AKEL on the International Day of Older Persons

 

30 September 2026, AKEL C.C. Press Office, Nicosia

The International Day of Older Persons was established by the United Nations in 1990, not merely to honour the people who built and laid the foundations of today’s societies, but also to highlight the state’s responsibility towards their needs and rights.

Dignity in old age means an adequate income, the provision of high-quality healthcare and care, autonomy, participation in social life and protection from discrimination and exclusion.

The reality in Cyprus shows just how far we still have to go. One in three older people in Cyprus in 2026 will be at risk of poverty, and one in five people over the age of 65 will be experiencing energy poverty, whilst the Republic of Cyprus spends just 0.2 per cent of its GDP on long-term care, less than one-eighth of the EU average.

For AKEL, the increase in life expectancy is a social achievement, not a burden. Old age must mean years of dignity, security, health and active participation.

This is precisely the aim of the pan-Cypriot campaign launched by AKEL under the title of ‘Old Age | Dignity – Rights – Life’: to translate its political stance into concrete proposals and initiatives for dignified pensions, care, health, active ageing and tackling discrimination.