This is an oral statement by ARROW that was broadcasted at the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights’ (OHCHR) Multi-stakeholder Meeting on the Human Rights of Older Persons on 30th August, 2022. View the video statement here.
Respected Chairperson, moderators, panellists and participants. I am Sai Racherla from the Asian Pacific Resource and Research Centre for Women (ARROW).
The Asia-Pacific is the most rapidly ageing region in the world according to certain UN estimates and by 2050, close to 1.3 billion people will be age of 60, most of whom will be women. Many countries in this region are unprepared to face this current and future demographic shift. We concur that rights-based life-cycle approach is crucial to strengthening the protection of the human rights.
ARROW’s research in this area, calls for the right to health of older persons; non- discrimination in healthcare; health policies; programmes and resource allocation; and implementation of comprehensive health policies which include rehabilitation and care of the terminally ill.
We call for advancing universal health coverage, which is inclusive of health information and services. It is the right of older person to access quality health services, without having to suffer from financial hardships and out of pocket
expenses associated with paying for care. Such health services should ensure mental and physical health and also address violence neglect and abuse.
The full enjoyment of economic, social, cultural, civil and political rights including health rights and elimination of all forms of violence and discrimination against older persons calls for strengthening the national health systems, and social protection system and overall human rights institutions.
