Currently, the elderly constitutes 420 million of the world’s population. Between 2000-2030, this population will increase to 550 million. Specifically, this number will increase from 15.5 to 24.3% in Europe, from 12.6 to 20.3% in North America, from 6 to 12% in Asia, from 5.5 to 11.6% in Latin America, and from 2.9 to 3.7% in Africa. The overall increase of the elderly population are due to these factors: advancement in new technology which enable them to live longer, and the increase in fertility rate. This trend in population increase will have dramatic impact on the public health systems, the healthcare financing, care giving and pension system. And as people grow older, there is likelihood that they will suffer from chronic health conditions. With the worsening crisis on health care services experienced by developing nations, meeting the healthcare needs of the elderly population is a major difficulty.
The wars of aggression perpetrated by imperialist countries like the United States have resulted in a state of poverty and helplessness for the elderly. Military spending give way to massive cutbacks in health and social services. Likewise, the trend on privatization results in tremendous decrease in pension benefits making these people live in poverty and neglect. The older adults in urbanized developed countries are left to fend for themselves while families leave for urban centers to seek better opportunities. This problem is also manifested in developing countries as families leave for foreign lands to seek employment.
A significant number of the elderly are war veterans, forced to participate directly in unjust wars perpetuated by imperialist countries (World War II, Korean War and the Vietnam War). In relation to this, there are 65,000 Filipino WWII veterans in the U.S. who are not recognized and unjustly deprived by the government of much needed services, benefits and pension.
Therefore, the League resolves to:
Demand from governments to guarantee the rights of the elderly to a life of dignity and meaningful and secure existence.
Develop an increased understanding of the issues affecting the elderly population.
Expose and resist privatization of health and social services that threatens the quality of life of the elderly population.
Oppose military spending that result in cutbacks in social and health services for the elderly.
Support and recognize the right of the veterans of war who have been displaced because of the impact of imperialist wars.
Respect and value the participation of elder comrades who have worked to advance the anti-imperialist struggles and progressive peoples’ movements throughout the world.