Intervention by the Permanent Representative of the Argentine Republic, Amb. Martín García Moritán

July 9

Thank you very much, Mr. Moderator,

It is an honor to have been invited to deliver these remarks at this very important side event in my capacity as Chair of the Open-ended Working Group on Ageing of the UN General Assembly.

I wanted to start by thanking the Stakeholder Group on Ageing, the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) and the NGO “Committee on Ageing” for organizing this event which will represent another opportunity to engage in a substantive and meaningful debate about the situation of the human rights of older persons and how effectively the 2030 Agenda addresses the challenges that older people face in our societies and their contribution to development.

By the year 2050, older persons will be the highest growing age group globally, and according to the World Population Prospects 2019, published by DESA last June, the number of persons aged 80 years or over is projected to triple, from 143 million in 2019 to 426 million in 2050. Therefore, it will be impossible to achieve sustainable and long lasting development if we leave behind the fastest growing social group: any strategy of sustainable development must include them as active subjects and agents of change.

The maximum premise of the 2030 Agenda of "Leaving no one behind" calls us for action to join our efforts so that the full exercise of the rights of the elderly is not only respected but effectively guaranteed by the States.

Addressing this global issue now will not only guarantee the protection of the human rights of the elderly but it will also pave the way for States to be better prepared to face the future challenge of an ever faster growing ageing population. This is a reality which imposes us the crucial challenge of rethinking and redefining the way we see, conceive and address ageing.

The 2030 Agenda makes explicit references to older people in SDG 2, regarding the eradication of hunger and SDG 11 which aims at making cities and communities inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable. However, why do the SDGs related to health, gender equality, employment and education not address explicitly the specific situation of the elderly?

The lack of visibility of older people in the 2030 agenda could better be understood considering the following premise: in order to guarantee an age-inclusive implementation of the 2030 Agenda and the attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals it is of utmost importance to be clear about the obligations of the States to assure the effective enjoyment of their human rights.

In this regard, the Independent Expert, Ms. Rosa Kornfeld, in her last report points out that nowadays, the lack of a wide and integrated international legally binding instrument when it comes to the promotion and protection of the human rights and dignity of older persons hast strong practical implications:  it is still very difficult to clearly establish the obligations of Member States towards the human rights of the ederly since the current legal framework  does not work as a guide for governments and their governmental policies. This absence of a specific legal instrument may also explain the lack of attention to the specific problems of older persons in the global regulatory framework, in particular the Sustainable Development Goals.

Distinguished colleagues,

I would like to take this opportunity to highlight the role of the Open-ended Working Group on Ageing, which is open to the participation of all UN Member States, UN agencies, intergovernmental organizations, civil society, national human rights institutions, academia, the private sector, and other relevant actors, with the clear purpose of enhancing the promotion and protection of the human rights of older persons. In this regard, I would also like to emphasize the relevant role played by civil society organizations, which have always been key actors in identifying  areas where the human rights of the elderly need to be strengthened, pointing out the gaps in existing international framework and suggesting  how best to address them.

In conclusion, population ageing is a global issue that needs to be addressed from a human rights-based approach. Only through the full exercise of civil, political, economic, social, and cultural rights, older persons will participate actively in society. That is why a universal, specific and legally binding instrument will provide sufficient standards to ensure the full enjoyment of our rights during old age.

In our Working Group we are proud to have been recognized as the most prominent international forum specifically devoted to the rights of older persons.

The OEWGA has acted as a platform from which the wide and active participation of all the relevant stakeholders has given visibility to the need for promoting, protecting and strengthening the human rights of the elderly and has helped reflecting upon innovative courses of action that will best meet their current and future needs.

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, autonomous and independent agents and beneficiaries of change.

Thank you.