10 December 2009 is Human Rights Day. The theme this year is an end to discrimination for all.

Article 1 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948) states that “all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights”.

This right to freedom, equality and dignity does not change in old age. Despite this, age discrimination and ageism are tolerated across the world. Discrimination based on age is a violation of human rights. 

Health for all should mean health for ALL

 
Many older people experience discrimination when they try to get healthcare. Health workers may refuse to treat them because they are old. Staff may not be trained in older people’s illnesses or there may be no medicine available to treat them.

Where services and treatment are available, they are often too expensive. In Mozambique, despite being exempt from payments by law, 85% of older people in some communities are still asked to pay for consultations and medication.

A right to work

Older people also face discrimination at work. They may be forced to take jobs that are unsafe or demanding because employers assume they cannot do any other work.

Sometimes they cannot get a job because they are too old. In Peru older people who wanted to apply for jobs said they could not because job advertisements often specify that applicants must be under 35.

Protection against violence

Everyone has a right to live free from violence but many older men and women, especially older women, experience violence in their homes and in care settings because they are old.

Research from Kyrgyzstan shows that many older women are physically abused, either by their own children at home, or in care homes by staff and male residents.

Time for a new convention

“Existing international and regional human rights law does not sufficiently protect the rights of older people,” says Bridget Sleap, HelpAge’s rights policy adviser.

“Age is not listed as a reason why someone should not be discriminated against in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights or most other international human rights instruments. As a result age discrimination is routinely overlooked by governments, civil society and the human rights world.”

HelpAge International believes the time has come for an international convention on the rights of older people.

This would provide a clear conceptual, legal and accountability framework to assist governments, the private sector, NGOs and others to make decisions that positively address population ageing, eliminate age discrimination and better protect older women and men’s rights.

We are also calling for the appointment of a UN special rapporteur on the rights of older people to act as a focal point for older people’s rights.

Read more about our rights work

Three things you can do to support older people's rights

Read our rights blog