June 16

Statement delivered by H.E. Ambassador Martín García Moritán, Permanent Representative of Argentina to the United Nations, on behalf of the Group of Friends of Older Persons

Excellencies, distinguished guests, dear colleagues,

It is an honour for me to participate in this event on behalf of the following members of the “Group of Friends of Older Persons” at the United Nations in New York: Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Indonesia, Kenya, Malaysia, Mexico, Panama, Peru, Qatar, Slovenia, South Africa, Trinidad and Tobago, Uruguay and my own country, Argentina.

First of all, allow me thank the organizers for convening this event in commemoration of the 6th Anniversary of the World Elder Abuse Awareness Day: INPEA, the NGO Committee on Ageing and UNDESA. The Group of Friends has proudly joined as co-sponsors.

The commemoration of this day was officially recognized by the United Nations in 2011, with the purpose to raise the world voices to fight against the abuse and suffering inflicted on older persons. The theme of this year´s observance of the world day: “Understanding and Ending Financial Abuse of Older People: A Human Rights Issue”, is reminder that elder abuse is a very real and serious problem which can manifest itself in different actions and forms.

In this regard, financial abuse of older people, can be defined as the unauthorized, illegal or improper exploitation or use of funds, property or any other resources of the older person, is a form of violence against older persons and severely affects the enjoyment of their human rights, particularly the right to live free from violence and discrimination and the right to have a life of dignity in their old age. It may trigger poverty, hunger, homelessness and lead to other types of abuses, constituting an issue which deserves the attention and immediate action of the international community.

Also, financial abuse of older people is hard to detect as it is often perpetrated by family members and it is underreported as older persons often find it difficult to act against family members out of feelings of shame or guilt.

As Member States that promote the full implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the attainment of the SDGs, and in order to fulfill the pledge of leaving no one behind, it is imperative to consider that older persons are specific right-holders who have contributed and continue to do so and additionally play an active role in the many areas of development. In that sense, States and the international community should recognize them as key stakeholders in the formulation and implementation of public policies aimed at promoting social and economic development and the full and effective protection, promotion and enjoyment of their human rights.

In this regard, we recognize the fundamental role of older persons in attaining the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development including its Sustainable Development Goals, as are beneficiaries and active players in development. We call specially to prevent and end all forms of abuse against older persons as it is decisive if we are to attain the SDG’. In addition, target 17.18 includes a clear call for all relevant population-based indicators to be disaggregated by age as a means of ensuring that the impact of development policies on persons of all ages will be monitored and that persons of all ages will have a better chance to participate in, and benefit from, development.

Member States are further committed to consider population trends and projections in national, rural and urban development strategies and policies. To take into account population trends and to effectively collect data related to older people will allow to understand the situation of older people according to its particularities, and at the same time strengthen and better focus policies and strategies aimed at protect the dignity and human rights of older persons.

Dear colleagues,

Any older person can potentially become a victim of financial abuse, that’s why it is important to consider all potential ways to protect them and to reduce the possibility of abuse, through the development of international standards and national policies specifically designed to face and fight against elder financial abuse.

Men and women experience old age differently. While both older men and older women face age-based discrimination, older women also face the additional cumulative effects of gender-based discrimination throughout their lives. The combination of discrimination on the basis of age and sex puts women at more of a disadvantage in old age than men. Older women continue to suffer from discriminatory laws and practices that render them more vulnerable to abuse and violence. In this sense, we express our deep concern about the fact that neglect, abuse and violence against older women often go undetected.

It is fundamental, in this regard, to foster the capacity of States to more effectively collect data, statistics and qualitative information, disaggregated by sex, age, and other relevant factors as necessary such as marital status, and disability, in order to better assess the situation of older persons, and to encourage the international community and the relevant agencies of the United Nations system, within their respective mandates, to support national efforts to provide funding for research and data-collection initiatives on older persons and violence against older women, in order to better understand the challenges and opportunities presented by population ageing and to provide policymakers with more accurate and more specific information with regard to a gender perspective on ageing.

To conclude,

The Group of Friends reiterates and renews its commitment to promote and ensure the full realization of all human rights and fundamental freedoms for older persons, including by taking measures to combat discrimination on the basis of age and sex, as well as neglect, abuse and violence, and to address issues related to social integration.

We also express our confidence that in the upcoming session of the Open-Ended Working Group on Ageing, we will be able to hold fruitful discussions on the issue of elder abuse, which should lead to achieving concrete progress in the process of development of an international instrument for the protection and promotion of the Human Rights of Older Persons. We all know that it´s not an easy task, and that surprisingly, or not, there is still no consensus as to the need to have such devoted legal instrument. However, we are convinced that through events and discussions such as today´s, we will be able to show the entire international community the many issues that affect the enjoyment of the human rights of the elderly, and that the current setting of the human rights treaty body system is not sufficient in order to protect and promote the rights and dignity of a growing segment of the population that by 2050 will outnumber children and young people globally.

Finally, allow us to recognize the valuable efforts by civil society in improving the situation of older persons worldwide and to reiterate that the Group of Friends of Older Persons will continue its commitment to work tirelessly to promote the rights and dignity of all older persons around the world.

I thank you.