Introduction:
Life has different truths, dimensions and realization for individuals, however, the getting old is inevitable. The globe has a major population of the elderly, and there are cases of significant abuse against them.
Basic facilities and human rights of elderly have not been sufficiently addressed for long. Life expectancy has improved, and with that the aging population which remains neglected.
Older persons are
exposed to different types of discrimination and they are not provided with
adequate living environments to guarantee human dignity and proper treatment.
What has been done to protect at Global Level?
National Human Rights Commission of Korea has been
hosting international conference at the ASEM level for the last three year
since 2015 regarding human rights of older persons. Up until now, right to accessible
healthcare, prohibition of age discrimination, right to work, right to be free
from violence and abuse, and right to social security have been the area of concern as well as
social exclusion and eradication of poverty of the elderly also grabbed significant attention.
Moreover, measures to enhance the human rights of older persons through collective action of
the international community has been the Agenda of AEM.
This includes the Madrid
international Plan of Action on Ageing (2002-2022) and Sustainable Development
Goals (2016-2030).
3RD ASEM conference
on Ageing and Human Rights of Older Persons.
The 3rd ASEM (Asian Europe Meeting)
Conference on ‘Global Ageing and Human Rights of Older Persons’ was held
in Seoul, Capital of South Korea. It was jointly organised by South
Korea and National Human Right Commission of Korea.
What is the outcome of such conference?
The conference affirmed the universal value of the
human rights of older persons, share information on discrimination against the
elderly and exemplary cases of long-term and palliative care in Asia and Europe.
The conference also discussed operation and tasks of the ASEM global Ageing
centre as an implementing institution for cooperation among ASEM member for the
protection and promotion of the Human rights of older persons.
What measures are needed to be taken to
protect older human rights?
Violation of older persons human rights is a global
issue. Older persons are vulnerable, they are physically mentally weak. They face
several types of abuse by their own children’s. They don’t get adequate food
diet medicine and proper treatment. Older persons are the most left out section
of the community. To address these issues and protect the human rights of older
persons, cooperation among various stakeholders including the academic and
civil society organizations collaboration are needed. The ASEM conference perhaps
will give benefits by implementing policy for welfare of senior citizens.
