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UN expert urges improvements to older persons' accessibility to urban services

Xinhua, September 29, 2015 Adjust font size:

The United Nations (UN) Independent Expert on the enjoyment of human rights by older persons on Tuesday warned that over 900 million seniors would be living in cities across the world by 2050 but that cities were not yet set up for this global demographic revolution.

Speaking ahead of the 25th anniversary of the International Day of Older Persons, Rosa Kornfeld-Matte, UN Special Rapporteur, urged world governments to improve older persons' accessibility to urban infrastructure, facilities and services.

"We need to re-think our cities," she said, adding the existing barriers in public spaces and buildings, as well as the lack of safe, affordable, accessible and barrier-free housing and transportation, obstructed older persons from fully enjoying their rights and from living in dignity and safety in their communities.

According to the UN expert, urban spaces and building design often exacerbate segregation and the exclusion of older persons, which becomes increasingly visible during recovery after disasters and emergency situations in the face of climate change.

However, the UN expert said she was encouraged by the recent adoption of the new 2030 Sustainable Development Goals with the hope that states would actually do what they agreed to.

"Innovative housing, innovative transportation and innovative building programs that make our cities accessible to all are urgently needed, and urban spaces have to be resilient and accessible to older persons, if we want to build inclusive, dynamic, resilient and sustainable cities and communities," she noted.

According to the latest UN figures, between 1950 and 2010, life expectancy worldwide rose from 46 to 68 years, and it is projected to increase to 81 by the end of the century, and for the first time in human history, in 2050 there will be more persons over 60 than children in the world.

To address the problems of aged people, the UN General Assembly designated Oct. 1 the International Day of Older Persons on Dec. 14, 1990. Endit