International Year of Older Persons
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The year 1999 was proclaimed the International Year of Older Persons by the United Nations. The proclamation was launched on 1 October 1998, the International Day of Older Persons, by United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan and Dr. Gunhild O. Hagestad of the University of Oslo (Norway) and Northwestern University. The proclamation was meant to draw attention to the recognition of humanity's demographic coming of age and the promise it holds for maturing attitudes and capabilities in social, economic, cultural and spiritual undertakings, not least for global peace and development in the next century.
Numerous events took place within the UN and in member countries to mark the event.