What are the consequences of discrimination against the two-thirds of the world’s over-60s who live in developing countries? How does ageism and stereotyping influence attitudes and allocation of resources at household, community, national and international level? What can be done to ensure that older people benefit from the full range of internationally accepted human rights?

A report from HelpAge International, produced in preparation for the 2002 Second World Assembly on Ageing, draws on consultations with older people from around the world to set out a rights-based approach to development. A strong case is made that investment in the productive and social capacities of older people could yield far-reaching results for all ages in terms of community welfare, social cohesion and economic productivity. It argues for the incorporation into international human rights law of the UN Principles for Older Persons and for greater support to older people’s organisations. Ten actions to end age discrimination are set out.

Demographic changes rank with globalisation and climate change as the greatest forces reshaping the planet. Global life expectancy, only 45 in 1945, is now 65 and is expected to reach 76 by 2045. By 2050 the proportion of older people in the developing world is set to more than double from 8 to 19 percent, while the proportion of children will drop by 10 percent.

Have policymakers realised the consequences? The report argues that the International Development Targets and Millennium Goals do not reflect the importance of empowering and involving older people in poverty reduction initiatives. When emergencies wreak havoc, humanitarian relief agencies habitually marginalise older people (about one in five of their clients) and view them as passive recipients of aid, not as partners in recovery.

The report disproves stereotypes. Evidence is presented that:

• older people are good credit risks: their average repayment rate is 80-90 percent
• universal non-contributory pension schemes are feasible in low-income countries and produce benefits which feed down to younger household members
• older people do not make disproportionate use of health care provision. In fact, access to formal health care frequently diminishes with age
• with adequate resources older people can successfully run home-based preventive and primary health care programmes
• in South Africa engagement of older people in policing forums contributes to the fight against crime
• in southern Sudan older people have substantially managed and implemented infrastructure rebuilding programmes.

Among the key recommendations are:

• support older people in their role as carers, especially in relation to HIV/AIDS
• remove age barriers to participation in training, credit and employment schemes and ensure older women are targetted
• establish international standards to govern public policy on ageing and hold states to account
• guarantee adequate social protection and minimum income in old age
• include older populations in poverty reduction and debt relief plans
• give resource poor countries financial and technical help to develop social protection mechanisms
• end violence against older people.

Source(s):
‘Equal treatment, equal rights: ten actions to end age discrimination’, HelpAge International, November 2001 Full document.

Funded by: HelpAge International

id21 Research Highlight: 12 April 2002

Further Information:
Jane Scobie or Sarah Graham-Brown
HelpAge International
PO Box 32832
London N1 9ZN
UK

Tel: +44 (0)20 7278 7778
Fax: +44 (0)20 7713 7993
Contact the contributor: press@helpage.org

HelpAge International

Other related links:
Read more from the 2002 Second World Assembly on Ageing

'Living to a ripe old age - healthcare for an ageing population'

'The age of rights? Protecting older people in an ageing world'

'Living to a ripe old age: can older people contribute?'

Eldis focuses on Ageing populations

'Implications of an Ageing Society' from the UN

Population Council also examines population ageing