that includes at least six representatives of network member organisations. We have offices in and , five regional centres coordinating our work in , Asia/Pacific, , the and /, and a number of national programmes and emergency response programmes.

Our vision is of a world in which all older people can lead dignified, active, healthy and secure lives.

We work with our partners to ensure that people everywhere understand how much older people contribute to society and that they must enjoy their right to healthcare, social services and economic and physical security.

HelpAge International and the UN Division of Social Policy and Development (DSPD)

HelpAge has had a productive and constructive relationship with the UN Programme on Ageing at the DSPD. HelpAge’s aim is to ensure that ageing is mainstreamed into the development agenda and that older people themselves are included in development consultations and decision making as is their right. The DSPD has helped us facilitate this inclusion of older people in fora where some of these decisions are made.

Our collaboration has been both at the international level and at a national level and includes:

• International Year of Older People, 1999 HelpAge participated in the General Assembly meeting in the International year of Older People.

• The Second World Assembly on Ageing, 2002 HelpAge participated in preparation meetings for the World Assembly, was instrumental in ensuring that older people from developing countries actively participated in the World Assembly itself and contributed to the final content of the Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing (MIPAA) with special reference to rights and development, and the inclusion of older people in Millennium Development Goal programmes.

• Commission for Social Development At the international level, HelpAge has actively participated in the annual Commission for Social Development since 2000 to ensure that ageing and implementation of the Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing (MIPAA 2002) remains high on the Commission’s agenda. We have participated in plenary panel presentations, delivered oral statements and organised side events with other NGOs, UN agencies and Member States. We have strived to ensure that the voices of older people are not left out of these debates by bringing older men and women themselves to the Commission.

• National implementation of MIPAA At the national level HelpAge has collaborated with the UN Programme on Ageing’s technical programmes to improve national implementation of MIPAA. We have also inputted into a number of DSPD reports and publications. Within the MIPAA review and appraisal process HelpAge acted as consultant to the UN Programme on Ageing for the Ageing and Poverty in Africa consultation held in Tanzania in 2003. HelpAge also acted as consultant to the UN Programme on Ageing for the formal 5 years ‘bottom up approach’ review and appraisal process in 2007, which resulted in documentation presented to Member States in 2007 and 2008. HelpAge also contributed to a number of review and appraisal meetings convened by Member States and UN DESA.

• Promoting and protecting the rights of older people HelpAge has been working with the UN Programme on Ageing on the rights of older people. We have developed a strong, collaborative relationship in this area

HelpAge has brought two areas of expertise from its programmes and experience to discussions on older people’s rights at the UN level: firstly the nature and scope of violations of older women and men’s rights and secondly, policy and programme recommendations on how to better protect and promote older people’s rights.

In March 2009 HelpAge brought this expertise to an Expert Group Meeting on the rights of older people convened by the DSPD. The purpose of this meeting was to provide the General Assembly with independent expert opinion on questions related to the rights of older people, as well as inputs into and recommendations for the report of the Secretary-General. The meeting brought together a diverse range of experts and was an example of the open and collaborative nature of the DSPD.

Regional centres: Africa PO Box 14888, Westlands, 00800 Nairobi, Kenya / Asia/Pacific 6, Soi 17, Nimmanhemin Road, Suthep, Muang, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand Caribbean 11½ Swallowfield Road, Kingston 5, Jamaica / Latin America Calle Vincenti No. 576, Entre Claudio Pinilla y Luis, Uria de Oliva, Sopocachi, La Paz, Bolivia Eastern Europe and Central Asia 116 Orozbekova 2, 720070 Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan Chairperson: Eric Kimani / Chief Executive: Richard Blewitt / Registered charity no. 288180 / Company limited by guarantee / Registered in England no. 1762840 Registered office: 1st Floor, York House, 207-221 Pentonville Road, London N1 9UZ, UK