By designating a "Special Day" for seniors, the Assembly was giving recognition to the contributions of seniors to development and also drawing attention to a demographic phenomenon: the greying of the population, the "age of aging".
The theme this year is: "Celebrating the 10th Anniversary of the International Year of Older Persons: Towards a Society for All Ages".
Suggested activities for observing the Day:
Statements by heads of State, municipalities and organizations;
Interviews of seniors on radio, television and in the press;
Photographic and poster displays in public areas;
Essay and photographic competitions in schools and community centres;
Youth and seniors debates in schools and community centres;
Inter-generational cooperation on environmental protection;
Skills-exchange among seniors of different countries;
Seminars and lectures at universities and libraries;
Announcements of the Day on radio, television and in the press.
Suggested themes for the activities may include:
Contributions of seniors to community life;
New roles for seniors in conflict resolutions;
Heroic, historic yet unrecognized contributions of senior women;
Caregiving by the family as a unit;
Four and five-generation families in the communities;
Famous seniors, past and present
Individual life histories seen against major events;
Aging in the year 2020 and 2040 (by youth, planning their future);
Cross-national cooperation on research and training on aging
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