photos
About IAG IAG events & initiatives publications calendar links contact









Home >> About IAG

About the IAG

Mission
Standing Committees INPEA and ICGSO
Relationship with UN
World Congress
Past Presidents

The International Association of Gerontological Societies was founded and registered in Liege Belgium in July 1950, later becoming the International Association of Gerontology (IAG). Members are national multidisciplinary organizations concerned with research and training in gerontology.

The IAG’s objectives are to promote:

  • gerontological research in the biological, medical, behavioural, and social policy and practice fields
  • training of high quality personnel in the field of aging
  • the interests of gerontological organizations in international matters.
The mission of the International Association of Gerontology is to promote the highest levels of achievement of gerontological research and training worldwide and to interact with other international, inter-governmental, and non-governmental organizations in the promotion of gerontological interests globally and on behalf of its member associations. The Association pursues these activities with a view of promoting the highest quality of life and well being of all people as they experience ageing at individual and societal levels.

The IAG has member organizations in five regions: Africa, Asia/Oceania, Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean, and North America. At present 70 societies in 63 countries are represented, with a combined membership exceeding 40,000.

There are also two standing committees of IAG: the International Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse (INPEA) and the International Council of Gerontology Student Organizations (ICGSO).

The International Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse was founded in 1997, dedicated to the global dissemination of information as part of its commitment to the world-wide prevention of the abuse of older people. It became a standing committee of IAG in 2002. Its website can be found here.

In 2002, IAG Council approved the establishment of the International Council of Gerontology Student Organizations (ICGSO) to draw attention to and increase involvement of students in worldwide gerontology. The first meeting took place in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil at the 18th World Congress on June 27, 2005. The IAG Student Council will foster international networking amongst students as well as provide input into the IAG on education, training and other substantive issues. ICGSO has a section on the IAG website which is located here.

The IAG holds a World Congress every four years. The first was held in Liege, Belgium in 1950. To date, 18 have been held. The most recent was held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil June 26-30,  2005. The 19th World Congress will take place in Paris, France July 5-10, 2009. The 20th World Congress is scheduled to take place in Seoul, Korea in 2013. Regional Congresses are held in the intervening years between each World Congress. The IAG also auspices special events (e.g. Valencia Forum, April 1-4, 2002).


Relationship with the UN

Since 1978 the IAG has been a category III non-governmental organization with respect to the United Nations with consultative status with the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).  Since 1985 it has been a member of the Conference of Nongovernmental Organizations in Consultative Relationship with the United Nations (CONGO). The IAG has close and cordial working relationships with the UN Programme on Ageing, the World Health Organization's Ageing and Life Course Programme, UN Development Programme, UN Population Fund and other UN agencies.

Over the years, IAG has undertaken several specific activities to advance the work of the UN. These include:

· Commissioning a book entitled "New Perspectives on Old Age: A Message to Decision Makers" Thomae, H. & Maddox, G.L. (Eds.)(1982) as input to the First World Assembly on Ageing.

· In September, 1989 at the request of Secretary-General Javier PĀrez de CuĀllar co-sponsoring a meeting of "eminent persons" at United Nations Headquarters to assist in the development of an international fundraising strategy for policies and programmes on population ageing.

· In 1992 developing a statement for the Decade of the World Assembly on Ageing.

· From 1997 to 2001, assisting the United Nations Programme on Ageing in the development of a Research Agenda on Ageing for the 21st Century. 

· April 1-4, 2002, auspicing the Valencia Forum which provided expert input into the Second World Assembly on Ageing.

· April 7, 2002, hosting World Health Day at the World NGO Forum on Ageing in Madrid, Spain.

· April 9, 2002, presenting a report of the Valencia Forum at an official roundtable held in Madrid as part of Dialogue 2020: The Future of Ageing. As well, the Research Agenda on Ageing for the 21st Century was presented.

As evidence of the value the UN places on input from the IAG, In October, 1992, at the 47th Plenary Session of the UN, Secretary General Boutros Boutros-Ghali announced that IAG would be presented with a Testimonial Award. The award was presented at the 15th World Congress in Budapest, Hungary in 1993 to IAG President Edit Beregi.

For a list of our 2005 representatives to the UN in New York, Geneva, and Vienna click here.

For details about the history of the IAG see:

  • Shock, N.W. & Baker, G.T. (1988). The International Association of Gerontology: A Chronicle - 1950 to 1986. New York: Springer Publishing Co.
  • Orimo, H. (2000). History of IAG. Special Lecture presented at December 2000 general assembly of the Japan Gerontological Society. Tokyo: Medical Review Co., Ltd.

For a list of past Presidents of IAG, click here.

For other information about IAG, please see our promotional brochure [PDF].

[Back to top of page]