Statement to be delivered by H.E. Ambassador Ephraim Mminele Deputy Permanent Representative of South Africa to the United Nations, on behalf of the Group of Friends of Older Persons.

October 27

I thank you Mr. Chair,

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

Mr. Chair,

Projections indicate that the population of older persons is projected to reach 1.4 billion by 2030, outnumbering both youth and children under the age of 10 globally. This mega trend poses a key challenge to the development of our societies and emphasizes the urgent need to recognize that greater attention needs to be paid to the specific challenges affecting older persons, including in the field of human rights.

It is undeniable that older persons can make a significant contribution to the social, economic and sustainable development of their societies, if an enabling environment and adequate guarantees are in place. In that sense, it is imperative to fully empower older persons to allow them to effectively make that contribution, becoming not only recipients of special care and social protection, but also specific rights holders and active agents and beneficiaries of change.

We are particularly concerned about the multiple forms of discrimination that may affect older persons and their full enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms, particularly those in vulnerable groups or situations.

In that regard, designing and implementing policies and programmes, as well as devising adequate national, regional and international legal frameworks that effectively and specifically promote the full enjoyment of the human rights of older persons and allow their full social inclusion, as well as their participation in social, economic, cultural, civil and political life, without any restraints and free from all forms of discrimination and violence, will lead to ensure their dignity, empowerment, and their ability to fully and effectively enjoy their human rights and fundamental freedoms, actively participating in their societies and contributing to its development.

Mr. Chair,

Through its Resolution 65/182, the General Assembly provided Member States and the international community with the mandate of strengthening the protection of the human rights of older persons by considering the existing international framework of the human rights of older persons and identifying possible gaps and how best to address them, including by considering, as appropriate, the feasibility of further instruments and measures.

Regarding the many issues that affect the enjoyment of the human rights of older persons, such as inequality and discrimination, violence, neglect and abuse, we are convinced that the existing legal framework as well as the current setting of the human rights treaty body system and mechanisms are not sufficient in order to effectively and comprehensively protect and promote the rights and dignity of older persons.

Furthermore, the consolidation of the human rights of older persons into a specific, universal and legally binding document would address the current "regulatory dispersion", which actually entails the lack of protection of the rights of older persons, and would also strengthen their monitoring and realization, as well as foster national policies to better define the responsibilities of States.

Mr. Chair,

In fulfilling the mandate given by the General Assembly through Resolution 65/182, the Group of Friends of Older Persons considers that we have already concluded the stage of diagnosis regarding the situation of older persons and the issues that affect the enjoyment of their human rights.

The lack of specific provisions in the framework of international human rights law regarding the rights and needs of older persons often leads to a normative dispersion and the lack of international standards for the protection of the human rights of older persons to live free from discrimination and to enjoy their rights equally as others.

In that regard, the Group of Friends acknowledges that there is a gap and a normative dispersion in the international legal framework of human rights law regarding older persons, and we are convinced that the best way to address it is through open and frank discussions regarding what measures to take in order to fill that gap. In our view, regardless of the level of implementation of existing arrangements and the main human rights treaties, there is a need to develop international human rights standards for the protection of the right of older persons.

To conclude, Mr. Chair,

We are convinced that through an open and frank debate we will be able to acknowledge the many issues that affect the enjoyment of the human rights of older persons, and that the current framework of international human rights standards and mechanisms 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.

We stand ready to engage in order to discuss the best way to fill the gap and to develop further instruments and measures to enhance and strengthen the protection of the human rights of older persons, and we call upon all Member States to do the same, in order to fulfill the mandate given by the General Assembly seven years ago. We simply cannot afford to leave older persons behind.

 

I thank you.