Webinar on Tuesday 16 June 2020 at 14:00 Geneva/ 8:00 am New York The UN General Assembly designated 15 June as World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (res. A/ RES/66/127). Elder abuse is one of the most hidden and underreported human rights violations. COVID-19 has put a spotlight on older persons including distressing reports of instances […]
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 of older persons in the age of COVID-19 and beyond
A Webinar with the High Commissioner for Human Rights and the new Independent Expert on the enjoyment of all human rights by older persons on Tuesday 12 May 2020 at 14:00-15:00 CET – /08:00 am EST Event supported by members of the Groups of Friends of Older Persons in New York and Geneva Older persons […]
Claudia Mahler, new Independent Expert on the enjoyment of all human rights by older people
The NGO Committee on Ageing congratulates our friend Claudia Mahler, from the German National Institute for Human Rights on her recent appointment as the new Independent Expert on the enjoyment of all human rights by older people. She was appointed at the closing of the 43rd session of the Human Rights Council on 13 March […]
COVID crisis – New resources from HelpAge International
The current COVID crisis is a challenging time for all of us, as individuals and organisations working with older people. COVID-19 is affecting those at the centre of our agenda and HelpAge has prepared some resources in response to this crisis. Advice for older people who may be concerned about COVID-19 Advice for care homes […]
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