Open-ended working group on ageing for the purpose
of strengthening the protection of the human rights of
older persons
Opportunities for participation
Rosemary Lane
UN Focal Point on Ageing
United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs
Division for Social Policy and Development
Human Rights Council, Social Forum
1-3 April 2014, Geneva
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Established by the General Assembly in 2010
(Resolution 65/182)
Mandate: “to consider the existing framework on
the human rights of older persons and identify
possible gaps and how best to address them,
including by considering, as appropriate, the
feasibility of further instruments and measures”.
Subsequently amended in General Assembly resolution 67/139 of 2012
to “consider proposals for an international legal instrument to promote
and protect the rights and dignity of older persons, base don the holistic
approach in the work carried out in the fields of social development,
human rights and non discrimination…….”
and
“Requests the Working Group to present to the GA, at the earliest
possible date, a proposal containing, inter alia, the main elements that
should be included in an international legal instrument to promote and
protect the rights and dignity of older persons, which are not currently
addressed sufficiently by existing mechanisms and therefore require
further international protection (54/118/5)
Discussions so far
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Examination of existing international human rights
frameworks and mechanisms in relations to older persons –
normative and/or implementation gaps
Issues:
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Discrimination and multiple discrimination (intersection of
age, gender and ethnicity for example)
Right to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard
of physical and mental health – access to palliative care
Violence and abuse
Social protection and the right to social security
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Ageism and social exclusion
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Access to justice
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Right to an adequate standard of living (housing, care,
accessibility)
Right to work, age discrimination and access to employment
Contributions from the Second Review and Appraisal of the
Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing to the human
rights of older persons (2012)
Viewpoints of Member States so far
International human rights treaties apply to all people - they are
universal – they just need to be implemented better
(implementation gap)
Current human rights system is already overloaded and needs
reform and the cost of negotiating and implementing new
instrument too high
Regional human rights frameworks should be
established/enhanced in place of new international action
Better implementation or drafting of national HR legislation
Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing needs to be
implemented and monitored more fully
Revisit and update the United Nations Principles on Ageing (1991)
and adopt as “guiding principles”
Mainstream the rights of older persons within existing human
rights frameworks and within the UN system
Few existing human rights instruments have specific mention of
older persons (some General Comments and Recommendations –
eg. CEDAW)
Protection mechanism for older persons is fragmented and does
not address certain critical issues sufficiently as they affect older
persons – lack of specificity
International convention will clarify State responsibilities, improve
accountability and provide the framework for improved
implementation of policies/MIPAA
International convention will reframe how older persons are
viewed – rights holders and not recipients of welfare
Participation by other actors – practical
information
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NGOs – ECOSOC accredited or non
accredited
Academia, national human rights
institutions, private sector, individuals etc.
How civil society actors are making a
difference and what needs to be done
going forward?
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Progression of engagement
Interactive dialogue at fourth session
Mobilization and alliances – civil society,
national human rights institutions etc.
Google hangout – Skype – next session
Thank you
For more information:
http://social.un.org/ageing-workinggroup/