International Elder Justice Policy and Practice

United Nations (UN) entities and international organizations are calling for the comprehensive international policy to ensure the rights of older people. They have convened forums, conducted research, and crafted policies to combat discrimination, eradicate ageism, prevent elder abuse, promote autonomy, and ensure that the needs and rights of older adults are reflected in policies ranging from housing, to income security, climate change, and migration. This process of ensuring that the needs of older people are included in the mainstream policy is known as "mainstreaming."

The UN has addressed the rights of older adults as a matter of human rights, public health, and sustainable development.

Universal human rights policy. Ensuring the rights of all people is the UN's primary charge. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights was passed by the UN shortly after its founding and applies to all people. However, at the urging of advocates for specific groups, the U.N. has created special "conventions" (a type of treaty) to address special needs. Advocates for older adults are calling for a Convention for the Rights of Older Persons.
Public health policy. The World Health Organization (WHO) addresses elder rights through initiatives to study elder abuse in developing countries, spearheading or participating in outreach campaigns to prevent violence and elder abuse, and preventing and mitigating the impact of health-related disabilities that result in dependency and isolation. It further acknowledges that lack of access to heath care is an infringement of older people's rights.
Sustainable development plans. Unless nations’ development plans specifically address old people in policy addressing everything from poverty to natural disasters, to climate change and migration; their special needs are likely to be ignored. The needs of older adults are being addressed as part of a major sustainable development initiative that seeks to "leave no one behind."

Reports

Global Aging

A New Convention on the Rights of Older People: A Concrete Proposal
Strengthening Older Peoples Rights: Toward a Convention
Normative Standards in International Human Rights Law in Relation to Older Persons - Analytical Outcome Paper (August 2012)
Report of the Independent Expert on the Enjoyment of all Human Rights by Older Persons (September 2016)
Transforming our World: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. This 2015 report by the World Health Organization,which was adopted the UN General Assembly later that year, is described as “a plan of action for people, planet and prosperity.”
Ageing in the Twenty-First Century: A Celebration and A Challenge. This report, a collaborative effort of the United Nations and other major international organizations, provides an update on progress towards implementing The Madrid International Plan of Action on Aging (see below).
The Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing (MIPAA). Adopted at the Second World Assembly on Ageing in April 2002, the plan addresses the challenge of “building a society for all ages.” Events take place around the world to implement the plan and evaluate progress made toward achieving its objectives.
Leave No-One Behind: Aging, Gender, and the SDGs : Policy brief highlighting the role of older persons in achieving UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Global Elder Abuse

Worldwide Environmental Scan on Elder Abuse. The first large-scale global survey of elder abuse was conducted (1) to understand the nature and response to elder abuse in individual countries worldwide, and (2) to serve as a pilot project leading to more in-depth investigation and expanded collaboration with countries globally on the problem.
Ending Elder Abuse: Breaking the Generational Cycle of Violence Webcast (2016)
Among the goals of Transforming our World: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development is a call to end violence against women. This event, which took place in 2016, focused on ensuring that the goal applies to older women. Speakers included HHS Assistant Secretary for Aging Kathy Greenlee and US representative to INPEA Susan Somers, addressed the group.
Violence Against Older Women: Policy brief produced by the Administration for Community Living (ACL) in collaboration with globally recognized organizations.

Virtually every participating non-governmental organization (NGO) and many nations have argued that existing human rights instruments fail to recognize older persons as clear rights holders in all aspects of human rights laws.

Charles Sabatino

Resources

CALLING FOR A U.N. CONVENTION ON THE RIGHTS OF OLDER PEOPLE. Blog post by Charles Sabatino, Director of the American Bar Association Commission on Law and Aging, describing the benefits of participating in international efforts to promote elder rights.

A Life Course Approach to Aging. This short animated video, produced by HelpAge, describes the life-course, which include the events, choices, and policies that shape people's lives and can potentially lead to marginalization and discrimination in older age.
Global AgeWatch Index. Online portal, produced by HelpAge International, offers information on the demographics of aging and social, political, and economic markers. It ranks countries by how well their older populations are faring.
AgeSource Worldwide. Database of statistical data comparing older adults across countries or regions on a variety of issues.
United Nations Division for Social Policy Development & Aging. Website of the UN agency charged with policy development for the rights of older persons and population aging.
World Health Organization (WHO) Department of Aging & Life Course. Website of the WHO division charged with policy development for the health of older persons. WHO produced a comprehensive Global Strategy and Action Plan on Aging and Health (2016-2020) , and a related resolution was adopted in May 2016 by the World Health Assembly.
Desmond Tutu Message for World Elder Abuse Awareness Day 2016

Organizations

Promising Practices

The Chicago Declaration on the Rights of Older Person. This model law, developed by the John Marshall Law School and Roosevelt University in collaboration with the American Bar Association, was designed as a step toward a convention on the rights of older persons. It builds on principles proclaimed in international human rights instruments and previous regional and international instruments. It is an evolving work, based on continuing input from experts and stakeholders internationally.
Inter-American Convention on Protecting the Human Rights of Older Persons. In 2016, the General Assembly of the Organization of American States (OAS) with support from the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), adopted the convention, which offers a model for an international convention. Signatories include Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Costa Rica, and Uruguay.
World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD). Launched in 2006 by the International Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse (see above), the event highlights how elder abuse is viewed around the world and has been a rallying point for activities ranging from picnics, to policy hearings, to professional conferences. INPEA offers a toolkit to help nations conduct WEAAD events.

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