On 1 October – International Day of Older Persons, the Chairman of the Committee on Labour, Ex-Servicemen’s and Social Issues Meho Omerovic addressed the public with a statement reminding that Serbia’s population is one of the oldest.

The statement says that every second citizen of Serbia lives in an old household. Unfortunately, older persons are also the poorest category of Serbian population. If we add illness to it, then as a society Serbia is faced with a problem that requires special attention.

But is it given that attention?

If we only remember older persons when commemorating the International Day of Older Persons, then we are not doing any of the things we have promised, the Committee Chairman’s statements says. Therefore we have to put much more effort into improving the quality of life of this population category.

The National Strategy on Ageing adopted by the Government two years ago, which sets a long-term solution of this issue is a good document, but the action for the reduction of poverty and improving the living conditions of older persons must be conducted constantly, daily and on all levels. Little will be achieved for the improvement of older persons’ quality of living if ageing strategies are not also passed on the local level.

Regarding it, in the upcoming period the Committee on Labour, Ex-Servicemen’s and Social Issues will discuss the bills in procedure on social housing, on volunteer work, and will, in cooperation with non-government organisations, organise a public discussion on the improvement of the living conditions of refugees and internally displaced persons with a special focus on the position of older persons. Informing older persons on their rights and ways of realising them will be of particular importance in order to prevent all manner of discrimination.