1 October 2018 – The International Day of Older Persons Celebrates Older Human Rights Champions
This year, the United Nations Organization decided that the topic for the International Day of Older Persons be “Celebrating Older Human Rights Champions” in order to encourage participation of older persons to defend human rights, to acknowledge those men and women who, born in the year 1948 when the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was adopted, made an active contribution to its promotion.
Taking into account that this year on 10 December the 70th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights is celebrated, the International Day of Older Persons is intended to reaffirm the commitment for the full and equal access of these persons to the rights and fundamental freedoms they should enjoy.
The topic particularly focused on:
- Promoting the rights laid down in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, particularly those the daily life of older persons;
- Increasing the attention attached to older persons in their capacity as active members of the community, permanently engaged on defending human rights in various fields, not only those that affect them personally;
- Reviewing the progress and the difficulties encountered with the protection of older persons and implementing their rights and fundamental freedoms;
- Continuously engage and mobilize a large public throughout the world to promote these rights.
Today there are almost 700 million persons over the age of 60. They are going to be 2 billion in the year 2050, which represents 20% of the world population.
The demographic structure plays an important role with sustainable development and is one of the main challenges the world is going to face in the 21st century. In this context and taking into account the guiding principle voiced by the UN Secretary General that “No-One Shall Be Left Behind”, an increased attention paid to the specific needs of older persons becomes a priority.
The interdependence between the social integration of older persons and the full exercise of their rights cannot be ignored for the extent these persons are integrated within the society directly affects their dignity and life quality.
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