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Growing Ageing Population - 60+ Years

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NEWSFLASH!!

#NoExcuse: The CoA/NY joins the 16 day global campaign to raise awareness about violence against women, beginning on 25 November, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women and ending on 10 December, Human Rights Day.

Older women and women with disabilities are extremely isolated when violence occurs, making it difficult for them to escape and report abuse. Stigma and discrimination further reduce access to services or information or result in their accounts of violence being dismissed by responders. Towards Beijing +30: UNiTE to End Violence Against Women and Girls. https://www.who.int/news/item/27-03-2024-who-calls-for-greater-attention-to-violence-against-women-with-disabilities-and-older-women

Gender-based violence is rooted in unequal power and control over women. Dependency and isolation of some older women and women with disabilities can increase the risk of abuse. Services must be responsive and identify appropriate contacts in health and care systems for empathic care. #NoExcuse. UNiTE to End Violence Against Women. https://www.who.int/news/item/27-03-2024-who-calls-for-greater-attention-to-violence-against-women-with-disabilities-and-older-women

Violence against older women is a human rights abuse, driven by both ageism and sexism, but also affected by other factors such as marital status or disability. It is grounded in deep-rooted and dehumanizing prejudices, stereotypes and social norms. Towards Beijing +30: UNiTE to End Violence Against Women and Girls. https://www.helpage.org/what-we-do/gender-equality/violence-against-older-women/

Data, disaggregated by age and gender, are needed to fully understand the scope and impact of various forms of violence, contributing factors, and protective resources. Such data are essential for the development of appropriate and effective interventions. Towards Beijing +30: UNiTE to End Violence Against Women and Girls.
34th United Nations International Day of Older Persons Ageing with Dignity: The Importance of Strengthening Care and Support Systems for Older Persons Worldwide
Monday, 7 October 2024 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM
In-Person: ECOSOC Chamber, UN Headquarters, New York and on UNTV
PLEASE WATCH RECORDING ON UNTV
  • UPCOMING INTERGOVERNMENTAL MEETINGS AT THE UNITED NATIONS:
NGO COA members with ECOSOC consultative status are urged to attend/participate in the following United Nations intergovernmental bodies taking place in 2025.  Those NGOs are entitled to submit written statements and make oral statements.  Please access websites for information on civil society participation, including in information on deadlines and registration requirements.  Participation will provide opportunities to raise issues concerning older persons., 
  1. Commission for Social Development, 10-14 February 2025, New York
https://social.desa.un.org/csocd/63rd-session

  1. Commission on the Status of Women 10-21 March 2025, New York
https://www.unwomen.org/en/how-we-work/commission-on-the-status-of-women/csw69-2025

Also get more information on civil society participation from the NGO Committee on the Status of Womenhttps://ngocsw.org/ngocswforum/    (ECOSOC Status not required).

16 days of Activism to end Violence Against Women (25 November -10 December) https://www.unwomen.org/en/what-we-do/ending-violence-against-women/unite
Draw attention to violence, abuse and neglect of older women !

  1. Commission on Population and Development – 7-11 April 2025, New York
https://www.un.org/development/desa/pd/events/EGM-CPD58

  1. Statistical Commission, no information on 2025 session (as at 23 October 2024): https://unstats.un.org/UNSDWebsite/statcom/
  • HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL, 57th session (9 September -11 October 2024)
The Council considered two reports related to older persons:
  1. Report of the Independent Expert on the enjoyment of all human rights by older persons on violence against, abuse and neglect of older persons (AHRC/54/26 – (https://undocs.org/A/HRC/54/26), and
  2. Report of OHCHR on expert meeting on the human rights obligations of States regarding violence against and abuse and neglect of older persons in all settings (A/HRC/57/36 -https://undocs.org/A/HRC/54/36)

  
STATUS of efforts for an international legal instrument (a “convention”) to protect the rights of older persons:
The General Assembly, in its resolution 78/324 adopted on 13 August 2024 (https://undocs.org/A/RES/78/324):
  1. Decided that the Open-ended Working Group on Ageing has completed its work, in view of its adoption of decision 14/1 (https://undocs.org/A/AC.278/2024/2)
  2. Urged relevant United Nations bodies to further consider decision 14/1;
  3. Requested the President of the General Assembly to hold a high level meeting at its 79th session to exchange views and share experiences on the recommendations of decision 14/1 and to define next steps on the challenges and opportunities regarding the rights and well-being of older persons.
Decision 14/1 includes recommendations for a number of options to address possible gaps in the protection of the human rights of older persons, including the option of “an international legally binding instrument to promote, protect and ensure the recognition and the realization, on an equal basis, of all human rights of older persons” (see para. 25 (a) of Decision 14/1).

