Bethan Emmett, HelpAge’s Social Protection Adviser, caught up with the UN’s Independent expert on extreme poverty and human rights, Magdalena Sepulveda, to talk about social pensions.

Ms Sepulveda has just launched her second report which focuses on older people, human rights and social protection. In the report she states that social pensions are critical to reducing extreme poverty for older people.

She also said: “Universal pension schemes are more in line with human rights obligations as they comply with principles of universality and non-discrimination.”

Watch her interview with Bethan here:

Read the full story on universal social pensions

On 16 February, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo of the Philippines signed the Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010. The Act includes the introduction of a new non-contributory pension which will be targeted at the “poorest of the poor” over the age of 60.

It will also bring into place a range of tax breaks for senior citizens that are expected to affect 4.2 million older people, as well as health insurance provision and a death benefit. 

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The new issue of Ageways is out this week and its all about how age helps. It explains our new organisational position.

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All of us… together.

The beginnings of a pension campaign in Sri Lanka.

It’s been an eventful week here in Sri Lanka. Myself and Tai from our Asia office, have been working with our partner HelpAge Sri Lanka on designing a strategy to campaign for a universal pension in the country.

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