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The New York NGO Committee on Ageing works collaboratively to promote and support a United Nations (UN) Convention for the Rights of Older Persons. The UN Convention, a treaty among nations, would ensure that older person around have the right to live with dignity and peace and that governments put in place appropriate national policies and programs that allow persons to participate and live as an active member of society and protect them from discrimination.
We believe that, without a Convention, the rights of older persons will continue to be disregarded and abused particularly in the areas of poverty, social isolation, health care and physical, mental and financial maltreatment. Although much progress has been made around the world, older persons continued to be viewed as welfare recipients or as a burden on society, instead of vibrant, active and contributing persons with knowledge, skills and experience that cannot be found elsewhere in any other sector of society.
The purpose of this effort to promote a convention on the rights of older persons, is to engage as many NGOs worldwide and to develop a network of information sharing (positive and negative), evidence of age discrimination as well as good practices of advocacy tools used to positively influence national governments in support of the rights of older persons. We also want to create a mechanism to ensure that NGOs around the world have a forum to voice their opinions and come together to generate broad support for a Convention for the Rights of Older persons at both the UN and national level. This forum will also be include, and facilitate a dialogue with, governments, academia, research institutes, and the private sector.
For more information, contact the NGO Committee on Ageing.
The Shape of Population Change
[United Nations publication (ST/ESA/SER.A/208)]
Between now and 2050, the total number of persons 60 years and older worldwide will rise from about 600 million to almost 2 billion. Never before in human history have so many lived so long. To enhance a greater understanding of this “agequake” and how each of us can play a role, the NGO Committee on Ageing website offers a unique “one-stop” resource. Opinion-leaders and individuals will find the listing of documents and expert papers, gathered from the Committee’s specialized meetings and briefings, along with related United Nations documents and organizational web sites can help provide insights and background understanding of this demographic revolution and its global implications.