The Philippines has stepped up its campaign for stronger international protection of senior citizens by backing negotiations for a legally binding United Nations treaty that would recognize older persons as rights holders, not merely beneficiaries of social services.
National Commission of Senior Citizens (NCSC) Chairperson and Chief Executive Officer Ma. Merceditas Gutierrez represented the country during the inaugural session of the UN Intergovernmental Working Group (IGWG) on Older Persons in Geneva, Switzerland, where she urged the crafting of a comprehensive global framework to safeguard the rights and dignity of older persons, according to a news release Tuesday.
“The Philippines envisions an instrument that unequivocally recognizes older persons as rights holders, not merely recipients of care or charity from the state and society. Its objective should be to empower older persons everywhere so they can live in autonomy, dignity, and full participation in society,” Gutierrez said.
The Philippine delegation also called for stronger provisions on affordable long-term and palliative care, protection of caregivers, particularly migrant caregivers and an inclusive negotiation process involving civil society and national human rights institutions while preserving the intergovernmental nature of the talks.
The IGWG, established by the UN Human Rights Council, began its first session on July 13 and is tasked with negotiating a legally binding international instrument promoting and protecting the human rights of older persons.
The Philippines is among the countries supporting the initiative, alongside Brazil, Slovenia and Gambia, as global discussions intensify amid projections that people aged 65 and older will outnumber children under 18 worldwide by the late 2070s.
Guided by Republic Act 11350, the NCSC said it will continue working with member states and stakeholders toward a global framework that strengthens the rights, dignity and welfare of older persons in the Philippines and around the world. (PNA)
