ZDUS – Zveza društev upokojencev Slovenije (in English: Slovenian Federation of Pensioner’s Associations) is a non-governmental (NGO) and non-profit organization, established in 1946, organized as an umbrella organization of 13 regional members, bringing together 490 local associations of pensioners and clubs, including over 166.209 members, older people all over Slovenia (11% of Slovenian population).
ZDUS is a self-help organisation of pensioners, with the status of a humanitarian organisation and a public interest organisation for the area of social services and culture. Members voluntarily join ZDUS with the aim of mutual cooperation for the realisation of common interests, for the improvement of the quality of life of its members, pensioners and other older people, and for representing them in various public authorities and other bodies at state level, as well as for the implementation of humanitarian and other activities that are in the public interest.
ZDUS goals are: ensuring the realisation of human rights and fundamental freedoms, the improvement of the material and social position of older people, improvement of the quality of their life, inter-generational coexistence, prevention of social exclusion, any forms of violence and discrimination against older people, active citizenship and inclusion in all forms of social dialogue and participation in decision-making, whereby work and life experience and knowledge of older people are fully acknowledged, encouraging mutual help among peers and promoting healthy, active ageing and lifelong learning.
ZDUS is a member of several international organizations for older people: EURAG - European Federation for Older people, AGE Platform Europe – European network of organizations of and for people aged 50 + and Eurocarers - European Association Working for Carers. ZDUS as an end user organisation has been partner in various EU funded projects, dealing with different areas of older people’s lives, mainly directed towards improving the quality of their life.