UN expert says “social pensions are critical to human rights”
Friday, June 25th, 2010Bethan 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:
ns. HelpAge is urging the Human Rights Council to address older people’s rights, which currently, they do not consider in the Universal Periodic Review Process. However they do consider and address the rights of women, children and persons with disabilities. Why? Could it be because there are existing conventions for these groups?
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.
As we celebrate International Women’s Day on 8 March, the Commission on the Status of Women is meeting in New York to review how the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action has been implemented by governments 15 years after it was adopted.
Bridget Sleap, HelpAge’s Rights Policy Advisor, (pictured left) writes about older people’s rights on Human Rights Day:


