Although more developed countries have the oldest population profiles, the vast majority of older people and the most rapidly ageing populations are in the less developed countries. Between 2010 and 2050, the number of older people in the less developed countries is projected to increase more than 250 per cent

Need for UN Convention to better protect rights of elders

For the first time in human history, the growth rate of the 60+ population is exceeding the growth rate of the total world population, and for this reason, the 21st Century is being called the Century of Older Persons. This demographic shift has multiple implications on societies across the globe. Therefore, the well-being of this ever growing section of the population has become a global concern.
 Although more developed countries have the oldest population profiles, the vast majority of older people and the most rapidly ageing populations are in the less developed countries. Between 2010 and 2050, the number of older people in the less developed countries is projected to increase more than 250 per cent, compared with a 71 per cent increase in the developed countries. Approximately in 2000, 12 per cent of the world’s people were 60 years old or older. According to the United Nations Medium Variant population projection, falling fertility and mortality rates will cause this figure to rise to over 22 per cent by 2050.
 Population ageing has long-run implications in all spheres of cultural, economic and political life. It brings not only quantitative but also qualitative change in the social fabric of the world. An ageing population is both a triumph and a challenge to development.
 Asia and the Pacific is the fastest ageing region in the world. It is expected that by 2050, one fourth of the total population in Asia and the Pacific will be 60 years old or older. Due to increased life expectancy and continuing fertility decline, all sub regions of Asia and the Pacific are ageing. In the East and North-East Asia, the fastest ageing sub region, one third of the population will be above 60 and even in South Asia, people above 60 will make up almost one fifth of the population by 2050. But in spite of the increasing importance of older persons in the demographics of the region, older persons are often inadequately considered in policies and rights.
 The regional review of the Madrid International Plan of Action (MIPAA) in 2011/2012 led to the adoption of the Bangkok Statement on the Asia-Pacific Review of the Implementation of the Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing. Member states identified the following prevailing and emerging issues related to older persons: the need to expand social protection and health-care coverage; address the gender dimensions of ageing; enact and enforce specific legislation to protect the rights of older persons; and promote employment opportunities for older persons.
 The social integration of older persons is a key element in combating social isolation and ageism that can lead to discrimination. This includes, inter alia, access to work and employment, community and social participation, civil and political participation, access to goods and services, age-appropriate health care, housing and transportation and long-term care.
 These challenges have also been at the forefront of global discussions at the Open-ended Working Group (OEWG) on Ageing. The OEWG is considering the existing international framework of the human rights of older persons as well as identifying possible gaps and how best to address them. In the deliberations within the OEWG, there is consensus amongst the member States on the serious gaps that exist in protecting the rights of older persons, while consensus on the means to do so remains elusive.
 Therefore, in 2012, the OEWG was requested by the General Assembly to consider proposals for an international legal instrument to promote and protect the rights and dignity of older persons. In the same resolution, the regional commissions, the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) and other relevant parts of the United Nations were mandated to contribute to the work of the Open-ended Working Group on Ageing (A/RES/67/139, paragraph 3).
 Against this backdrop, DESA, the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) and the Asia-Pacific Forum of National Human Rights Institutions (APF), with support from the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), HelpAge International and the International Federation of Ageing, jointly organised a Workshop on the Social Integration and Rights of Older Persons in the Asia-Pacific region, to foster a regional dialogue towards building consensus around promoting social integration and the rights of older persons. The workshop was held from September 30 to October 2 at UNESCAP, Bangkok, Thailand.
 Participants in the workshop included experts from governments, national human rights institutions and civil societies from Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Nepal, the Philippines, Republic of Korea, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam, Australia, Malaysia, along with resource persons, Asia Pacific Forum, HelpAge International and United Nations bodies and affiliated organisations.
 Krishna Prasad Poudel, Joint Secretary at the Ministry of Women, Children and Social Welfare (MoWCSW) represented the Nepal government while Basudev Bajagain, Human Rights Officer of the National Human Rights Commission represented NHRI and Ashish T. Magar, Programme Officer of Ageing Nepal represented the civil society organisation working for older persons at the workshop.
 Delegates exchanged information and practices on the existing national legislation aimed at promoting and protecting the older person's rights. The workshop was structured along plenary sessions, with key issues introduced by resource persons, followed by interactive moderated discussions. Group works were organised to facilitate specific outcomes, where appropriate.
 The thematic sessions focused on topics like, key elements required for national frameworks on the protection and promotion of the rights of older persons; the roles of governments, civil society, older persons associations and national human rights institutions in implementing such frameworks; addressing abuse, violence and neglect of older persons; protecting the economic and social rights of older persons, with a focus on income security, health and long-term care as well as considering the rights of older women; and the way forward to strengthening the rights of older persons in Asia and the Pacific region.
 Korea is one of the fastest ageing countries. Cases of elder abuse increase side by side with the increasing ageing population, said Dr. Dong Hee Han, Director, Research Institute of Science for the Better Living of the Elderly in her presentation, "Overview presentation on abuse, violence and neglect of older people in Asia and the Pacific". After 1990, elder abuse has become major social problem in Korea, but due to cultural differences within its society, Korea has not been able to develop the tools and techniques to cope elders' abuse properly. Nepal also has a similar situation in terms of elder abuse. Furthermore, Dr. Mohini Varaha Giri, Founder of Guild for Service, mentioned in her presentation "Situation of Older Women in Asia and the Pacific" that older women in India undergo several forms of abuse, like older Nepali women.
 We have the perception that women in the Muslim community do not have any rights, due to which they must encounter several forms of violence and exploitation. But the situation in Indonesia proved different. As expressed by the Indonesian National Human Rights Institution representative, older women in Indonesia have a much better situation than in India and Nepal. Indonesia is the largest Muslim country in Asia.
 Through the discussion, it was found that the ageing policy situation of Sri Lanka was similar to Nepal's. They have good legislation for older persons but lack proper implementation. Similarly, Thailand also has comprehensive legislation for older people, but it also lacks proper implementation. It was interesting to note that Indonesia has a National Commission for Older Persons. Almost every country in the Asia-Pacific region wanted a UN convention to better protect the rights of older persons.
 It was, however, concluded that older persons' rights cannot be protected by any convention or treaty. Though several conventions meant for other age groups, including Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), also protect older person's rights, the participants stressed the need for formulating a specific policy to better protect their rights at all levels. Concrete conclusions were drawn based on the experts' presentation and participants' fruitful interaction. The conclusions of the workshop should guide the steps towards demanding a UN convention for better protection of the rights of older persons around the globe.

