On the eve of the “International Day of Older Persons”, the Commissioner for Human Rights issued a Statement on Friday 30 September calling on the 46 Member States of the Council of Europe to “act to promote active ageing and ensure that older persons in Europe can fully enjoy their human rights”.
Defined by the World Health Organization (WHO), ‘active ageing’ goes beyond the labour market and is about the possibility of living independently, accessing health care and participating in society. In this regard, it is essential to shift from “viewing older persons primarily as beneficiaries of care to recognising them as independent rights-holders”, writes Dunja Mijatovic.
She recommends combating ageism in all its forms, bearing in mind that, according to the WHO, this attitude based on stereotypes and prejudices is shared by half the world’s population.
We need to ensure that legislation prohibits age discrimination in all areas, she said, stressing the importance of intersectional dimensions (disability, sexual orientation, ethnicity or gender) that must be taken into account in national policies.
Link to the Statement: https://aeur.eu/f/3ce (Original version in French by Véronique Leblanc)