International Federation of Associations of the Elderly

The International Federation of Associations of the Elderly (FIAPA) is an international non-governmental organization (INGO) founded in Paris on 26 September 1980 by more than 60 seniors' associations from four European countries: France, Belgium, Spain and Italy. It was created to defend the rights and interests of older persons in contemporary society and to give seniors a collective voice at the international level. FIAPA is recognized as being of public utility (reconnue d'utilité publique) and holds consultative status with the United Nations, the highest status granted to non-governmental organizations. It also enjoys participatory status with the Conference of INGOs of the Council of Europe in Strasbourg, and works closely with UNESCO in the fields of culture, education and health and social programmes, as well as with the World Health Organization, notably within its Department of Social and Economic Affairs. FIAPA's membership has grown significantly since its founding. By 1992, its member associations were present in 37 countries and represented 100 million members. Today, the federation is represented on five continents and brings together 150 associations or federations, which in turn group more than 3,000 associations and clubs, representing approximately 300 million seniors across some sixty countries. To coordinate this network, FIAPA has established regional hubs for Europe, Asia, Africa, Latin America and the Indian Ocean. Its mission is carried out on the ground through its member associations, which work for better protection of older persons, while the federation ensures coordination among its members and represents their interests before major international organizations including the UN, UNESCO, WHO, the Council of Europe and the European Union. FIAPA's activities include advocacy, awareness-raising and information. It publishes the Cahiers FIAPA, whose content is regularly cited in international discussions. The federation has also run public-awareness campaigns, such as the audiovisual campaign "Ça suffit, Brisons le silence" ("Enough, let's break the silence"), aimed at mobilizing public opinion against the mistreatment and abuse of older persons. Through its regional poles and its consultative roles, FIAPA positions itself as a recognized interlocutor for ageing issues and a platform for exchange among seniors' organizations worldwide.

The International Federation of Associations of the Elderly (FIAPA) was created on 26 September 1980 in Paris, at the Palais du Luxembourg, by more than 60 seniors' associations from four European countries: France, Belgium, Spain and Italy. It emerged from the initiative of a group of leaders of seniors' associations who, as early as 1980, held a vision based not on theory or ideology but on the realities of demographic, biological, economic and sociological change observed in many countries around the world. The federation was conceived as the natural extension of national, territorial or sectoral associations that had already been active for several years in different countries. This national and then international movement reflected the deep aspiration of older persons to break out of isolation everywhere, to continue participating in social life and to play a role after their working lives, in a spirit of openness to other generations. The founders were motivated by the observation that the three stages of life—youth, work and old age—were tending to become more balanced in duration, due to young people entering the workforce later, retirement being taken at an increasingly advanced age, and above all greater longevity. People no longer aged as they did in the past, and would likely age differently again in the future. In terms of physical, intellectual and mental abilities and professional integration, men and women aged 60 to 75 were already, by the time of FIAPA's founding, roughly 10 to 15 years "younger" than their counterparts of a few decades earlier. FIAPA's growth was significant. By 1992, its member associations were established in 37 countries and brought together 100 million members. Over the following decades, the federation expanded beyond Europe to become a truly global network. Today it is represented on five continents and federates 150 associations or federations, which together group more than 3,000 associations and clubs, representing approximately 300 million seniors across some sixty countries. To manage this growth and coordinate its members, FIAPA established regional hubs for Europe, Asia, Africa, Latin America and the Indian Ocean. FIAPA has also secured recognition from major international institutions. It is recognized as being of public utility (reconnue d'utilité publique) and holds consultative status with the United Nations, the highest status granted to non-governmental organizations. At the European level, it holds participatory status with the Conference of INGOs of the Council of Europe in Strasbourg, and has sat on several of that organization's commissions, including the Commission on Human Rights, the Commission on Democracy, Social Cohesion and Global Challenges, and the Commission on Education and Culture. It also works closely with UNESCO in the fields of culture, education and health and social programmes, and with the WHO, notably within its Department of Social and Economic Affairs. It is recognized as an international organization representing the interests of older persons, and the information contained in its publication, the Cahiers FIAPA, is regularly taken up in international discussions. In recent years, FIAPA has continued its advocacy work, including public-awareness campaigns such as the audiovisual campaign "Ça suffit, Brisons le silence" ("Enough, let's break the silence"), which aims to raise public awareness of the need to act against the mistreatment experienced by older persons. The federation remains active through its member associations on the ground and through its consultative roles at international organizations.

• 1992

  Member associations established in 37 countries, representing 100 million members.

• 1980

  FIAPA founded in Paris on 26 September by over 60 seniors' associations from France, Belgium, Spain and Italy.

• FIAPA recognized as being of public utility and granted consultative status with the United Nations.

• FIAPA granted participatory status with the Conference of INGOs of the Council of Europe.

• FIAPA launches the audiovisual campaign "Ça suffit, Brisons le silence" against elder mistreatment.

Recognized international non-governmental organization representing the interests of older persons, with consultative status at the UN and participatory status at the Council of Europe.

• Cahiers FIAPA

  Publication whose content is regularly taken up in international discussions.

1. 1FIAPA - Fédération Internationale des Associations des Personnes Âgéesfiapa.net
2. 2À propos | FIAPAfiapa.net
3. 3Histoire de la Fédération | FIAPAfiapa.net
4. 4Fédération internationale des associations de personnes âgéesfr.wikipedia.org
5. 5International Federation of Associations of the Elderlywikidata.org