WUNRN
Website of the UN Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Older Persons:
http://www.ohchr.org/EN/Issues/OlderPersons/IE/Pages/IEOlderPersons.aspx
http://www.ohchr.org/RU/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=15688&LangID=E
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Beijing+20 Review:
“Older Women Must Not Remain Invisible” – UN Expert
GENEVA (12
March 2015) – United Nations human rights expert Rosa Kornfeld-Matte today
called on the main global body dedicated to the promotion of gender equality
and the empowerment of women to ensure that the concerns of older women are
taken into account during its current discussions in New York.
From 9 to
20 March, the Commission on the Status of Women is gathering UN Member States,
civil society organizations and UN bodies to review the implementation of the
Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action 20 years after its adoption (Beijing+20).
The Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action is considered the most
progressive plan for achieving gender equality.
“Older
women still remain invisible in the current reviewing process and discussions,”
warned the Independent Expert designated by the UN Human Rights Council to
monitor and report on the enjoyment of all human rights by older persons around
the world.
“And they
remain invisible despite of the fact that the Beijing Declaration and Platform
of Action recognizes the impact of age discrimination and include
recommendations for actions on specific areas affecting older women, such as
poverty, health and labour market,” Ms. Kornfeld-Matte stressed.
The expert
noted that older women currently outnumber older men almost everywhere.
According to the UN World Population Situation Report in 2014, globally, there
were 85 men per 100 women in the 60 years or older age group. And the figure
drops to 61 men per 100 women in the 80 years or older bracket. “The
‘feminization’ of ageing raises important concerns that can no longer be
ignored,” she highlighted.
“The
challenges faced by women, especially when they age, must not be forgotten,”
she said. “Their rights to live with autonomy and in environments that are safe
and adaptable to their changing capacities, their role in building climate
resilience, their full and equal participation in decision-making at all levels
and the importance of intergenerational solidarity are some of the issues that
need further actions.”
“I call on
all States and other stakeholders in the Commission on the Status of Women to
firmly include the concerns of older women, especially, those widowed or living
alone, those with dementia or any other disability, those in need of palliative
and geriatric care or in emergency situation or displacement, who are most at
risk of multiple forms of discrimination, violence and poverty,” she said.
The
Independent Expert recommended the adoption of a gender and age-sensitive
approach to ensure that national legislations and policies take into account
the needs of older women and promote their human rights with dignity.
“The
concerns of older women must be reflected in the implementation and reviewing
process of the Beijing Declaration and Platform of Action over the next years
as a way of strengthening gender equality and the empowerment of women in the
new post-2015 development agenda,” Ms. Kornfeld-Matte concluded. “Older women
must not remain invisible.”