Daily Summaries

Please visit the official OEWG website to read the statements by Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Russian Federation, Israel, Mexico, Uruguay.

UN: Draft Program - First Working Session of the Open Ended Working Group on Ageing (April 18-21, 2011)
Panelists who will speak during the Working Session range from UN Body representatives to NGO’s. The Panelists also reflect a geographic distribution throughout the world.

UN: Chair's Summary of the Open-Ended Working Group on Ageing for the Purpose of Strengthening the Protection of the Human Rights of Older Persons (April 18-21, 2011)
The chairman made a summary of the Open-ended Working Group on Ageing. He briefly stressed the major ideas that were presented and  came out of discussions. He also recalled the points on which Member States agreed such as identifying the normative, implementation, monitoring and information gaps as well as the need for further discussions.

Asia: Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN): Ageing Profile and Policies (April 20, 2011)
During the Open-Ended Working Group session, ASEAN introduced critical issues and changes affecting aging populations in South East Asia. ASEAN recommended 1) promoting and protecting of the rights of older people, 2) strengthening family and community and 3) promoting the establishment of a commission on the older person at regional, national and local levels.

Scotland: Scottish Human Rights Commission: United Nations Open-ended Working Group on Strengthening the Protection of the Human Rights of Older Persons (April 20, 2011)

(Conference Room Paper)

During the Open-Ended Working Group session, members of the Scottish Human Rights Commission presented their work and strategies to protect and promote the rights of older people in Scotland. The commission emphasized (1) promoting a full range of rights viewed through the lens of human dignity, (2) expanding understanding of the relevance and potential of existing standards and (3) a conceptual and cultural shift in the realization of older people's rights. 

Europe: Ms. Virgina Bras Gomes, The European Human Rights System (April 20, 2011)
In her presentation, Virgina Bras Gomes analyzed the human rights of older persons within the European region with reference to the existing human rights instruments. The panelist’s presentation consisted of three parts: general framework for promotion and protection of human rights, rights of older persons, and gaps and challenges for the future. Gomes stressed that older people should remain as full members of the society. 

America: Mr. Javier Vasquez, Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) (April 20, 2011)
Javier Vasquez discussed the basis for a human rights- based approach in the PAHO plan of action as well as the World Health Organization's constitution and certain resolutions. He highlighted the importance of building links between human rights, older persons, and healthy aging. Due to the lack of dialogue and cooperation in this area, Vasquez urged that aging be put into public policy agendas and legal frameworks, creating conventions (treaties) and working groups. In long term care facilities, he urged prohibitions on limitations to human rights and the rights to health, along with a dignified life, personal and mental integrity, security and equal protection of the law, freedom of expression.

Africa: Ms. Reine Alapini Gansou, African Commission on Human and People's Rights (April 20, 2011) 
(Statement in French)
In Africa, the protection of older persons has traditionally been considered as an issue for social organizations and families. Nevertheless, in recent years, the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights and a protocol to the charter related to women have a normative framework specific to older persons have been established on the continent. However, these texts still offer inadequate protection. At present, the African Union is developing a draft protocol on the rights of older persons. 

World: Ms. Ferdous Ara Begum, Former Member of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (April 19, 2011)
The General Recommendation Number 27 of the CEDAW Convention provides protection to older women at all walks of life, and is relevant as a guide to formulating a UN Convention on Aging. Older persons are invisible in the legislation in many countries and there are significant gaps in implementation of existing international instruments. Older men are not covered by the General Recommendation Number 27. Hence, a UN Convention on Aging with a special Rapporteur on the rights of older persons is necessary.

United Kingdom: Ms. Bridget Sleap, HelpAge International (April 19, 2011)
Aging is an urgent issue that requires all of us to plan. The current international human rights framework is far from responding to older people's needs. This HelpAge International senior advisor believes that a new international human rights instrument is essential to redress the current situation.

Mr. Craig Mokhiber, Office of the High Commissioner of Human Rights (April 19, 2011)
When evaluating the need to establish an international human right instrument for older persons, experts highlight the lack of protection from existing structures. Though such existing instruments don't set an age limit, they don't sufficiently and effectively protect and empower older persons. Furthermore, the existing framework doesn't integrate civil or political rights.

Ms. Amna Ali Al Suwaidi, Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (April 19, 2011) 
Social Protection is a common human right; it doesn’t matter who you are or where you come from or what language you speak. Older people become vulnerable to all forms of abuse and to negative stereotyping. They are the most in need of social protection. Furthermore, international conventions on human rights fail to embrace older persons and fail to put State parties under obligations. 

Ms. Mariangels Fortuny and Mr. Krzysztof Hagemejer, International Labour Organization (April 19, 2011)
The panelists underlined the following points: Promoting employment by increasing the female labor force participation: such a policy can substantially reduce old age dependency, improve employment opportunities of older people with the option of extending working lives; ensure that employees have better working conditions, foster employability and lifelong learning, and provide a safe and healthy working environment.

Organizational Session (February 15, 2011)

UN: Open Ended Working Group on Ageing Organizational Session Provisional Agenda and Annotations (February 4, 2011)
This UN official document details the Agenda for the Organizational Meeting of the OEWG.  It lists the Member States elected to take on important roles as well as the dates for the next meetings.