When talking about fundamental guarantees, age does not impose any type of limitation on their fulfillment. It is clear that all human beings have the same rights regardless of the age group to which they belong, however, various circumstances could harm them in some vulnerable groups, such as the elderly.
Estimates of the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) suggest that In 2037, the proportion of older people in Ibero-America will surpass the proportion of individuals under 15 years of age. The population aged 60 years and older will experience a period of strong growth that will lead it to reach 147 million people. In the region, aging is occurring in parallel with population numerical stabilization, which suggests the need to act in favor of the transformations that this demographic change poses and that have been experienced in other regions of the world, as in the case of Europe.
Fundamental rights in the elderly
Human rights that are most frequently violated in the elderly population are: care and comprehensive attention that generates a feeling of isolation and loss of confidence; lack of information and awareness of their own rights in order to be able to demand them; access to health care, which has been strongly recorded in several countries in the region, especially in rural areas; social security to meet the needs of this age group; age discrimination; physical and verbal abuse, as evidenced by abuse by caregivers; and employment opportunities, since the lack of good social assistance systems forces older adults to perform labor functions in order to support themselves economically.
It should be remembered that the problems affecting the elderly population today will have effects on the rest of society.especially in a scenario of scarce resources. Without sufficient foresight, when issues related to aging and the elderly become visible, the corresponding budgetary and technical allocation would affect other social groups. From this perspective, it is essential that the needs and interests of this social group - and their solutions - lead to the construction of an interdependent society: a society for all.
In this sense and reaffirming the universality, indivisibility, interdependence and interrelation of fundamental freedomsIn addition to recalling that older persons have the same rights and freedoms as any other individual of a different age, it is necessary to emphasize the obligation to eliminate all forms of discrimination, especially those related to age. Discrimination refers to any distinction, exclusion, or restriction whose purpose is to restrict the recognition and exercise in full freedom of human rights and conditions in the political, economic or social sphere.
The Organization of American States (OAS) promoted the Inter-American Convention on the Protection of the Human Rights of Older Persons.The aim is to strengthen the unrestricted respect for human rights and to consolidate -within the framework of democratic institutions- a regime of individual freedom and social justice that allows the ideal of a free human being to be realized, without fear and experiencing the optimal conditions for his or her development during old age.
The Convention created a system of protection that guarantees the recognition, full enjoyment and exercise of human rights. The instrument commits the States Parties to the organization to adopt the necessary legislative and other measures to give effect to the provisions expressed in the document. The instrument commits the States Parties to the organization to adopt the necessary legislative measures to give effect to the provisions expressed in the document.
The general provisions of the agreement also provide for the welfare and care ofIn order to comply with these points, the States Parties must change and develop specific approaches in their policies, plans and legislation on aging and old age, through which mechanisms are established to reduce the vulnerability of this age group. In order to comply with these points, the States Parties must change and develop specific approaches in their policies, plans and legislation on aging and old age, through which mechanisms are established to reduce the vulnerability of this age group.
Basic guarantees
In general terms, these are part of the fundamental rights of the elderly population:
- To live a life free of age discrimination.
- To enjoy opportunities that facilitate the exercise of basic guarantees under conditions of equality.
- Receive support from institutions created for comprehensive care.
- Protection from all forms of physical and mental exploitation or abuse.
- Maintain harmonious relationships with your family.
- Housing in safe and dignified places that allow them to meet their needs and requirements.
- To express their opinion in freedom, as well as to participate in the family and social sphere, as well as in the administrative and judicial spheres.
- To be treated with dignity and respect in any legal or administrative circumstance.
- Free and timely legal advice.
- Make your will freely, without the intervention of any person.
- Receive orientation and training regarding their health, nutrition and hygiene.
- Receive social security that guarantees them the right to health protection, medical assistance and necessary services, as well as access to a pension.
- To be integrated into social assistance programs when they are in situations of risk or abandonment.
- To have a job by obtaining equal opportunities for its access.
- To receive one's own income by performing paid work.
- Receive education and training at any level to improve their quality of life.
- To associate and assemble freely for the purpose of defending their interests.
- Participate in cultural, sports and recreational activities of their choice.
Financial independence for seniors is vital for the future. If we consider the statistics handled by private pension funds -less than 10% of the elderly reach retirement age with economic independence-. And linking them with the projection for the year 2037 that we pointed out at the beginning of this article, leads us to reflect that we must strengthen the pension and social security systems with private mutual funds in agreement with the States.
Sources consulted
