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UN Session on the General Recommendation on Older Women and Protection of Their Human Rights
By Emily Wargo, Global
Action on Aging
US
July 21, 2009
On the 30th anniversary for the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) CEDAW took positive action to include older women’s rights among its chief concerns. This specific inclusion of “older women” moves the UN to a new level of equality for women and represents a great victory for women’s rights activists. Global Action on Aging’s staff and interns observed the entire session held in the UN headquarters’ Conference Room 2. CEDAW Experts invited GAA President Susanne Paul to speak along with other advocates. The meeting focused on a new general recommendation to include “older women” as a subject of review for CEDAW Experts. Many accomplished women, representing human rights, aging, religious and other organizations commented as well. Everyone present knew they had witnessed the successful culmination of many years of work to improve the lives of older women.
Dr. Ferdous Begum, Head of Program Operations in Bangladesh for Pathfinder International's NGO Service Delivery Program (NSDP), had initiated this effort within CEDAW in 2008. Dr. Begum was a key player in the creation of a general recommendation. She spoke about the extended longevity of women and general demographic ageing as motivating her efforts toward a convention. Discrimination among older women was another theme throughout Dr. Begum’s speech, focusing on discrimination in the workplace, access to land, negative stereotyping and neglect in old age. Displaying in-depth knowledge of the topic, she developed specific areas of concern and recommendations under the Convention. The recommendations were aimed at governments, the media, political officials, educators, health-care providers, and everyone between. Dr. Begum concluded her speech, quoting legendary singer Michael Jackson, “Help the world, make a better place for you and me.”
Next, Carolyn Hannan, Director of the Division for the Advancement of Women (DAW), emphasized improved legal and social protection for older women. She touched upon discrimination in salaries among women and its effect on women as they age, reducing their ability to save for retirement.
An UNHCR representative was on hand to provide the audience of mostly non-governmental organizations with UNHCR recommendations on the matter of older refugees, immigrants, and displaced women. She strongly encouraged help for displaced women and women in rural areas.
NGO speakers were given the floor as well. Judy Lear, from the Grey Panthers and the Sub committee on Older Women (SCOW), gave full support of the recommendation and recalled the history of NGO’s efforts to this point. As the date of the session fell on the anniversary of America’s first landing on the moon, Lear remarked that the “General recommendation would be one giant leap for women of all ages.”
Bridget Sleap, HelpAge International Rights Officer described the recommendation as timely and urgent, commending many persons’ efforts to move forward with this pressing issue. Susanne Paul followed, citing many NGO efforts since the 1995 at the Fourth World Conference on Women held in Beijing and ithe 1998 International Conference on the Human Rights of Older Women’s as predecessors to the general recommendation.
Jean Smith Jones from Partnership for the Elderly in Rochester demonstrated her extensive background in issues facing older persons and her work from AARP, giving full support to the general recommendation. HR Watch spokesperson also added her support for the document.
The concept note on the draft general recommendation on older women and protection of their human rights is accessible through the GAA website site under the Aging Watch
section.
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