Statement for the Human Rights Commission
61st session

United Nations, Geneva, Switzerland, 14 March-22 April 2005
Item 14 : Specific groups and individuals: (d) Other vulnerable groups and individuals

Ageing and
the Rights of Older Persons

The International Association of Gerontology (IAG) in conjunction with the following organizations in consultative status with ECOSOC (see list enclosed),

calls the attention of the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) to the need
to adopt a Declaration on the Rights of Older Persons.

Let us be reminded of the importance of the specific group of older persons through the words of the Secretary-General at the 2nd UN World Assembly on Ageing in Madrid in 2002:

“The world is undergoing an unprecedented demographic transformation. Between now and 2050, the number of older persons will rise from about 600 million to almost two billion.
In less than 50 years from now, for the first time in history, the world will contain more people over 60 years old than under 15 […]. The increase will be greatest in developing countries […]. Over the next 50 years, the older population of the developing world is expected to multiply by four. […]”

Beginning with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, going on to the many International Instruments - including the Covenants on Economic Social and Cultural Rights, on Civil and Political Rights as well as the Convention on All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) - there are many references to the Rights of all. But not until the Declaration on Social Progress and Development in 1969 is there mention specifically of old age (in Article 11).

It 1982 for the UN to adopt the 1st International Plan of Action on Ageing in Vienna, and it took until 1991 for the General Assembly to adopt the UN Principles for Older Persons (Resolution 46/91) and its 4 main themes: independence, participation, care, self-fulfillment and dignity.

In 1995 only, the Committee on Economic, Social and Culture Rights adopted the General comment no 6 on the Economic and Social, and Cultural Rights of Older Persons (Document E/1996/22, Annex IV).

In 1999, with the International Year of Older Persons (Document A/50/114), came the
Conceptual Framework based on the Plan and Principles with 4 priority areas: (a) The situation of older persons, (b) individual lifelong development, (c) the relationship between generations, (d) the interrelationship of population, ageing and development.

Finally, in Madrid in 2002, 20 years after, the 2nd World Assembly on Ageing (WAA) adopted unanimously a Political Declaration and an International Strategic Plan of Action on Ageing.

Both of those documents include clear objectives and related actions to be taken: (i) to ensure the Rights of older persons, (ii) to protect older persons from “neglect, abuse and violence” in all situations addressed by the UN (para/07 and seq) as well as (iii) to recognize “their role and contribution to society”.

The 2002 Madrid Plan of Action goes into great details on the situation of older persons and the Commission for Social Development was given the charge of implementation.

However, It is obvious that these precedents are not enough to give older persons their Rights
as well as recognition of their contribution to society.

Older persons are not only unrecognized but more and more excluded from their role in society, just to cite a few examples:

• Migration of younger generations from developing countries or countries in transition with little or no welfare leaves behind older persons with no social, economic and care support, thus increasing their vulnerability, isolation, poverty, discrimination and lack of health care;
• The galloping technological development increases the generation divide: in a 4 to 5 generation society, the 2-3 older generations are too often excluded and affected by the digital divide;
• in HIV/AIDS pandemic, the contribution of older generations is today vital, their right to care for their orphaned grand-children could only benefit the socio-economic development but also the human reconstruction of society through restoring an identity, transmitting higher values and life skills;

In all issues, the Right to Development in must carefully take into account the generation-specificities of development over the life span and until the end of life.

What is missing is the recognition that older person have Rights, including inter-generational Rights, they need protection, but also make an important contribution to the cohesion and a peace in society.

A Declaration on the Rights of Older Persons could be based on the above mentioned 1999 Plan and Principles priorities: the situation of older persons, individual lifelong development, the relationship between generations and the interrelationship of population, ageing and development.

In résumé, we call upon the Human Rights Commission

to appoint a special Rapporteur or Expert on the Rights of Older Persons,
this might include mainstreaming ageing in all issues addressed and specifically in the
Agenda of the next Human Rights Commission.

May we also reflect on the thought that “Each Day You Are Older” …

Statement for the Human Right Commission 61st session
United Nations, Geneva, 14 March-22 April 2005
Item 14 : Specific groups and individuals: (d) Other vulnerable groups and individuals
Ageing and the Rights of Older Persons

Signatories
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