Nationalkomitees für Altersfragen, denen Vertreter maßgeblicher Sektoren der Zivilgesellschaft angehören, vor allem Organisationen älterer Menschen, können sehr wertvolle Beiträge leisten und als einzelstaatliche Beratungs- und Koordinierungsmechanismen für Altersfragen fungieren.
This enables us to build the partnerships needed to achieve a society for all ages. While Governments have the primary responsibility towards their older populations, they need to work through effective coalitions engaging all actors: from non-governmental organizations to the private sector, from international organizations to educators and health professionals, and of course, associations of older people themselves. And I hope you will also send a wider message to the world: that older people are not a category apart. We will all grow old one day — if we have that luck.