Michelle Bachelet was addressing the Working Group on Ageing, at UN Headquarters in New York, the first to do so in person, since it began its “vital role”, in 2011, she said.

“Today, more than ever, older persons need stronger protection to fully enjoy their human rights”, she added. “But the reality is that international legal frameworks – which should protect everybody, without discrimination – still render older persons invisible.”

Aging world

She noted that by 2050, there will be twice as many older persons aged 65 as there are now, and will outnumber young people aged 15 to 24.

“We should ask ourselves: what kind of world do we want to live in by then? I would like to imagine a world where older people everywhere are guaranteed to live a life of dignity, with economic security.

“A world where they can continue their work and contribute to society for as long as they wish and are able to. Where they can live independently and make their own decisions.”

She called for action to end violence, neglect and abuse of older persons, where “quality health services, including long-term care, are easily accessible.”

“In a future like this, older persons should be able to actively participate and contribute to sustainable development”, she told the meeting, and, if needed, they should have access to justice, for any human rights violations they may suffer.

Distant vision

Currently, “we are far from this vision of a better reality” for the older generation, she warned, noting that the majority of the six million lives lost to COVID-19, were older persons.

“The crisis has exposed and deepened critical human rights protection gaps for older persons”, she said.

“It has demonstrated how age-related discrimination creates and exacerbates poverty and marginalization, and how it amplifies human rights risks. Older persons have been left at the edges of society at the time when they are most in need of our support.”

Climate change too, has left them more likely to face health challenges, and at risk of losing access to food, land, water and sanitation, and ways of making a living in old age.

Кровопролитной осаде Сараево исполняется 30 лет.
An elderly man waits for the tram in Sarajevo, Bosnia, and Herzegovina. 
Photo: World Bank/Flore de Préneuf

Existential threats

“Their fundamental well-being is at grave risk”, said Ms. Bachelet, not least in the context of Russia’s war being waged in Ukraine, where “older persons are facing a particularly appalling humanitarian situation.

“Long-term care facilities are suffering a lack of food, heating, electricity, water and medication. Many residents who have chronic health conditions rely on others for care and are struggling to access bomb shelters or safe areas.”

She points out that violence against older women and the lack of access to medical care and mental health and psychosocial support services had severely impacted health, also in the war-wracked Tigray region of Ethiopia.

“And in Syria, older persons continue to suffer the consequences of destroyed and damaged health infrastructure.”

‘Urgent imperative’ to act

Strengthening the human rights of older persons, is, therefore “an urgent imperative that we all must strive towards”, said the High Commissioner.

For too long, their rights have suffered from “inadequate protection”, and they continue to be overlooked and neglected in national policies.

“At the international level, they are simply forgotten”, she emphasized, pointing out that her Office, OHCHR, had conducted several studies pointing out the protection gaps.

Her report last month to the Human Rights Council on ageism and age discrimination, produced conclusions that were “no surprise” she said.

The existing framework for older persons, is “wholly inadequate”, while international engagement has been “far from systematic” or coherent.

“Finally, the distinct lack of a dedicated human rights instrument for older persons – as well as clear limitations of existing ones – is a continued reminder that we are not doing enough to effectively protect their human rights.”

Ageism pervasive

Ageism is “woven into the very fabric of life” of older persons, said Ms. Bachelet, and all-pervasive.

“The stereotypes resulting from ageism and discrimination are counterproductive and can even be dangerous. They significantly contribute to the vulnerability of older persons and are one of the main obstacles to their enjoyment of human rights.”

Currently, she said, none of the UN human rights treaties contain any specific provision on age discrimination or ageism.

“We need to fight against this. In Our Common Agenda, the UN Secretary-General called for a renewed social contract anchored in human rights. Older persons are integral to this.”

‘Intergenerational solidarity’

She called for the creation of a new and strong “spirit of intergenerational solidarity”, as a way of unlocking progress towards the protection of human rights, “at every stage of life”.

“My hope is that future generations will all be able to enjoy the equalities and human rights we are demanding for older persons as part of this week’s vital discussions.”

She said most importantly – together with the active and meaningful participation of civil society, national rights institutions, and other stakeholders – the journey to bolster rights, “needs to be guided by the voices and lived experience of older persons themselves.”

“The stark picture emerging from Daraa al-Balad and other neighborhoods underscores how much at risk civilians there are, repeatedly exposed to fighting and violence, and in effect under siege”, High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet said.

With the only route out of the city under strict Government control, tanks roll down the streets and people face checkpoints and movement restrictions while their property is seized and stolen, she added.

Military assault

As hostilities between Government forces and armed groups escalated at the end of July, shelling and artillery strikes have been pummeling residential areas.

This follows weeks of growing tension, during which the Government imposed tighter controls on roads in and out of the Daraa al-Balad neighborhood, a former opposition stronghold, and other areas to pressure armed groups to surrender, hand over their weapons and relocate north.

Most recently, they have only been allowing pedestrians out of Daraa al-Balad along the al-Saraya road, subjecting them to strict security checks, according to the UN rights office.

Government forces have also stationed tanks in residential areas to strengthen their military positions in Daraa al-Balad.

“I remind the parties to the conflict of their obligations under international humanitarian law, in particular as regards the protection of civilians, and under international human rights law”, said the UN Human Rights chief.

“Tanks in residential areas and a checkpoint set up in a house, strongly suggest the necessary precautions are not being taken”.

Fighting back

Members of armed opposition groups have launched counterattacks on several areas in rural Daraa Governorate, reportedly capturing dozens of Government soldiers.

According to the UN rights office, OHCHR, this has been the most serious confrontation since 2018 when Government forces established control over Daraa following various Russian-brokered reconciliation deals.

Mounting casualties

Meanwhile, amidst a surge in violence last week, OHCHR documented at least eight civilian deaths by reported ground-based strikes by both Government forces and armed groups.

Among those killed were five members of a family whose home was hit in the town of al-Yaduda in western rural Daraa.

OHCHR said that at least one mortar shell launched by unidentified armed individuals hit and damaged the Daraa National Hospital in Daraa al-Mahatta.

As scores are settled and controls shift within areas, the UN rights office continues to document targeted killings, including at least 101 civilians from January to 31 July.

In a further indication of how tense and dangerous the security situation is across the Daraa governorate, OHCHR said that most people were killed by unidentified perpetrators in drive-by shootings.

Seizures

Among other incidents confirmed by the UN rights office, Government forces seized and occupied several private homes in the areas of Shamal al-Khat, al-Panorama and al-Sabeel in Daraa al-Mahatta, expelling the occupants without allowing them to take any belongings.

These forces also stole money, mobile phones and laptops during searches of at least nine private houses on 30 and 31 July in Daraa al-Mahatta.

Since 28 July, OHCHR said that at least 18,000 civilians have fled from Daraa al-Balad – many to Daraa city itself and nearby areas, including several hundred people sheltering in schools in Daraa al-Mahatta.

“There needs to be an immediate ceasefire to alleviate the suffering of civilians in Daraa”, the High Commissioner insisted. “I also call on the parties to the conflict to allow and facilitate rapid and unimpeded access for humanitarian relief.”