However, there is NO decision to start drafting a convention, BUT supporters of a convention will be advocating for the Human Rights Council in Geneva (one of the “relevant United Nations bodies”) to urgently consider the options listed in decision 14/1, particularly the option of an international legally binding instrument.

At the national level, advocates for a convention will continue to lobby their respective governments to convince the Human Rights Council of the need for a convention to protect the human rights of older persons around the world.  

NGO COA-NY will be following closely arrangements for the high level meeting to be convened during the 79th session of the General Assembly (which begins on 10 September 2024 and continues till September 2025).  Every effort will be made to ensure the participation of national human rights institutions, non-governmental organizations and the Independent Expert on the enjoyment of all human rights by older persons. 
Useful websites:

WHY DO WE NEED A CONVENTION? WATCH TWO VIDEOS from Amnesty International:

“The Forgotten Convention”

An Important Headline

RECOMMENDED EVENTS

Recent Publications of Interest

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Ageing of the Oppressed - A Pandemic of Intersecting Injustice
Editor: Silvia Perel-Levin
Read More here… Find purchase information here
Ageing of the Oppressed: A Pandemic of Intersectional Injustice explores what it is like to grow older with accumulating and intersecting discrimination. It condemns ageism and other "isms." Despite its visibility during the COVID-19 pandemic, ageism is not a new phenomenon but one that has been ignored for too long by policymakers and the general population. The negative language used to describe population ageing adds fuel to the fire by filling people’s minds with ageist images that permeate all levels and sectors of society. We should all be recognized as full human rights holders, no matter our age, ability, disability, gender or sexual orientation, race, or socio-economic or any other status. This book combines theoretical models and academic essays by top experts with the real-life experience of older persons and activists. It is a must-read for advocates for human rights; policymakers; service providers; students of social and health sciences, the humanities, and law; and anybody willing to challenge assumptions and practices. The proposed UN Convention on the human rights of older persons will be a step forward to providing older persons with a remedy for daily and often life-long oppression.
Annual report of the Secretary-General to the General Assembly - the topic for this year refers to intergenerational solidarity across public policy domains, highlighting opportunities and challenges for current and future generations of older persons (https://undocs.org/A/79/157)

Reports of the Independent Expert on the enjoyment of all human rights by older persons on:

Report of the Open-ended working group on Ageing at its 14th session (https://undocs.org/A/AC.278/2024/2)

Documents submitted to the Open-ended Working Group on Ageing at its 14th session, 20-22 and 24 May 2024 (https://social.un.org/ageing-working-group/fourteenthsession.shtml)

Report of the OHCHR – Summary of the multi-stakeholder meeting on the human rights of older persons (https://undocs.org/A/HRC/52/49)
Report of the OHCHR – Normative standards and obligations under international law in relation to the promotion and protection of the human rights of older persons (https://undocs.org/A/HRC/49/70).

Report of the Secretary-General on Fourth review and appraisal of the Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing, 2022, (https://undocs.org/E/CN.5/2023/6)

Report of the Open-ended Working Group on Ageing, 12th session:  (https://undocs.org/A/AC.278/2022/2)

Joint letter from the three NGO Committees (New York, Geneva, Vienna) to UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs and to UN Women, expressing concerns about lack of references to older women, here: Letter on gender snapshot

Reports on ageing issues prepared by various entities of the UN system can be found in the list of entities under “Resources/Key International Documents on Ageing
Reports on ageing issues prepared by various entities of the UN system can be found in the list of entities under “Resources/Key International Documents on Ageing”.

Covid-19

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Mission

The NGO Committee on Ageing, NY works to raise world awareness of the opportunities and challenges of global ageing. The Committee advocates within the United Nations community to further integrate ageing in UN policies and programs.

Contact Us

NGO Committee on Ageing William Smith (Chairperson) President/CEO, Aging in America and UN Representative, IAHSA
Email

Ms. Robin Fenley (Vice-Chair) International Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse (INPEA).
Email