CIDEBMUN 2017 “Harvesting a better future”

Committee: Economic and Social Council

Topic B: Future implement of the Madrid international plan of action on ageing.

Dear delegates,

It is an honor to the chair of the Economic and Social Council to welcome you in this

year’s simulation, CIDEBMUN 2017. During this simulation the principal objective is to

change the idea of the world in which we live and help you enhance the abilities of

communication and diplomacy. CIDEBMUN is an event where you get to develop and apply

skills of persuasion, confidence, and dialogue among others. Throughout this simulation it is

expected enough research to understand and be able dialogue about the two topics assigned

from the point of view of the country you were assigned.

The topics we will be discussing are “The role of multinational corporations in

sustainable development” and “Future implementation of the Madrid international plan of

action on ageing”. The first topic is discussing how multinational corporations can develop

while at the same time try to be environmentally responsible. The second topic is focused on

discussing strategies on health and well-being for ensuring enabling and supportive

environments for elder people.

“Yesterday is gone. Tomorrow has not yet come. We have only today. Let us begin.”

-Mother Teresa

Director: Myrna Patricia Ríos Marines

Moderator: Carlos Garza García

CIDEBMUN 2017 “Harvesting a better future”

Introduction

The Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) is the United Nations central platform

for fomenting debate and innovative thinking, forging consensus on ways forward, and

coordinating efforts to achieve international goals. It is also responsible for the follow-up to

major UN conferences and summits. It is one of the six main organs of the United Nations

established in 1945, and the principal body for coordination, policy dialogue and review, and

proposals on economic, social and environmental problems, as well as for exertion of the

internationally agreed development goals.

It serves as a central mechanism for the United Nations system’s activities and its

specialized agencies that supervises bodies in the economic, social and environmental fields.

It engages an extensive variety of policymakers, parliamentarians, academics, major groups,

foundations, business sector representatives, and more than 3,200 registered non-

governmental organizations.

The Economic and Social Council headquarters are in New York City, New York;

close to the Empire State Building and the United Nations headquarters.

This committee focuses on topics oriented to economic, social and environmental

issues. It includes regional economic and social commissions, functional commissions

facilitating intergovernmental discussions of major global issues, and specialized agencies,

programs and funds around the world to translate development commitments into actual

changes in people’s lives.

CIDEBMUN 2017 “Harvesting a better future”

Quorum

1. Australia

2. Bahamas

3. Bulgaria

4. Canada

5. China

6. Costa Rica

7. Cuba

8. Democratic Republic of the Congo

9. Denmark

10. France

11. Greece

12. Haiti

13. Iceland

14. Italy

15. Japan

16. Madagascar

17. Malta

18. Portugal

19. Russia

20. Seychelles

21. Singapore

22. South Korea

23. Switzerland

24. United Kingdom

25. United States

CIDEBMUN 2017 “Harvesting a better future”

Topic Introduction

Topic B: Future implement of the Madrid international plan of action on ageing.

The United Nations identifies –exclusively for demographic comparison– populations

who have reached the age of 60 years as “older persons”. Today, worldwide, there are

around 690 million people aged 60 years and over; this total will almost double by 2025 and

is expected to reach nearly two billion by 2050. Most of these older people will reside in the

developing world.

Article 1 of the Madrid International Plan states that the representatives of

Governments meeting at the Second World Assembly on Ageing in Madrid, have decided to

adopt an International Plan of Action on Ageing in 2002 to respond to the opportunities and

challenges of the population ageing in the twenty-first century and to promote the

development of a society for all ages. In the context of the Plan of Action, we are committed

to actions at all levels, including national and international levels, on three priority directions:

older persons and development; advancing health and wellbeing into old age; and ensuring

enabling and supportive environments. (UN, NY 2002)

Older persons must be full participants in the development process and share its

benefits. No individual should be denied the opportunity to benefit from development. The

impact of population ageing on the socioeconomic development of society, combined with

the social and economic changes taking place in all countries, engender the need for urgent

action to ensure the continuing integration and empowerment of older people. In addition,

migration, urbanization, mobile families, lack of access to technology that promotes

independence and other socio-economic changes can marginalize older persons from the

mainstream of development, taking away their purposeful economic and social roles and

weakening their traditional sources of support. The attention of policy makers has been

seized by the simultaneous needs to adjust to the effects of an ageing labor force while

improving labor productivity and competitiveness and ensuring the sustainability of social

protection systems. Where appropriate, multifaceted reform strategies should be

implemented to place pension systems on a sound financial footing.

