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

Older people’s associations in Mozambique and HelpAge have worked together to engage the government at the highest level and make a difference to their lives.

A true picture of older people’s lives

Eight politicians from all over Mozambique, visited the distrits of Chókwe and Boane this April. The visit was in direct response to older people’s requests.

They got a true picture of older people’s day to day lives and were made aware of the contributions to society that older people make through their work in the community.

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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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Wilbur has an energetic commanding character, a retired secondary school teacher and journalist, he says “I retired 15 years ago but although retired, I am not tired.”

Born on the slopes of Africa’s highest mountain Mount Kilimanjaro, he is happy living in the shadow of the Acropol mountains with his wife, chickens, goats pineapples, bananas and mangoes - he is self sufficient. But he is well aware that many of his older neighbours are struggling to eat, unable to afford medical care and that the poorest are those who are raising grandchildren alone because they have lost their parents to AIDS.

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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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