HelpAge International wins $ 1.5 m Hilton Humanitarian Prize

International jury selects only global NGO with singular focus on improving the lives of the world’s older people

International Women’s Day: HelpAge calls for urgent action to help millions of older women who are the invisible backbone of communities, families and food production

HelpAge International, the only global organization with a singular focus on providing assistance to and advocating for disadvantaged older people, has been selected to receive the 2012 Conrad N. Hilton Humanitarian Prize of $1.5 million. The Prize will be presented at the Global Philanthropy Forum on April 16 in Washington, D.C.

Speaking on the occasion, Tilak de Zoysa, Chairman - HelpAge International / HelpAge Sri Lanka said, ‘Receiving the Hilton Humanitarian Prize is a great honour. It is especially meaningful to draw the world’s attention to the historic transformation being brought about by global ageing and the plight of millions of older people who face overwhelming financial, social and health hurdles every day. At HelpAge, we believe the world benefits when we tap the substantial wisdom and talents of older people, enabling them to lead dignified, active, healthy and secure lives.”

HelpAge International was established following the 1st World Assembly held in Vienna in 1982. Since then HelpAge has developed programmes to empower senior citizens based on the 62 recommendations of the World Assembly, the United Nation’s principles on older person’s independence in 1992 and the 2nd World Assembly in Madrid in 1999.

de Zoysa continued, ‘We receive this award at a time when HelpAge’s leadership proved to be instrumental in various parts of the world. Last year, we helped 2 million older people claim a new or increase pension payment, we aided over 360,000 older people and their families following disasters such as the East African famine and Haitian earthquake, we assisted 48,000 older people receive access to basic healthcare, and provided 5000 senior citizens with voluntary HIV counselling and testing.’

Viewed as the world’s leading authority on global ageing, HelpAge is actively engaging with the United Nations, European Union, World Bank, International Monetary Fund, bilateral donor governments, the World Economic Forum and other influential organizations to ensure there is a strong understanding of the critical need to support the human rights of older people.