Protecting dignity, human rights of older persons stressed
UN chief added that older persons can make significant contributions in terms of their knowledge and experience.
UNITED NATIONS: In a message on International Day of Older Persons, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres underscored the need for protecting the dignity and human rights of older persons, and addressing the challenges they face in society.
The theme of this year’s International Day was “Fulfilling the promises of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights for older persons: across generations.”
The number of people aged 65 years or older worldwide is projected to more than double, from 761 million in 2021 to 1.6 billion in 2050 with the number of people aged 80 years or older growing even faster.
This underscores the urgency of strengthening the protection of the human rights of current and future generations of older persons around the world.
The UN chief added that older persons can make significant contributions in terms of their knowledge and experience, and have the potential to contribute to peace, sustainable development and the protection of the environment.
“We must ensure their active engagement, full participation, and essential contributions – including through social and workplace policies built around their specific needs,” he said.
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