Geneva, Switzerland. United Nations delegates began talks on a proposed treaty aimed at strengthening the rights of older people and addressing ageism, discrimination and neglect. The week-long negotiations, chaired by Argentina, were due to conclude on Friday.
Proposed international instrument
Argentina initiated and chaired the discussions as life expectancy rises and the global population ages. The United Nations projects that the number of people aged over 65 will double over the next 50 years, reaching one-fifth of the world’s population.
“Our objective is not just to address the needs of the present, but also to prepare a system that can meet the needs of the future,” said Carlos Mario Foradori, Argentina’s ambassador to the U.N. in Geneva.
“This goal is to build an instrument that strengthens the dignity, protection, and the rights of millions of older persons globally.”
Support for negotiations
Brazil, Slovenia, the Philippines and Gambia are among the main backers of the proposed treaty. Chile and South Africa were among the countries that expressed support during the talks.
Negotiators are due to meet again in Geneva in October. It remains unclear how long the negotiations will take, as international treaties can require years to reach agreement.
Concerns over protection
While existing human rights treaties include non-discrimination provisions based on race and gender, no equivalent treaty specifically addresses age.
“There are many situations where people are not fully protected by existing law,” said Heidrun Mollenkopf, president of AGE Platform Europe, a network of older people.
Mollenkopf said abuses in nursing homes, including the use of chemical restraints to control the behaviour of people with dementia, were often hidden. She also said there had been cases of homicide, without identifying specific incidents.