A demographic revolution is taking place ∈ the world. We are witnessing the perks of improved healthcare
and living standards as longevity rises across the globe. The number of people over the age of 60 is expected to
increase to 2 billion by 2050, from about 600 million ∈2000. This change will be most dramatic ∈ countries ∈
the global south, where the number of older people is expected to triple during the next 40 years. However, as
often happens with demographic change, social attitudes and legal protection lag behind. Those ∈ charge of
making policies are \left scrambling to keep up with the transforming landscape.
With global aging of the population, there is an urgent need to reassess what role individual societies give to
older people to make sure that they are capable of enjoying a decent standard of living and can continue to
contribute to society as long as they wish. Shunting older people to the sidelines of our communities is not only
unjust, it makes little sense for countries to miss out on the huge opportunities that longer life brings, and the asset
that older people represent. Many older people keep on working and, ∈ so doing, important knowledge and skills
are passed on to younger generations, and to others who act as carers to their family. In most countries, it is still
considered acceptable to deny people work, access to healthcare, education or the \right to participate ∈ government
purely because of their age.
Indeed, except for migrant workers and their families, international human rights conventions do not
recognise specifically that age discrimination should not be allowed. Human rights are, of course, universal, and,
there fore, older people\\'s rights are protected ∈a general sense by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,
but the absence of an explicit mandate against age discrimination allows the issue to slip under the net and
continue as acceptable practice. Age International is thus pushing for progress towards a new UN convention on
the rights of the elderly, to clarify how rights can work better for people ∈ later life. We have learned from the
experience of human rights conventions for children, women and people with disabilities, that giving
governments greater guidance on how to protect the rights of people ∈ specific circumstances can have a huge
impact on their wellbeing. What it means to be "human" and to live with dignity, respect and security requires
different responses from society, depending on our age and physical circumstances. This is widely accepted for
other demographic groups, and should be the basis for our approach to older people. Older people are not a
homogenous group – differences ∈ how we age, our economic status and social standing \underline the arbitrary
nature of age discrimination. Around the world, the debate about how to adapt to a changing demographic has
been framed ∈ terms of how working-age people will cope with the "burden" of an ageing population, rather than
recognising the value and potential older people bring to their communities when they live healthier, longer,
active lives. Experience shows us that if discrimination is made legally unacceptable, impetus is given to a
societal shift ∈ attitude – witness, for example, the transformation of women\\'s lives ∈ some countries where sex
discrimination laws have been passed. The need to make older people\\'s rights clearer ∈ law is increasingly
important ∈ many developing countries, where the impact of HIV, conflict and parents seeking work ∈ cities
have often meant grandparents are taking on the care of their grandchildren at a time ∈ their lives when they
most need support. Thus, the enshrinement of the rights of the elderly ∈aUN convention, not only would we
ensure that all individuals are granted security and dignity ∈ old age, but that those caring for the next generation
are given the best possible environment to raise happy, healthy, productive future adults. Governments need to
approach these issues head on and make sure that global human rights legislation is fit for the future and able to
respond to the opportunities and challenges of ageing ∈ the 21st century.
Disponível em: http://www.theguardian.com/global-development/poverty-matters/2013/jul/31/ageism-human-rights-older-people.
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