Equality, justice & dignity: Let older people enjoy their rights

Many years back Eleanor Roosevelt, a protagonist of human rights, had questioned: “Where, after all, do universal human rights begin?” Answer to that by her holds good even today, “in small places, close to home”. Yes, indeed this is relevant in today’s context when increasingly there are cases of elder abuse, violence and mistreatment of older people in society and mainly by family members and in home situations. Pertinently, we need to ask why are older people not given their share of rights, why are they deprived of human dignity, justice and equality. This becomes very relevant as we prepare to observe the 70th anniversary of Universal Declaration of Human Rights, a milestone document that proclaimed the inalienable rights, which everyone is inherently entitled to as a human being. Issues related to rights of older people were not considered that important till recently when with ageing issues becoming paramount in most societies and this century being marked with ageing of populations, with older people in couple of decades increasing more than the proportion of younger people as per the UN world statistics report.

It is now widely acknowledged that growing older does not diminish a person’s dignity and fundamental rights. Older people need to be integrated in society for them to enjoy their quality of life and dignity. The daily lives of older people must give them respect, equality and justice in all forms. Ageism and violence against older persons must stop. Governments and civil society members need to work towards stopping discrimination which comes because of age. Be it in terms of work, benefits, social protection, etc. older people must be granted their share of entitlements. Older people are participating members of society and this visibility should be raised so that their marginalisation and deprivations are reduced and they are ensured full enjoyment and fulfilment of their rights.

Asia as a region has the largest number of older people and China and India are the leading countries in this respect, where enhanced attention to the particular needs and challenges faced by many older people is clearly required. It is important that provisions are made for older people to live independently and in the community as long as possible or as long as they wish. Governments must work towards ensuring economic and financial security in old age, independent living and healthy well being so that older people can continue to be in their home environments and feel the need not for moving to institutions, but be integrated in society with the required support services available. In India the Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act, 2007 does aim to provide for basic needs, safety and security, regulation of institutions and services and for the rights guaranteed and recognised under the Constitution. It is hoped that the Amendment Draft Bill 2018 will further strengthen this and allowolder people in the country to be empowered with living a life of dignity with enjoyment of human rights.

It is observed throughout the world that social exclusion of older persons is common and it impacts their access to basic human rights. Prevalent ageism impacts older people being deprived of their rights at various levels, in terms of their provisions for housing, health, employment, social protection, rural and urban development and even so respect in the family. Clearly measures are needed for bringing in universal access to healthcare, enabling age-friendly environments in communities and society, later life skill development and reemployment provisions, robust old-age pension schemes and enhanced element of care, respect and dignity from family members.

Strong initiatives are needed for combating ageism and challenging negative stereotypes. Ageism can be very detrimental as it is the root of depriving older people of their rights leading to their marginalisation, social isolation and exclusion from mainstream. It promotes violence and abuse of older people in both private and public spheres and this must be stopped.

Thus, protection of human rights of older persons can no longer be ignored and as countries and humanity observes the human rights day, strong message should be to leave no one behind, especially those who have contributed in a big way in making today’s world. Our laws, policies and practices must change to give older people their due, their rights not being breached and a life of dignity and respect across the life span.

The writer is an associate professor at Maitreyi College, South Campus, University of Delhi. By training a sociologist, gerontologist, health and development social scientist.