The United Nations (UN) has called for redoubling of commitments to promoting the rights of older persons and fostering societies for all ages.
Bob Rae, President of the 2025 Session of the UN Economic and Social Council, made the call on Monday during the 34th commemoration of the United Nations International Day of Older Persons.
The commemoration was focused on the theme: “Ageing with Dignity: The Importance of Strengthening Care and Support Systems for Older Persons Worldwide”.
Rae said that in a little over half a century to come, older persons, aged 65 and above, would outnumber children under 18 years, worldwide.
“We have to understand the significance of this large demographic trend which is stretching throughout our society, and realise that it is extremely vital to understand the significance of the future of all of our societies.
“This is a shift in our demography. It is largely irreversible and will influence all our efforts to achieve a society and a future that is more inclusive, prosperous and sustainable,” he said.
Rae said that without a rights-based approach and affirming that older age would not diminish a person’s value and dignity, the world risked enforcing and reinforcing ageism rather than fostering inclusivity.
Arjanita (Ariana) Elezaj, who chaired the event, said that care and support transcended provision of physical comfort.
According to her, care and support encompass the fundamental rights of each individual.
She listed the rights to include the right to health, freedom from ageism and age discrimination, long-term and palliative care, freedom to live free from violence, abuse and neglect.
“We must recognise that older persons are rights holders, not simply recipients of medical rehabilitation or social welfare.”
Elezaj urged that stereotypes should be eliminated.
According Elezaj, it is not all older persons who are frail, fragile or always in the receiving part of care.
She called for a holistic perspective on care, including the social determinants of health, ensuring access to safe water, adequate sanitation, nutrition, suitable housing and healthy living conditions.
“This, means providing health-related education and information and crucially involving older persons in health-related decision-making process.
“For those who are chronically or terminally ill, our care must prioritise comfort, minimising pain and enabling a dignified end of life.
“Care providers are partners in this journey, not custodians. Our support and care systems must reflect and respect the right of both providers and recipients.
“In a sense, we are not just discussing physical care, but the preservation of human dignity and the rights throughout the entire life course,” she said.
Guy Rider, UN Under Secretary-General for Policy, said that ageing was privilege.
“We all hope to do it; so, the decisions that we make today to expand and to protect the rights of older persons impact every one of us now and in the future,” he said.
He said that care options varied significantly across countries and individual circumstances, adding that they were shaped by availability of services, cultural norms and financial situations.
He said it would be vital for policymakers to take actions to create fair and effective policies which would enable everyone to balance work and family demands and address the gendered nature of care work.
According to him, women, including older women, comprise the great majority of caregivers, often carrying a disproportionate burden.
“As the United Nations prepares itself and member-states it serves for the opportunities and challenges of the future, the principles of independence, participation, care, self-fulfillment and dignity must guide every aspect of our work.
“Upholding the autonomy of older persons must be the driving force of policies and systems that impact their lives,” he said.