Background On 10 December 2018, the Chair of the NGO Committee on Ageing in Geneva, Silvia Perel-Levin, sent a letter to the High Commissioner (HC) congratulating her on her new position. The letter was sent on the Human Rights Day that celebrated 70 years of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. We expressed how our […]
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, every year a session has been held.
The Rights of Older Persons in the Global Compact on Refugees
Submitted by the NGO Committee on Ageing, Geneva
Key Recommendations
- Data to be disaggregated by age, sex and disability.
- The rights of older persons must be recognized as a cross- cutting issue, ensuring they are not discriminated against based on age.
- Recognize the heterogeneity of older persons, including their specific needs and their active roles in their families and communities.
- Any structures for refugee participation in decision-making must include and involve representation by older persons.
- Older refugees should be identified at reception and admission with age related specific physical health, mental health, medication and nutrition needs.
- Ensure independence and autonomy, including recognizing that older people contribute to the intrinsic wellbeing of their families and the community.
- Age, sex and disability specific services, support, education and training should be offered to contribute to prevention of and response to abuse to the older refugee.
- When older refugees are in their country of asylum, country of origin and/ or third country, they should be included in host government service systems, aligned with a human rights based approach.
- Older refugees need to be recognized as a potentially vulnerable group, however they can also be a valuable resource. Older refugees should be recognized as the global society’s socio-economic memory bank due to their wide experience and accumulated knowledge helping accelerated learning and innovation at national and global levels benefiting ALL stakeholders through programs designed and delivered for the mentioned purpose.
Read the full report:
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).
Ms Kornfeld Matte presented her latest report on the 36th Human Rights Council in September 2017 about Human Rights and Robotics entitled Robots and rights: the impact of automation on the human rights of older persons.
The independent Expert on the Human Rights of Older Persons presents her reports to the HRC on the first day of the session, on 10 September 2018. Please go to this the link: https://www.ohchr.org/EN
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
Human Rights Council: Thirty-ninth session
Human Rights Council Thirty-ninth session 10–28 September 2018 Agenda item 10 Technical assistance and capacity-building resolution. Read here.
Intersessional seminar on the protection of the family and human rights of older persons
11 June 2018 10:00-13:00 and 15:00-18:00 at the Palais des Nations Intersessional seminar on the protection of the family and human rights of older persons. Read more: http://www.ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/HRC/Pages/IntersessionalSeminarProtectionFamilyHROlderPersons.aspx
World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, 18 June 2018
World Elder Abuse Awareness Day Violence against older persons, a human rights violation Side Event, Human Rights Council 38th session Monday 18 June 2018 – 12:00-13:30 – Conference Room XXIII- Palais Violence against older persons remains largely hidden. However, it is gaining recognition as an important barrier to the enjoyment of human rights by older […]
UPCOMING EVENTS
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