联合国秘书长潘基文2013年国际老年人日致辞（中英对照）

Secretary-General’s Message on International Day of Older Persons

秘书长国际老年人日致辞

1 October 2013

2013年10月1日

The global community has reached a critical moment in our collective efforts to address poverty and usher in a better future. The 2015 deadline for achieving the Millennium Development Goals is fast approaching while discussions on shaping a vision for development beyond that date are intensifying. In this effort, we must address shifting demographics, especially the needs and concerns of the world’s increasing number of older persons.

　　国际社会在为消除贫穷和实现更美好的未来进行集体努力时，已经进入了一个关键时刻。2015年这一实现千年发展目标的最后期限正在迅速临近，同时关于形成2015年后发展远景的讨论正在热烈进行。在开展这一工作时，我们必须应付变化的人口结构，尤其是应付世界上人数日增的老年人的需要和关切。

By 2050, the number of older persons will be twice the number of children in developed countries, and the number of older persons in developing countries is expected to double. This trend will have profound effects on countries and individuals.

　　到2050，发达国家老年人的人数将是儿童人数的一倍，发展中国家老年人的人数预计将加倍。这一趋势将对国家和个人产生深远的影响。

There is broad recognition that population ageing presents both a significant opportunity and a challenge. The opportunity is to benefit from the many contributions older persons make to society. The challenge is to act on this understanding now through the adoption of policies that promote social inclusion and intergenerational solidarity.

人们广泛认识到，人口老龄化既提供了巨大的机遇，也是一个挑战。机遇是受益于老年人对社会的许多贡献。而现在就在这一理解的基础上采取行动，采取促进社会包容和代际团结的政策，则是一种挑战。

We often hear people talk about revering older persons for their wisdom, but older persons also want to have a voice. In our consultation process for the post-2015 development agenda, the United Nations has heard from more than a million people, including many older persons. They are calling for a world where all have food, shelter, clean water and sanitation, and access to basic health services and education. I have included these messages in my vision for a transformative post-2015 development agenda, which is set out in my report, “A Life of Dignity for All.”

　　我们经常听到人们谈论崇敬老年人的智慧，但老年人也希望发表意见。联合国在关于2015年后发展议程的协商进程中，听取了100多万人的意见，其中包括许多老年人。他们希望的世界，是一个人人食住无虞、人人有清洁水和卫生设施并能获得基本保健服务和教育的世界。我已经把这些信息列入了我对具有变革性质的2015年后发展议程的愿景之中。我的题为“人人过上有尊严的生活”的报告说明了这一愿景。

On this International Day of Older Persons, I call on countries and people to commit to removing barriers to older persons’ full participation in society while protecting their rights and dignity.

　　值此国际老年人日之际，我呼吁各国和人民致力于消除阻碍老年人充分参与社会的障碍，同时保护他们的权利和尊严。