Advocating for the Human Rights of Older Persons

On Thursday, July 26, 2012 the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) will continue considering the social and human rights questions on how to engage more constructive participation by Member States during their meeting in New York.

From 23-27 July, 2012 ECOSOC’s primary focus of the General Segment will be to discuss the state of world affairs in the field of development.  Item 14 on the agenda, Social and Human Rights, will tackle the report from the High Commissioner for Human Rights on human rights of older persons.

In April 2012, the UNHCHR issued a report (E/2012/51) in 6 UN languages on the human rights of older persons.  The report concluded that powerful advocacy efforts are needed for a new convention.  The Open-Ended Working Group (OEWG) was established to strengthen the protection of the human rights of older persons and continues to make headway.

The OEWG will then have their third substantive session on 1-4 August 2012 in New York.

Per the April UNHCHR report:

“64. The situation of older persons presents a number of particular and urgent human rights challenges…each posing a set of issues that deserves in-depth analysis and regulation.

66. Current arrangements at the national and international level to protect the human rights of older persons are inadequate. Dedicated measures to strengthen the international protection regime for older persons are called for without further delay.”

The second working session discussed five topics, namely, discrimination and multiple discrimination; right to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health; violence and abuse; social protection and the right to social security; and age and social exclusion.

We look forward to a positive third session and encourage NGOs to help the OEWG advocate for the rights of older persons.

 

[credit: USAID_images]