Statement by Mr. Tetsuya Kimura, Delegation of Japan
At the First Substantive Session of the Open-Ended Working Group on Aging
April 18, 2011, New York
Mr. Chairperson,
Because the world population of older persons is expected to grow rapidly in the coming half century, it is now a common agenda of the international community to realize a world in which all older persons can fully enjoy the human rights and fundamental freedoms that are universal values. We recognize the establishment of this Working Group as an expression of the international community's interest in the human rights of older persons.
For Japan, a country in which 1 out of every 5 people is 65 years old or over, it is important to create a society in which members of all ages look forward to living long, full lives that are filled with a sense of satisfaction and in which older persons are able to live in safety. We have been consistently reviewing our social systems to ensure that they are suited to an aging society. We are heading toward a society in which not only the national and local authorities but also companies, local communities, families and individuals play their part in cooperation with one another.
From the perspective I just mentioned, Japan adopted the Aged Society Basic Act and under this Act the Government formulated the Fundamental Framework of Measures for the Aging Society. Based on the Act and the Fundamental Framework, the Government has been steadily implementing measures for our growing elderly population in various areas in order to ensure employment opportunities for the elderly, promote their comprehensive health and well being, form a culture of life-long learning and secure for them a balanced and affluent life style.
Mr. Chairperson,
Japan expects that the Working Group will contribute to finding truly needed and genuinely effective measures to protect and promote human rights of older persons.
Related Information (Human Rights)
Permanent Mission of Japan to the United Nations Official Web Site 
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