The United Nations General Assembly UNGA President, Csaba Korosi has lamented that economic and social barriers make many older people more exposed to poverty, diseases or ill-treatment and often affected first and worst.
Korosi who disclosed this at the 13th session of the open-ended working group of ageing in Geneva on Monday, said many widows continue to face the loss of property rights, discrimination and harmful traditional practices in many countries.
According to him, “Health-related expenses push over 100 million people into extreme poverty every year. Data shows that many of the oldest among us, those who desperately need this access, cannot afford to be healthy.
“This is an injustice that is massively exacerbated in times of conflicts or human rights crises. If we have learnt anything from the pandemic, it is that the health of any of us affects the health of all of us. And excluding anybody endangers everybody”, Korosi added.
The UNGA President stated that the right to health and access to health services applies to everyone and is an urgent priority for older populations. “Three health-related processes are currently ongoing in the General Assembly.
“They can make these rights truly inclusive of us all. In a world that is growing more digitally connected by the day, we must ensure older persons are not marginalised. They possess skills, experience, wisdom which make them pillars of our communities.
“We should make certain they have the tools to overcome feelings of isolation and depression. It is not only a moral obligation; it is also in our best interest to utilise the vast knowledge possessed by them.
“An ancient African proverb captures this sentiment: “those who respect the elderly pave the road towards success”. The 2030 Agenda calls for additional measures to ensure no one is left behind on the road to achieving the SDGs”.
He urged Member States to proactively enable older people to advocate for their needs. “In various ways, Member States should consult with the elderly on the issues that affect them, give them the resources to promote equity, and encourage their participation.
“We cannot forget that the youth of today are the elders of tomorrow – and I am so happy to see so many young colleagues in the audience. Discussions on future generations should account for the challenges faced by the old”, he said.
Korosi said further said “Ageing is just another word for living”, while thanking medical and technological advances, that makes people reach an age older than ever before in human history.
“Yet, regardless of how many years we have been here, we all deserve to live in health, respect and dignity. With the life span stretching and the number of older persons rising, our world is visibly ageing and visibly changing”.
The UNGA President said by 2030, it is projected that the population over 60 will be double the number of children under the age of 5, adding that this tells how societies deal with their ageing members. “It’s not only a matter of cultural and historic heritage.
“It is a powerful indicator about the cohesion of the given community. Not necessarily about the level of their material affluence, but certainly about the trust and stability of the society.
“The SDG Summit in September will be the occasion to renew our commitment to combatting ageism and poverty affecting elderly populations”, Korosi viewed.