World Health Organization, Executive Board Room 13:00 – 15:00 Lunch provided at 12:30 French translation available
Older persons make wide-ranging contributions to economic and social development. However discrimination and social exclusion persist. We must overcome these biases in order to ensure a socially and economically active, secure and healthy ageing population.
OUR GOALS
-To further the United Nations’ mission of building a society for all ages;
-To raise awareness of ageing and intergenerational issues and ensure that they are adequately addressed by the UN System;
-To advocate for a new convention on the rights of older persons; and
-To influence global policy and monitor the implementation of existing commitments.
OUR ACTIVITIES
–Strengthening relationships with NGOs and by providing a platform for strategy development;
–Bringing diverse voices from local and national levels to international platforms;
–Drawing on the experience of Committee Members to share analyses on trends, needs and good practices; and
-Maintaining regular communication with the Vienna and New York UN NGO Committees on Ageing and with the UN Open-ended Working Group on Ageing (OEWG).
OEWG
The Open-ended Working Group on Ageing
The OEWG is a UN working group that meets in New York. It was established by a resolution at the 2010 General Assembly. Read the resolution A/RES/65/182. Since the establishment of this working group, six sessions have been held. The sixth Working session has been held from 14-16 July 2015 in New York, USA.
The Independent expert
In May 2014, the Human Rights Council appointed Ms. Rosa Kornfeld-Matte as the first Independent Expert on the enjoyment of all human rights by older persons (HROP).
Thursday 1 October 2015, the 25th United Nations International Day of Older Persons.
Re-think our cities, the UN expert calls for older persons’ accessibility to all urban settings. GENEVA (29 September 2015). Speaking ahead of the celebration of the 25th anniversary of the International Day of Older Persons, the United Nations Independent Expert on the enjoyment of all human rights by older persons, Rosa Kornfeld-Matte, urges States to improve older persons’ accessibility to urban infrastructure, facilities and Services.
The truth about ageing and development
The Report „Facing the Facts: the truth about ageing and development” brings together expert opinions on the trends, challenges and opportunities presented by a global ageing Population.
WHO report on ageing and health 2015
The „World report on ageing and health“ highlights the need for major societal change, to ensure that people are not just living longer, but also healthier, lives. The report outlines key areas for action, in the organization of health systems, in our wider physical and social environments, and in the way society as a whole views older People.
LATEST NEWS
Towards a UN Convention on the rights of older persons?
28 September 2016 15.00 – 17.00 European Parliament Rationale The human rights of all individuals in Europe, including older persons, are protected in various binding international and regional human rights conventions. However, international human rights conventions do not specifically address age discrimination or refer to older persons. Regional human rights laws also do not protect […]
On human rights of older persons: imperatives & desiderata
Wednesday, 14 September 2016 – 16h30-18h00. United Nations Human Rights Council 33rd session (13-30 September 2016) Side-Event: On human rights of older persons: imperatives & desiderata Geneva, Palais des Nations, Conference Room XXIII By 2050, there will be more older persons than children under 15 worldwide. This unprecedented demographic shift has far-reaching implications for society […]
Protecting the Rights of Older Persons: Technical briefings at the CRPD
Two technical briefings on the rights of older persons took place at the 16th session of the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) at the Palais Wilson, Geneva, headquarters of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) The main target audience of these briefings were the members of the […]
UPCOMING EVENTS
Monday 19th September, 2016, 13:00-14:00
Respecting, Protecting, and Fulfilling the Rights of Older Refugees
Parallel Event, 33rd Session of the Human Rights Council
Older refugees make up some 8.5 per cent of the overall population of concern to UNHCR, or an estimated1.2 million people over the age of 60. Policymakers and service providers in host countries often put older refugees ‘at the back of the queue’. Their comparatively low numbers vis-à-vis the total refugee populations, and assumptions that their needs are of ‘less importance’ than, for example, those of women and children, means they are often invisible to already over-stretched aid organisations. In the context of humanitarian crises and forced displacement, older persons are at a heightened risk of exploitation, discrimination, and marginalization. Addressing the unique health and psycho-social issues of older refugees also supports their families and the host communities. Humanitarian actors must explicitly identify and reach out to older persons to ensure their human rights are protected, respected and fulfilled, when programming for assistance and re-settlement.
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