"The challenges ahead are known," said the United Nations Independent Expert on the enjoyment of all human rights by older persons, Rosa Kornfeld-Matte, at the International Conference on Ageing in Brdo, while recalling that the number of over 60s is expected to more than double globally from about 900 million people in 2015 to more than 2 billion in 2050.

"For years the debate on ageing turned around identifying gaps in the international framework of the human rights of older persons," Ms. Kornfeld-Matte said. "Addressing these gaps and improving implementation at the global level, is the way forward."

Population ageing constitutes one of the most significant demographic transformations of the 21st century. For the first time in history, humankind will reach a point at which there are fewer children than older persons in the world.

"It is time to rethink ageing and to move towards rights-based solutions," the Independent Expert stressed urging all governments to fulfil their obligations to ensure that older persons can enjoy the full spectrum of their human rights and age with dignity.

Representatives of States, regional and international organisations as well as civil society gathered on 11 and 12 April for the first time in Brdo, Slovenia, to discuss ways and means to effectively empower older persons. "I welcome the Conference’s contribution towards shifting the focus of the discussing from stocktaking to concrete action," she noted.

The Independent Expert recalled that the UN Human Rights Council, by creating her mandate, made an important step towards addressing the existing protection gap. In that regard, in her comprehensive report to the Council in September 2016, Ms. Kornfeld-Matte will look at all aspects of the mandate and will include a collection of best practices and gaps in the implementation of existing instruments within various thematic areas related to older persons and an assessment of the human rights impact of the implementation of the Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing- one of the main political documents dedicated to older persons.

Source:WAM