Ageing should be considered from two major perspectives: demographic and

individual. From the demographic perspective, ageing is a population process, caused by

declining fertility and mortality rates, which manifests itself in the growing number of older

persons in society. Individual ageing is a process of individual progression through the life

CIDEBMUN 2017 “Harvesting a better future”

course, particularly its latest stages. It is important to consider both these perspectives of

ageing, and the implications they carry for society and for the individual and his or her family.

(UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs)

CIDEBMUN 2017 “Harvesting a better future”

Topic History

The Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing and the Political Declaration

adopted at the Second World Assembly on Ageing in April 2002 mark a turning point in how

the world addresses the key challenge of “building a society for all ages”.

The world has changed almost beyond recognition since the first World Assembly on

Ageing in 1982. Where once population ageing was mostly a concern of developed

countries, today it is gaining real momentum in developing countries as well. And where once

ageing may have been thought by some to be a stand-alone issue or afterthought, today we

understand that such a dramatic demographic transformation has profound consequences

for every aspect of individual, community, national and international life.

The Madrid Plan of Action offers a bold new agenda for handling the issue of ageing

in the 21st century. It focuses on three priority areas: older persons and development;

advancing health and well-being into old age; and ensuring enabling and supportive

environments. It is a resource for policy-making, suggesting ways for Governments, non-

governmental organizations, and other actors to reorient the ways in which their societies

perceive, interact with and care for their older citizens. And it represents the first time

Governments agreed to link questions of ageing to other frameworks for social and economic

development and human rights, most notably those agreed at the United Nations

conferences and summits of the past decade. (UN, NY 2002, Kofi A. Annan)

The landmark documents presented in this publication were the product of years of

hard work and a real spirit of cooperation in Madrid itself. The Assembly, generously and

capably hosted by the Government of Spain, showed the United Nations its essential role of

putting tomorrow’s issues on today’s agenda. But the real test will be implementation. Each

one of us, young and old, has a role to play in promoting solidarity between generations, in

combating discrimination against older people, and in building a future of security, opportunity

and dignity for people of all ages.

The implementation of the International Plan of Action on Ageing, 2002 will require

sustained action at all levels to both respond to the demographic changes ahead and to

mobilize the skills and energies of older persons. It will require systematic evaluation to

respond to new challenges. In addition, there is a critical and continuing need for international

assistance to help developing countries to pursue policies that address ageing. (UN, NY

2002)

CIDEBMUN 2017 “Harvesting a better future”

UN Action

The Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing and the Political Declaration

adopted at the Second World Assembly on Ageing in April 2002 mark a turning point in how

the world addresses the key challenge of “building a society for all ages”.

The Madrid Plan of Action offers a bold new agenda for handling the issue of ageing

in the 21st century. It focuses on three priority areas: older people and development,

advancing health and well-being into old age, and ensuring enabling and supportive

environments. It is a resource for policymaking, suggesting ways for Governments, non-

governmental organizations, and other actors to reorient the ways in which their societies

perceive, interact with and care for their older citizens. And it represents the first time

Governments agreed to link questions of ageing to other frameworks for social and economic

development and human rights, most notably those agreed at the United Nations

conferences and summits of the past decade. (DSPD)

CIDEBMUN 2017 “Harvesting a better future”

Questions

• What is your country doing to solve this issue?

• Does your country is already applying your delegation’s proposals? If it does, how?

• Does this plan is functioning well for your country?

• Does it have a social impact? If so, how?

• If your country is not involved, how is it planning to solve this issue?

• Does your country accept this plan? If not, what other solutions does your country

have?

• Is this plan working right now in your country?

• Does your country have good results with these?

CIDEBMUN 2017 “Harvesting a better future”

Recommended Sites

• United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division

(2015). World Population Ageing 2015 (ST/ESA/SER.A/390).

• Miksa Brigitte Miksa, Head of International Pensions, Allianz Asset Management, B.

(2015, August 27). What are the economic consequences of rapidly ageing

populations? Retrieved August 24, 2017, from

https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2015/08/what-are-the-economic-consequences-

of-rapidly-ageing-populations/

Bibliography (Topic A and B)

• Daouda, Y. H. (2014, December 12). CSR and Sustainable Development:

Multinationals are they Socially Responsible?. from https://cea.revues.org/1719

• G. Q., PhD. Sustainable Development: The Role of Multinational Corporations [DOC].

Link

• B. H. (2005). Implementing the Madrid Plan of Action on Ageing [PDF]. United

Nations.

• U. (2012). Madrid Plan of Action and its Implementation [PDF]. United Nations.