The Philippines has called for a legally binding international agreement protecting older persons from discrimination, abuse and neglect, while ensuring their access to healthcare, social protection and dignified living conditions.
In a news release Wednesday, the National Commission of Senior Citizens (NCSC) said Chairperson and Chief Executive Officer Ma. Merceditas Gutierrez made the appeal during the second session of the United Nations Intergovernmental Working Group (IGWG) on the Human Rights of Older Persons held in Geneva, Switzerland, from Oct. 26 to 30.
“The protection of older persons must go beyond providing social welfare assistance. It must recognize and guarantee their fundamental human rights, uphold their autonomy and dignity, and ensure that they are empowered to make decisions concerning their own lives,” Gutierrez said.
The Philippine delegation outlined four priorities for the proposed international instrument: equality, non-discrimination and autonomy; freedom from violence, abuse and neglect; protection during disasters and humanitarian emergencies; and access to adequate living standards, social protection, healthcare and quality care services.
Gutierrez also called for stronger safeguards for caregivers, including migrant care workers, through fair compensation, decent working conditions, proper training and labor protection.
“Protecting the rights of older persons necessarily means protecting those who care for them. We must ensure that quality, person-centered care is supported by policies that also uphold the dignity and rights of caregivers,” she said.
Gutierrez further underscored the need for resilient and accessible care systems during a side event titled “Care for the Caregivers: Advancing Quality Care Services for Healthy and Dignified Ageing.”
The event was co-hosted by the Philippine Permanent Mission to the UN in Geneva, alongside Austria, Gambia, Slovenia and the NGO Committee on Ageing Geneva.
The initiative comes as the Philippines faces a rapidly ageing population.
Based on the Philippine Statistics Authority’s 2020 Census-Based Population Projection, the country’s population aged 60 and above is expected to exceed 11 million in 2026, with older persons projected to account for one in every 10 Filipinos by 2030.
Established under UN Human Rights Council Resolution 58/13, the IGWG is tasked with drafting a legally binding international instrument to address gaps in the protection of older persons’ rights.
The NCSC, created under Republic Act No. 11350, is mandated to promote and protect the rights and welfare of Filipino senior citizens. (PNA)
