A Plea for the Active Participation of Older Persons in Development

1. A Plea for the Active Participation of OlderPersonsin Development Moulias R, ALMA (Allo Maltraitance) & Old Up Stuckelberger A, NGO Committee on Ageing, Geneva & IAGG-ER UN Social Forum - Geneva

2. OlderPersonsRights: A Dilemna To presentalloldpersons as frail or dependentisan « ageist » or an act of « age discrimination » However, science shows thatwithhigherage • increase in frailty •  an increaserisk of functionalincapacitythatcanlead to dependency, and even limitation of decisionalautonomy The question How to protectfrail or dependentelderly, provide life long humanrights and strenghtentheirrole and autonomyin society ? UN Social Forum - Geneva

3. Heterogeneity of Old Age Many groups of olderpersons: differentage groups and generations(e.g. youngold, old, oldold, nonagerians, centenarians) Typologies • A majority: are fit, with full physical and mental capacities, and remainindependantthroughout life untotheir last year of life • A large part of oldold(80 yearsold and more) are «frailelderly» (isolated, depressive, disabled, malnourished) needingspecial care, attention and/or compensation of handicaps • A minorityof olderpersons are functionnallydependentpersons, withspecialphysical and mental conditions creatinglimitation of theirautonomy in decision-making and needingspecialprotection (i.e. athighrisk of violation of their basic humanrightssuchasabuse, neglect and mistreatement) UN Social Forum - Geneva

4. HumanRightswith Advanced Age:When do we gain or loserights? Nobody has definedanyageatwhichRightsand Duties are modified • Ageingdiffersfrom one person to the other, depending on the life course, the lifestyles and the evolutionof societies or generations • Disability or dependencydoes not automaticallymean a decreasein autonomy and decisionalabilities(e.g...itcanhappensuddenly or slowly over time, candepend on situations and crisis, canbereversed, itcanevenneverhappen..) UN Social Forum - Geneva

5. Age discrimination is a factor of Ageism To givespecialhumanrights or limithumanrightsin function of agedoesnot makesense • To limitrights(e.g. health care, bankcredit, driving, management, education, vote, etc) in function of agemust remain an illegalabuse In spite of the Madrid Plan of Action on Ageing (MIPAA, 2002) and the EU Directives on age discrimination (2000), suchageistdiscriminations are stillfrequent in all parts of the world UN Social Forum - Geneva

6. Active Ageing and Participationis a Must … Evidence BasedMedicine has proventhat • keepingphysically and mentally active as well as participating in society, are the main factorsfor « ageingwell » and for preventingpathologicalageing or the emergence of « age-relateddiseases» • even in case of severediseases, witha seriousdiagnosis, active olderpersons have betterprognosis and rehabilitation in society. UN Social Forum - Geneva

7. Inactivity and Isolation: the WorstPlagueof Old Age Scientificevidencealso shows thatthe strongestriskfactors for a highlevel of morbidity and mortalityatanyage, but mainly in oldage, are: • Sedentarylives, with no mental stimulation • Isolated • Excessive time spent in bed, or in arm chair • Watching TV Older Person as Active Citizens: A Need for Society • In every country worldwide:  % of olderpersons oldold • Increaseis more rapid in emergent countries withlimitedresources. • Whywouldweexclude 20%-30% of the population from active life? willit not beunmanageable and againsttheirrights ? UN Social Forum - Geneva

8. Global Ageingis a reality worldwidewithverydifferent situations

9. NumerousExperiencesof Active Ageing Manymodels of ageingwell and long life active olderpersonsexist: • Many associations working in arts, charity, culture, development, social help, sport, worship, etc, are managed by active competent (often experts) older men and women • Everybodyknowsveryoldartistswhoremainsfullyactive. Theirworkneedphysicalstrength, full memory and cognitive capacities, ability to copewithstress For example: Hans Erni, born 1909, whopainted the fresk in front of the UN front gate on Place des Nations 2009 at 100 yearsold – heisstill active and painting

10. ALMA : Helpline for OlderPersons • ALMA (allo maltraitance) is an associative national network in Francewhooffershelplinesdevoted to address cases of mistreatement and abuse of older or disabledpersons. A Model of Retired experts helpingolderpersons of anyage: Retiredprofessionals are especiallyprepared to listen, to analyze, to counsel and to follow up callers, victims or bystanders of misteatments on vulnerable or disabledadultsor olderpersons. Theyworktogetherwithactive experts and students. • ALMA France: How itisorganized? • 57 proximity centres cover 75% of the national territory. 900 volunteers. • In each centres, a team of volunteerslisten and adviseolderpersons in need and itisfullycomplementaritywith local authorities. • The network « treats » and helps 4’000 to 5’000 cases eachyear: the largestexperience in the field

11. Otherexamples • AGIR : ingeneering and management helps for youngenterprises • Voice of the Voiceless(Uganda) • Old Up (France) octogenarianssocially active • MUCA (mutuelle des aînés du Cameroun (Care self organization of oldercitizen) ..and more: Care of orphans of AIDS, etc, etc There is an urgent need to developthe specifichumanrights of olderpersonsto not onlyprotectthemfrom discrimination and abuse but alsofromexlclusion to an active and participatory life

12. Declaration of Bolognaon HumanRights of OlderPersonsInternational Association of Gerontology and GeriatricsEuropeanRegion […] In order to obtain better living conditions and quality of life for older persons, we need more knowledge of human ageing and human old age, a physiological period of life, growing in length and in quality. Research on ageing and old age must become a societal, scientific and political priority. • These studies and research must answer to the same laws of protection and human rights of the person as any other research focussed on human subjects and their development across the life course. They must respect the ethical rules of autonomy, equality, informed consent, dignity, freedom, distributive justice and safety. • Key objectives for these research should be a better understanding of both the deleterious and protective mechanisms of the ageing process, while collecting data on how to intervene on these processes to improve the quality of life, functioning and well being of older persons, as well as their systematic inclusion range of activities in society in the widest possible. • BolognaEuropean IAGG-ER Congress, April 2011

13. Declaration of BolognaInternational Association of Gerontology and GeriatricsEuropeanRegion A unique article : Growingeldershould in no way affect either the rights, the duties or the freedom of anyperson, or modify in anyway the foundation of thoseprincipleswhichisembedded in HumanDignity • Right to an active life • Disabilitydoes not alter HumanDignity • In case of deficiencies • In case of dependence • In case of limitation of decisionalautonomy • « Natural » Caregiver • Professional Caregivers • Research on ageing and old Age UN Social Forum - Geneva

14. Declaration of BolognaInternational Association of Gerontology and GeriatricsEuropean Region So, itfollowsthat: 1. Right to an active life • Someone ’s active contribution to society does not stop with the end of theirprofessional life. • Everyoneshouldbe able to continue to lead a socially active life…. 2. Disabilitydoes not alter HumanDignity • Regardless of age, no deficiencyaltershumandignity, nor the humanqualities as beholder of rights, duties ans freedom 3. In case of deficiencies • Regardless of age, when a deficiency affects the capacity to carry out one ’s daily life, the compensation of thisdeficiencyshouldbeensured….. • …to maintain or restore, as far as possible with the currentscientificknowledge, an independent life withdignity 4. In case of dependence • Regardless of Age, whensomoeone’sdeficienciesmakethemdependent of the support of anotherperson….the society must enable the persons …. to accesstheirrights… with the aim of allowingthem to live a dignified life.

