Member States at the General Assembly of the OAS approve Inter-American Convention on Protecting the Human Rights of Older Persons, among them, the right to health
Washington, D.C., June 16, 2015 (PAHO/WHO) - The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) is celebrating the commitment of the countries of the Americas to strengthen the protection of the human rights of older persons, including their right to health and other related human rights, by approving the Inter-American Convention on Protecting the Human Rights of Older Persons at the General Assembly of the Organization of American States (OAS) on June 15, 2015.
The convention, which is the first international binding instrument to promote and protect the human rights of older persons, provides specific measures to regulate areas related to health and healthy aging, such as the protection of people's right to health, to have information related to treatments, to palliative care, and against discrimination and abuse, to mention some examples.
"PAHO applauds the OAS initiative to adopt the Inter-American Convention on Protecting the Human Rights of Older Persons. Member States have demonstrated great leadership in adopting the first international binding instrument on aging as an issue of human rights and development," said Javier Vasquez, regional advisor on human rights at PAHO.
"Men and women aged 60 years and over who live in Latin America and the Caribbean represent the population group with the fastest growth in the world. These people are often in vulnerable situations that urgently require protection in national policies, plans, legislation and programs," said Enrique Vega, regional advisor on healthy aging at PAHO.
In the Americas, there are more than 150 million people over 60 years old, of which 60% are women. By 2020, it is estimated that the region will have about 200 million older adults, almost double that of 2006. More than half of older persons will live in Latin America and the Caribbean, where currently close to 50% of the elderly do not have resources to finance their day-to-day needs.
PAHO contributed to the drafting of this Convention as part of the OAS Working Group on the Human Rights of Older Persons since 2011.
Among other things, the Convention adopted by the OAS General Assembly mentions that:
- Member States shall take measures to prevent, punish and eradicate practices such as isolation, abandonment, prolonged physical restraints, overcrowding, denial of nutrition, and inadequate medical treatments, among others.
- Countries should take steps so that public and private institutions offer non-discriminatory access to comprehensive care to older persons, including palliative care, avoiding isolation, properly managing problems related to fear of death among the terminally ill, and avoiding pain and unnecessary suffering;
- Older persons have the undeniable right to express their free and informed consent in health;
- Member States should design measures so that older persons can enjoy their right to a comprehensive care system that will provide the protection and promotion of health, coverage of social services, nutrition and food security, among other issues;
- To ensure that older persons have the right to enjoy a life without any kind of violence and abuse, so countries take action on the matter;
- Age discrimination is banned.
Countries need to implement inter-sectorial health policies to provide comprehensive care, including health promotion, prevention, care and management of diseases during all stages, and the rehabilitation and palliative care of older persons so that they can enjoy the highest level of well-being.
Vega emphasized that the Convention will be an essential instrument in PAHO's efforts to improve the quality of life and care of older persons in the Americas.
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PAHO is the specialized agency of the Inter-American system, of which the OAS is also a member, together with the Inter-American Development Bank and the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA).
Links
— Inter-American Convention on Protecting the Human Rights of Older Persons
— OAS General Assembly
— PAHO Healthy Aging
