DECLARACIÓN DE LOS GERONTÓLOGOS DEL MUNDO PARA LAS NACIONES UNIDAS EN LA DÉCADA DE LA ASAMBLEA MUNDIAL DEL ENVEJECIMIENTO
El Dr. Joaquín González Aragón tuvo un papel muy importante como representante oficial del gobierno mexicano y como representante de la sociedad científica de Geriatría y Gerontología en la Asamblea Mundial del Envejecimiento que tuvo lugar en Viena, Austria, 1982. El objetivo fue planificar las estrategias a seguir en todos los países para el estudio del envejecimiento y sus efectos en el mundo. En 1990 el doctor González Aragón en su calidad de Secretario General de la Asociación Internacional de Gerontología, órgano rector a nivel global de la gerontología y geriatría, fue comisionado para redactar un documento que estableciera la posición de la comunidad científica ante el problema gerontológico y lo presentara en el pleno de las Naciones Unidas como una Declaración de Principios. La labor fue ardua, se realizaron reuniones a nivel regional en América, Asia y Europa para establecer el formato y una vez que se delineó el documento inicial, fue circulado entre los países miembros constituyentes de la IAG quienes lo enriquecieron con sus observaciones y aportaciones hasta lograr consolidar un documento final aprobado por todos los países que reflejara el sentir y la opinión de la comunidad mundial. Este trabajo duró varios años de rigurosa revisión por los diferentes presidentes nacionales, regionales y el Comité Ejecutivo hasta lograr la versión final que fue presentada en Sesión Plenaria de la Asamblea General de las Naciones Unidas con la asistencia de todos los países miembros en la sede de la ONU en Nueva York en 1992. El mérito de este gran trabajo es del Dr. González Aragón quien coordinó una tarea titánica gracias a su dominio en el idioma inglés para esta declaración que ha servido de base para las actuales políticas sanitarias y sociales de los programas para los adultos mayores en México y en el mundo. La Declaración en su versión original se presenta enseguida: WE, THE GERONTOLOGISTS OF THE WORLD
DECLARE THAT:
The International Association of Gerontology (IAG) was founded early in 1950 as a multidisciplinary organization, representing a diversity of scientific disciplines including the biological, clinical, behavioral and social sciences concerned with aging and the health and well-being of the elderly. The primary purpose of the IAG is to improve the communication and exchange of views within and across those disciplines, and between the scholars and scientists of all nations.
Recognizing that:
The initial stimulus for the formation of the IAG was the curiosity among scientists from different scientific disciplines and different countries of the world would accelerate the progress in research leading to a better understanding of the basic mechanisms of aging. At that time, aging, at least in humans, was regarded as a disease that is universally fatal.
It was soon recognized, that aging was an universal biological phenomenon that ultimately affected all living organisms. The recognition that aging was a "normal" part of the life span and not a disease in itself had a most profound impact on aging research and basic physiological processes that governed the rates on aging even in the human species were regarded as universal. There was a full recognition that behavioral; socioeconomic and environmental factors did have an impact on longevity and health status. Indeed, it became clear that social orders or systems were developed in response to the rapid increase of the number of elderly in the world's population who addressed their specific needs within their societies In regard, the IAG has provided a unique international forum in which these different social and environmental characteristics have been explored.
Taking into consideration:
The four main purposes are:
1.- To promote gerontological research in the biological, medical, behavioral, and social fields (social psychological fields) by member organizations and to promote cooperation among these organizations.
2.- To promote training of highly qualified personnel in the fields of aging.
3.- To promote the interest of the gerontological organizations in all questions pertaining to international matters.
4.- To promote and assist in the arrangements for holding the International Congress of Gerontology in intervals determined by the council.
Members of the IAG are convinced that the problems of aging can be best addressed by scientific studies of the basic physiological, clinical and behavioral mechanims of aging. To them, the critical question is how to minimize the disabilities now associated with advancing age through a better understanding of the processes which are involved and by the potential interventions predicated thereon. This is the scientific approach envisaged by the founders of the IAG.
Some members believe that the IAG should direct its energies toward increasing awareness of member nations to the social, economic, political, and medical problems that result from the increasing proportion of older individuals within a society. In their eyes, the problems of aging are more apt to be solved by political actions than by scientific studies. In the intervening years it is therefore not surprising that the IAG devoted a substantial part of its program to support various political actions to meet the problems of the aged. Good examples are documents and reports the IAG prepared to support the aging program sponsored by the United Nations, for the 1982 World Assembly on Aging held in Vienna. At the same time we must stress that the main task of the IAG is to promote scientific work all over the world for the benefit of the aging population.
Affirm our intention that:
A).- For the future of gerontology, the IAG will maintain its integrity as a scientific organization with a primary interest in developing information that will lead to valid concepts about the basic mechanisms of aging. This approach namely, the application of science and scientific methodology has been successful in the past for solving problems associated with the health of humans, and we have every reason to believe that it will be successful in the future. Thus, gerontology and geriatrics must be firmly based on science in they want to have an effective impact on the multiple problems of aging.
B).- IAG will retain its role of providing a forum for the presentation and discussion of the problems of aging from many viewpoints. The discussion, however, must be based on facts rather than opinions, beliefs, and hopes. The focus of the attention must be on the processes of aging.
C).- IAG, as an international organization will continue to be aware of the influence of social and cultural differences in establishing priorities and approaches to the problems of aging in different countries. The language of science hold the key to the future of the IAG.
In order to establish this, gerontology must present a scientific challenge to the developing generation of scientists in all countries. By emphasizing its role as a dedicated scientific organization, the IAG can materially contribute to its world wide development.
D).- The IAG will continue to take its place with other international scientific organizations that are recognized for their contributions to science rather than for their participation in political struggles within and between nations.
This is not to say that these political issues are unimportant. They are, but other international organizations, such as the World Health Organization, provide an arena for dealing with problems through political actions. The IAG will have a much greater impact in the decisions of these political bodies if it continues to do what it does best, namely, SCIENCE.
Este documento es una constancia del trabajo de cuatro años (1989 – 1993) del Dr. González Aragón como coordinador del movimiento científico de la gerontología y geriatría a nivel mundial.
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