The writer is the programme officer at Ageing Nepal

Although more developed countries have the oldest population profiles, the vast majority of older people and the most rapidly ageing populations are in the less developed countries. Between 2010 and 2050, the number of older people in the less developed countries is projected to increase more than 250 per cent

Need for UN Convention to better protect rights of elders

For the first time in human history, the growth rate of the 60+ population is exceeding the growth rate of the total world population, and for this reason, the 21st Century is being called the Century of Older Persons. This demographic shift has multiple implications on societies across the globe. Therefore, the well-being of this ever growing section of the population has become a global concern. Although more developed countries have the oldest population profiles, the vast majority of older people and the most rapidly ageing populations are in the less developed countries. Between 2010 and 2050, the number of older people in the less developed countries is projected to increase more than 250 per cent, compared with a 71 per cent increase in the developed countries. Approximately in 2000, 12 per cent of the worlds people were 60 years old or older. According to the United Nations Medium Variant population projection, falling fertility and mortality rates will cause this figure to rise to over 22 per cent by 2050. Population ageing has long-run implications in all spheres of cultural, economic and political life. It brings not only quantitative but also qualitative change in the social fabric of the world. An ageing population is both a triumph and a challenge to development. Asia and the Pacific is the fastest ageing region in the world. It is expected that by 2050, one fourth of the total population in Asia and the Pacific will be 60 years old or older. Due to increased life expectancy and continuing fertility decline, all sub regions of Asia and the Pacific are ageing. In the East and North-East Asia, the fastest ageing sub region, one third of the population will be above 60 and even in South Asia, people above 60 will make up almost one fifth of the population by 2050. But in spite of the increasing importance of older persons in the demographics of the region, older persons are often inadequately considered in policies and rights. The regional review of the Madrid International Plan of Action (MIPAA) in 2011/2012 led to the adoption of the Bangkok Statement on the Asia-Pacific Review of the Implementation of the Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing. Member states identified the following prevailing and emerging issues related to older persons: the need to expand social protection and health-care coverage; address the gender dimensions of ageing; enact and enforce specific legislation to protect the rights of older persons; and promote employment opportunities for older persons. The social integration of older persons is a key element in combating social isolation and ageism that can lead to discrimination. This includes, inter alia, access to work and employment, community and social participation, civil and political participation, access to goods and services, age-appropriate health care, housing and transportation and long-term care. These challenges have also been at the forefront of global discussions at the Open-ended Working Group (OEWG) on Ageing. The OEWG is considering the existing international framework of the human rights of older persons as well as identifying possible gaps and how best to address them. In the deliberations within the OEWG, there is consensus amongst the member States on the serious gaps that exist in protecting the rights of older persons, while consensus on the means to do so remains elusive. Therefore, in 2012, the OEWG was requested by the General Assembly to consider proposals for an international legal instrument to promote and protect the rights and dignity of older persons. In the same resolution, the regional commissions, the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) and other relevant parts of the United Nations were mandated to contribute to the work of the Open-ended Working Group on Ageing (A/RES/67/139, paragraph 3). Against this backdrop, DESA, the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) and the Asia-Pacific Forum of National Human Rights Institutions (APF), with support from the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), HelpAge International and the International Federation of Ageing, jointly organised a Workshop on the Social Integration and Rights of Older Persons in the Asia-Pacific region, to foster a regional dialogue towards building consensus around promoting social integration and the rights of older persons. The workshop was held from September 30 to October 2 at UNESCAP, Bangkok, Thailand. Participants in the workshop included experts from governments, national human rights institutions and civil societies from Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Nepal, the Philippines, Republic of Korea, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam, Australia, Malaysia, along with resource persons, Asia Pacific Forum, HelpAge International and United Nations bodies and affiliated organisations. Krishna Prasad Poudel, Joint Secretary at the Ministry of Women, Children and Social Welfare (MoWCSW) represented the Nepal government while Basudev Bajagain, Human Rights Officer of the National Human Rights Commission represented NHRI and Ashish T. Magar, Programme Officer of Ageing Nepal represented the civil society organisation working for older persons at the workshop. Delegates exchanged information and practices on the existing national legislation aimed at promoting and protecting the older persons rights. The workshop was structured along plenary sessions, with key issues introduced by resource persons, followed by interactive moderated discussions. Group works were organised to facilitate specific outcomes, where appropriate. The thematic sessions focused on topics like, key elements required for national frameworks on the protection and promotion of the rights of older persons; the roles of governments, civil society, older persons associations and national human rights institutions in implementing such frameworks; addressing abuse, violence and neglect of older persons; protecting the economic and social rights of older persons, with a focus on income security, health and long-term care as well as considering the rights of older women; and the way forward to strengthening the rights of older persons in Asia and the Pacific region. Korea is one of the fastest ageing countries. Cases of elder abuse increase side by side with the increasing ageing population, said Dr. Dong Hee Han, Director, Research Institute of Science for the Better Living of the Elderly in her presentation, Overview presentation on abuse, violence and neglect of older people in Asia and the Pacific. After 1990, elder abuse has become major social problem in Korea, but due to cultural differences within its society, Korea has not been able to develop the tools and techniques to cope elders abuse properly. Nepal also has a similar situation in terms of elder abuse. Furthermore, Dr. Mohini Varaha Giri, Founder of Guild for Service, mentioned in her presentation Situation of Older Women in Asia and the Pacific that older women in India undergo several forms of abuse, like older Nepali women. We have the perception that women in the Muslim community do not have any rights, due to which they must encounter several forms of violence and exploitation. But the situation in Indonesia proved different. As expressed by the Indonesian National Human Rights Institution representative, older women in Indonesia have a much better situation than in India and Nepal. Indonesia is the largest Muslim country in Asia. Through the discussion, it was found that the ageing policy situation of Sri Lanka was similar to Nepals. They have good legislation for older persons but lack proper implementation. Similarly, Thailand also has comprehensive legislation for older people, but it also lacks proper implementation. It was interesting to note that Indonesia has a National Commission for Older Persons. Almost every country in the Asia-Pacific region wanted a UN convention to better protect the rights of older persons. It was, however, concluded that older persons rights cannot be protected by any convention or treaty. Though several conventions meant for other age groups, including Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), also protect older persons rights, the participants stressed the need for formulating a specific policy to better protect their rights at all levels. Concrete conclusions were drawn based on the experts presentation and participants fruitful interaction. The conclusions of the workshop should guide the steps towards demanding a UN convention for better protection of the rights of older persons around the globe. The writer is the programme officer at Ageing Nepal