The United Nations’ framework for protecting the elderly is “inadequate” and it must make strengthening the rights for older people a priority, the Pope’s Permanent Observer to the UN has said in a speech to the general assembly in Geneva.
Archbishop Ivan Jurkovic told the session of the UN’s Human Rights Council dealing with the Rights of Older Persons yesterday that the Holy See was gravely concerned by the “increasing discrimination” faced by the elderly, whom he said are viewed as disposable in many cultures. “Living longer must never be seen as an exception, a burden or challenge, but rather it must be recognised as the blessing that it is”, he said.
He argued that stronger policies to improve health care and to support families financially were needed, and stressed the importance of “social integration” and keeping older people “engaged in decision-making about their lives”.
His speech comes as the leading health think-tank, The King’s Fund, and Nuffield Trust release a report showing that old people are being left to fend for themselves as government-funded care is scaled back in the UK.
The report released today shows that social care for older people is under enormous pressure: spending on care by councils has dropped by 25 per cent in real terms in the five years to 2015 and one million people with care needs now receive no formal or informal help - a rise of 10 per cent in a year.
Archbishop Jurkovic said: “In a society often dominated by the logic of efficiency and profit, the elderly can easily be considered unproductive and useless.” He said the Holy “considers essential the promotion of policies and systems of education that propose an alternative approach to the dominant ‘throw-away culture’.
"Older persons enrich society and their positive and constructive presence in society is valued. The elderly are a source of wisdom and a great resource. The quality of a society, of a civilization, may also be judged by how it treats its elderly and by the place reserved for them in communal life,” he added.
"Existing arrangements to protect the human rights of older persons are inadequate and dedicated measures to strengthen the international protection regime are required. Bearing in mind the General Assembly Resolution 67/139 of 20 December 2012 about the need to strengthen the protection of the human rights of older persons, the Holy See wishes that the existing divergences will be soon overcome, given the millions of older persons waiting for their human rights to become a reality."