15. Declaration of BolognaInternational Association of Gerontology and Geriatrics - EuropeanRegion 5. In case of limitation of decisionalautonomy • Regardless of Age, when a deficiencylimits a person‘sdecisionmakingcapacity,theprovided protection aims to preserve the rights and freedom of thisperson and to respect theirchoices and wishes….. • The persondesignated to represent the person must know thisperson ….. 6. « Natural » Caregiver The caregiver of an individual - dependent or limited in decisionmaking - isentrustedwith an addedresponsibility. The « natural » caregiver must berecognizedso as to enableher/him to carry out the various aspects of theirtask... 7. Professional Caregivers Professionalsassistingindividualwho are physicallydependent or limited in makingdecisionsautonomouslyshouldbeclearlyconsidered as a distinct group - from service delivery. Differencesexistatlevels of recruitment, education, training, etc – Codes of ethics are needed, including the way in whichthesesevices are financed. 8. Research on ageing and old Age • For obtainingbetter living conditions for olderpersons, weneed a betterknowledge on humanageing and Old Age • Ageingis a complex multi -factorialprocess: pluridisciplinarity in research and policy-making has to bestronglyencouraged as a rule.

16. Conclusion I Message to takeaway 1. Maintainingretiredpersons in active social life, willbe a health, economic and social priority for the XXIst Century. It willincreasewellbeing and self esteem of all oldpopulations 2. Deficienciesand dependence are not agespecific. Disabled and dependentpersonsneed an universal protection withoutillegitimateagelinkedbarriers

17. At the United Nations: The Paradoxof ignoring an irreversible social global transformation Ageingin the World  (N+%) emergenceof 2-3 generations of olderpersonsmore 60+ than 15 yearsold and under(double in 2050)vsUN has no specifichumanrights of olderpersons+ UN agencies and specialized programmes no fixed budget for ageingnormainstreamedolderpersonsonly 2 positions withverylittle staff working on ageing+NGOsvery few takeintoconsideringolderpersonsor a life course perspective Population Ageingis a world priorityvs their absence in UN Agencies, budget and no participation and inclusion in the UN system

18. 2009:NGO Statementon the Rights of Older Women( Geneva, UN Council HR)signed by a record nr of 34 NGOsEngl/Fren/Spanish 2006: NGO Statementonthe Rights of Older Persons(Geneva, UN Commision HR)signed by 25 NGOsEngl(French

19. Call for a Conventionon Human Rights & Elimination of Discrimination against Older Persons…in 1999….then in 2002. ... And now the movement is growing…more and more countries and NGOs support the idea! Request for a Convention on OlderPersonssince 1999 UN Chronicle in 2002: Danielle Bridelle, Chair of the NGO committee on Ageingat the United Nations in Geneva

20. Human Rights of OlderPersons - work in progress…. OHCHR Resolution on Consultation GE 29 Sept 2012 OHCHR General comments Annual Report OHCHROP and social protection 2002: UN Assembly on Aging, Madrid: MIIPA Oct. 20010 CEDAW GR 27 Nov. 20010 OEWG UN-NY Aug.- 2011 SpecRapp Health OP 2007 MIIPA+5 2012 MIPAA+10 NGOForum Participation of scientists and NGOs IAGG Valencia Forum Missing voice: Older Persons are still chronically excluded! • Specific binding law for the Human Rights and protection of older persons,: • i.e. older women (UN Women), older refugees (UNHCR), older migrants (IOM) • Right to Development for Older Persons • UN global agenda (MDGs, ICPD, etc) • UN agencies and specialized programmes (i.e.ITU/WSIS, UNESCO, etc)

21. Conclusion IIPolitical and structural recommandations addressingsystematically the missing components of older women and menin the UN agenda and UN agencies Empowerment in UN agencies • Human Rights = LL includeoldage • ILO = work – LL olderworker – no social security • UNHCR = olderrefugee and displaceperson • IOM = older migrant • UNESCO = science & tehnology & ethics of OW • OCHA & al= humanitarianaid, emergency OW • WHO = ageing, LL reproductive rights, chronic D • UNAIDS = olderpersons and AIDS prevention • World Bank = poverty in older men and women, etc • Recommendations • Revisiting the UN agenda with OP and a LL perspective • Political, socio-economic, cultural and technological dimensions • RequireUN to includehigherageand genderequality in all statistics • Requirean institutional structure like UNAGE to reachageequity(as UNICEF for children, UN-Women for women)

22. ParticipatoryDevelopmentmore dynamic more efficient more sexy … until 80, 90 and even100 yearsold Includingolderpersonsis a must and webettergetready to be one!