13th session of the Open-ended working group on Ageing
3 April 2023
Statement by Italy
Madam Chair,
Italy aligns itself with the Statement of the European Union and would like to add the following remarks in its national capacity.
Italy is pleased to intervene in the 13th session of the Open-ended working group on Ageing, a key platform to share best practices and discuss on how to advance in the protection of the human rights of the older persons.
The issue of population aging and, in particular, active aging, is of outstanding relevance for Italy, given also the demographic structure and the increasing life expectancy.
By adopting the paradigm of active aging, we aim to overcome the vision of the old age as a passive phase of existence, characterized by social marginality and need for assistance, in favour of a vision of the older persons as fully and actively integrated into social life.
In this spirit, the Italian Government has set up policies in favour of active and healthy ageing with a life course approach – also taking into account the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic on the older population, which have highlighted new weaknesses and emerging needs. At the same time, we attach priority to strengthening the protection of older persons from all forms of violence and abuse. This applies in particular to women and persons with disabilities.
Madam Chair,
2022 has marked the 20th anniversary of the adoption of the Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing, an important milestone for the protection and advancement of older persons’ rights. The 4th review and appraisal of the MIPAA was concluded in the UNECE region with the Ministerial Conference on Ageing held in Rome last June and with the adoption of the Rome Ministerial Declaration. This Declaration has committed all UNECE Member States to implement actions in the next 5 years, on three priorities:
- Promoting active and healthy ageing throughout life;
- Ensuring access to long-term care and support for carers and families;
- Mainstreaming ageing to advance a society for all ages.
Italy, as Chair of the UNECE Standing Working Group on Ageing, believes in the importance of building synergies and cooperation between Governments and the third sector to promote older people’s rights. We also underscore the need to recognize and support the continued role of informal and family care, and to strengthen intergenerational solidarity and the equal distribution of care work between women and men.
As we struggle to build back better our societies, in a context of multiple crisis, we must address the imperative to advance in the implementation of the Agenda 2030, looking forward, with renewed ambition, to the incoming SDGs Summit and to the imperative of “leave no one behind”.
Thank you Madam Chair.
