The Universal Declaration of Human Rights turns 60 today, but millions of older people worldwide are still being denied the basic rights and freedoms it provides.

HelpAge International is marking the day by highlighting three powerful stories of older people around the globe who are still denied their rights. 

Article 22: Right to social security

More than 120 countries worldwide have no non-contributory pension scheme. Poor older people in countries like Peru are being denied their right to social security.

Manuela, aged 64, is a pig farmer. Since her husband’s ill health forced him to give up his job as a taxi driver, they have been struggling to survive.

“Our only income comes from selling the pigs for about 50 soles (approx £10) each. We never know how many pigs we will sell each month. With such insecure income it’s impossible to cover our monthly bills and we never have enough food to eat.

“I don’t know if they will take our house away. I lie awake at night worrying what will happen if my husband and I get sick, because we can’t afford medicine or doctor’s bills.

“Some sort of regular income, like a pension, would really help. I would use it to buy better food for us to try and stay healthy, and I could start a small business.”

Article 23: Right to just and favourable conditions of work

Many older people are forced to continue working in old age to support themselves and their families, often in conditions that are detrimental to their health. In Bangladesh, 73-year-old Mohammad spends each day crouching by the roadside, breaking up bricks with a small hammer. On average he earns just 115 taka (£1.15) per day.

“I work from 8am until 5pm each day. Sometimes I feel sick and I have to stop working earlier. I have problems breathing and the particles from the brick breaking make it worse. It also gets worse in cold weather.

“I have problems with my knee but can’t afford to get treatment. So sometimes I come to work in spite of the pain. Sometimes I cannot work because the pain is too much.

“If I am sick and can’t work, the job is given to someone else and I have to look for work elsewhere. My wife says to me: ‘Are you sure you can do this work?’ But I have to.”

Article 25: Right to security in widowhood

In Tanzania and Mozambique, widows are often denied the right to inherit property. Some face violence, intimidation and even death as a result of accusations of witchcraft.

Shiduki, aged 71, from Tanzania tells her story:

“After my husband died, his relatives started to complain that I was still living in the house. So I left the property – I had no choice. I lived alone and it was very difficult. My relationship with the community was very bad. People despised me for being useless. 

“I was threatened several times and I received letters accusing me of being a witch. The letters said: ‘You will be killed because you are a witch.’ I know at least 14 women who were threatened. Most were widows or older women.”

It is estimated that as many as 1,000 witchcraft-related killings occur in Tanzania each year.

The right to dignity and security in old age

Richard Blewitt, Chief Executive of HelpAge International, says:

“These stories illustrate the extent to which, 60 years after the Declaration came into being, older people remain marginalised by society. They are excluded from enjoying the basic human rights we take for granted.

“Yet there is another side to the story. With HelpAge’s support, older people are coming together to champion their rights and make their voices heard.

“In Tanzania and Mozambique, we are training older people as paralegals in communities affected by witchcraft-related violence, to raise awareness of older women’s rights and provide legal advice.

“In Bangladesh, Peru and many other countries, older people’s associations are lobbying their governments for greater access to universal pensions, so that they can live with dignity and security in old age.  

“Older people offer huge potential to build better families and communities. We hope that governments across the world will use this day to reflect on the rights they afford to their older citizens and take action now to ensure these rights are realised. This will benefit not only older people, but society as a whole.”

What you can do

Older people have a right to be included in international development policy and practice.

Sign our Age Demands Action in support of older people’s rights petition now!