Towards a convention on the rights of older people
HelpAge and older campaigners, like Teresa, have spoken out at the UN about the need for a convention on the rights of older people.
(c) Ina Voelcker/HelpAge International
HelpAge International is one of a growing group of NGOs, academics, lawyers, UN Member States and individuals who are calling for a new convention on the rights of older people.
Why do we need a convention?
Age discrimination and ageism are tolerated across the world. Older people experience discrimination and violation of their rights at a family, community and institutional level.
Unprecedented demographic ageing means that the number of people who may experience age discrimination and violation of their rights in old age is likely to increase.
Older people have specific requirements which are necessary to guarantee their rights. However, existing human rights instruments do not adequately articulate what they are. Neither do they clarify governments' obligations to protect older people's rights.
As a result, attention to older people's rights by human rights monitoring mechanisms, governments, the human rights community and civil society has been completely inadequate and older people's rights are not being sufficiently protected.
What would a convention do?
A convention on the rights of older people would protect older people's rights under international law. It would also:
- Provide a definitive, universal position that age discrimination and ageism are morally and legally unacceptable,
- Provide clarity on governments' human rights obligations towards older people,
- Create an enforceable monitoring mechanism to hold those in authority to account for their actions towards older people,
- Put age discrimination and older people's rights higher up on governments', donors' and NGOs' agendas,
- Encourage a shift in attitude from older people being considered recipients of welfare to rights holders with responsibilities.
A new special rapporteur
HelpAge also supports the creation of a new special rapporteur on older people's rights, who would report to the Human Rights Council.
Their mandate would be to examine and report on the nature and extent of violations of older people's rights. They would also carry out country visits and make recommendations on how to better protect older people's rights.
The UN Open-ended Working Group on Ageing
The UN Open-ended Working Group on Ageing (OEWG) was established by the General Assembly in 2010.
Its main purpose is to strengthen the protection of older people's human rights by reviewing how existing human rights instruments address older people's rights.
It will also identify any gaps in protection and explore the feasibility of new human rights instruments. It met three times in 2011 and will meet again in the summer of 2012.
This OEWG is the first time a process has been set up for UN Member States to examine and explore how to better protect older people's rights.
Civil society is able to participate and HelpAge has been actively engaging with the process. We have supported older women and men to take part and submitted evidence from our programmes around the world.
What you can do
HelpAge is part of the Global Alliance for the Rights of Older People, an alliance of NGOs, individuals and other stakeholders. It was established in 2011 out of the need to strengthen the rights and voice of older people globally. To be part of the Global Alliance, go to their website.
You can also sign our Age Demands Action petition to support older people's rights.
Comment on this page
Comments submitted for this page
Navdha (10th April 2012)
Hi Mizanur,
Thanks for writing in. Please contact our Bangladesh for more information on how you can support our work and older people. Email: cdir@helpagebd.org Phone: +88 02 9870103, 9870253
Thanks,Navdha.Mizanur (10th April 2012)
I am bangladeshi. Managing director of Monirampur Agro firm Limited. I wants to support older peoples by old home. Please help me.
Mizanur (10th April 2012)
I wants to support older peoples by old home. please help me.
METANG PAULETTE (18th March 2012)
I attended the second session of the open ended working group on ageing last august in New york (UN). I thoroughly support a UN convention. In my country Cameroon, ageing issues are sligthly a priority for the government. But we related NGOs LOBBY OUR Government so that they consider this issue as a priority;
Maria da Conceicao Lourence (23rd January 2012)
I really support the idea of a convention for older persons, governments especially in my country Namibia have not put the agenda on ageing on their priority list,and there is a need for NGO's and institutions to rally and lobby for this convention.
Md.Azizul Haque (21st December 2011)
Dementia fighting Together.
