WASHINGTON, DC — On Thursday, October 1 AARP celebrated the 25^th anniversary of the United Nations International Day of Older Persons (IDOP) at its national headquarters in Washington, D.C. The holiday recognizes the issues affecting the world’s older population and honors their contributions to greater society. With this year also marking the 20^th anniversary of the UN Fourth World Conference on Women, the theme of the AARP hosted event was focused on global women’s issues and women empowerment.

Catherine Russell, Ambassador-at-Large for Global Women’s Issues, moderated an hour-long discussion between Nobel Peace Prize recipient Muhammad Yunus, founder of Grameen Bank; laureate, and Debra B. Whitman, AARP’s Chief Public Policy Officer. Closing remarks were delivered by Kathy Greenlee, the assistant secretary for aging and administrator for community living at the US Department of Health and Human Services.

The evening also featured a special edition release of AARP’s international publication, The Journal, which includes the voices of government, business and societal leaders on the topic of women and aging as well as an article by AARP’s CEO JoAnn Jenkins titled “Women as Disruptors of Aging.”

The Journal is available online, with a limited number of hard copies available upon request. 

About AARP AARP is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization, with a membership of nearly 38 million, that helps people turn their goals and dreams into real possibilities, strengthens communities and fights for the issues that matter most to families such as healthcare, employment and income security, retirement planning, affordable utilities and protection from financial abuse. We advocate for individuals in the marketplace by selecting products and services of high quality and value to carry the AARP name as well as help our members obtain discounts on a wide range of products, travel, and services.  A trusted source for lifestyle tips, news and educational information, AARP produces AARP The Magazine, the world's largest circulation magazine; AARP Bulletin; www.aarp.org; AARP TV & Radio; AARP Books; and AARP en Español, a Spanish-language website addressing the interests and needs of Hispanics. AARP does not endorse candidates for public office or make contributions to political campaigns or candidates.  The AARP Foundation is an affiliated charity that provides security, protection, and empowerment to older persons in need with support from thousands of volunteers, donors, and sponsors. AARP has staffed offices in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Learn more atwww.aarp.org.​

CONTACT:

Jessica Winn, 202-434-2560, media@aarp.org, @AARPMedia