Sylvia Meehan, AGE member of Ireland, presented a comprehensive review of Irish achievements during the Year to combat ageism. She stressed the need for a lifecycle approach to tackle age discrimination and the importance of older people taking an active role as self-advocates.
Marjan Sedmak (MZU Slovenia) participated in an intergenerational dialogue with representatives of the European Youth Forum. Marjan stressed the importance of building solidarity between the generations and of accommodating their common concerns.This was a fringe event which took place in front of the European Year truck. This truck has made an extensive tour of the Member States, dispersing information about equality and raising awareness of the need to combat discrimination in all its forms.
Anne-Sophie Parent, AGE Director, participated in an NGO panel discussion in which representatives of EU civil society organisations presented their three wishes for the outcome and follow-up to the Year. Ms Parent called for the existing legislative framework on non-discrimination to be extended to areas outside of employment and for that to include all grounds including age. She voiced AGE's wish for an extensive five-yearly review of the implementation of the Employment Equality Directive as part of the Social Agenda. She also recalled the need for Member State commitment and support for measures to ensure that concete results are achieved as a result of this Year and reminded delgates that the real work is just beginning.
Last Updated on Friday, 29 January 2010 10:59
