Ageing in the Twenty-First Century: - HelpAge International

Chapter 3:
A review of progress
The Madrid Plan made provision not only for international and national
implementation but also for its systematic review. The United Nations
Commission for Social Development reviews and appraises the Madrid Plan
every five years and encourages Member States and the Regional
Commissions to evaluate both ageing-specific policies and ageingmainstreaming
efforts.
This chapter reviews progress in terms of national policies and legislation,
data and research and institutional arrangements relating to older people
that have been introduced since 2002. This review is followed by a summary
from each United Nations Regional Commission of key data on ageing, key
issues concerning older people, progress in implementing regional strategies
and recommendations for further action.
What is mainstreaming?
Wang Jing/HelpAge International
Paragraph 15 of the Madrid Plan states:
“Mainstreaming ageing into global agendas
is essential. A concerted effort is required to
move towards a wide and equitable approach
to policy integration. The task is to link ageing
to other frameworks for social and economic
development and human rights”. It is clear
that successful adjustment to an ageing
world will depend on both ageing-specific
and ageing-mainstreaming approaches.
Ageing mainstreaming is the integration of
older people’s issues into wider national
policymaking. Mainstreaming should lead to
the inclusion of the needs of people of all
ages into the wider policymaking process.
For example, for mainstreaming to be
successful, it is critical that both policymakers
and policy implementers view mainstream
policy questions such as basic services, poverty
eradication, provision of health services, or
housing through the lens of the Madrid Plan
priority directions and recommended actions.
This will ensure that policymaking is inclusive of
older people and builds “a society for all ages”.
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