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

Louise Cripps, HelpAge’s Rights Policy Intern, writes about the impact of UN conventions and whether this justifies a push for a convention on older people’s rights:

Today, Kenya is reporting in their first Universal Periodic Review at the United Nations.  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?

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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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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.

I wasn’t working in this area 15 years ago and so was only vaguely aware of the 1995 document and its contents. So when I read it from start to finish for the first time last year, I wanted to stand up and cheer!

Having watched geo-politics being played out more recently between member states in other UN meetings, how could they all have agreed to something so progressive? 

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Bridget Sleap, HelpAge’s Rights Policy Advisor, (pictured left) writes about older people’s rights on Human Rights Day:

Across the world, populations are ageing. There is no denying that this phenomenon presents huge challenges. How do you protect the rights of an ageing population? How do you build stronger, more inclusive societies?

Equal members of society

Taking a human rights approach can help. Protecting older people’s rights, treating them with respect and on an equal basis with younger people will enable them to lead dignified, secure lives, as equal members of society, as is their right.

Human rights and development go hand in hand – respecting people’s rights results in better development, where respect, dignity and having a say are recognised alongside material security as important to people’s wellbeing.
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A group of young men jeered when they saw the HelpAge International logo on the side of our vehicle: “Here come the old people’s organisation! We have lots of old people here – what are you going to do for them?”

Sadly, this was not the first time we had encountered this kind of cynicism. In drought-ravaged Turkana, northern Kenya, older people are often seen as a burden, beyond help or simply not a priority. “Survival of the fittest” is the order of the day in Turkana and older people are struggling to cope.

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The BBC World Today programme is running a fascinating series this week, looking at the huge social and economic implications of  an ageing population.

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Alex Kalache, HelpAge International’s Global Ambassador reports on the Rights of Older Persons Conference in Brasilia…

I was inspired and thrilled by the recent Rights of Older Persons Conference in Brasilia. I would not need to have been born in Brazil and feel strongly about my country to feel this way. By all accounts, other participants were equally enthralled by the event. (more…)