QARMAs and Issues Problems
How to increase the Possibility of Convention on the Rights of Older
participation of the Persons
society including EU Stance
government and EU believes in implementing existing framework
international (Madrid International Plan of Action) &
organization in the combating age discrimination. - EU closing
global debate on older remark for OEWGA 2016
people’s rights, including “Furthermore, the Working Group held an
the added value of a UN interactive discussion on “Measures to enhance
Convention for this the promotion and protection of the human
rights of older persons? rights and dignity of older persons such as best
practices, lessons learned possible content for a
multilateral legal instrument and identification of
areas and issues where further protection and
action is needed”. In that sense, some
delegations expressed their views regarding the
need to better implement the existing
international legal framework, such as the basic
human rights treaties as well as the Madrid
International Plan of Action, bridging the gap
between policy and practice, as well as to
mainstream the situation of older persons in the
existing reporting and monitoring mechanisms
on human rights, such as the Universal Periodic
Review of the Human Rights Council and in the
reports submitted to different treaty bodies.” –
OEWGA Report 2016
“Some stated that the protection of older
persons could best be strengthened by
improving the implementation of existing
international human rights instruments, while
others stressed the importance of developing a
legally binding multilateral instrument to set
universal standards and obligations.” OEWGA
Report 2018
Using regional instruments:
- Article 25 – The rights of the elderly
Solutions Motions
Pro Convention:
“The Government of Lesotho believes that, given the
complexity pertaining to the economic, health and social
issues faced by older persons, a UN Convention would be the
best instrument to address these issues and protect the rights
of older persons. The purpose of the Convention must be to
address issues of human rights faced by older persons
adopting a life course approach. This would promote equality
across all ages and prevent all forms of prejudice and age
discrimination that deny older persons equal opportunities,
and prevent them from enjoying their rights and
opportunities like all citizens of the country. For the
Convention to be effective, it needs to clearly articulate the
challenges of older persons and provide mechanisms to
prevent and respond to any violations of human rights
because of age. Furthermore, the Convention must state
categorically how Member States should implement its
contents, including legislative measures and the development
of policies adopting the content of the Convention.”
Questions & debate:
1. Kenapa convention? Why the existing framework is
not enough? --> need to counter that
2. Why does it have to be legally binding?
3. Emg MIPAA se ga efektif itu? --> gives highlight on
MIPAA’s success
4. Why dont we just recommends every nations to have
legal framework on trheir own
We believe that the existing framework accomodates the
issue in tackling rights of older persons.
Existing framework allows flexibility for countries in solving
this issue.
Existing frameworks already address and assert the rights of
older persons.
E.g. Madrid Plan is based on UN Principles for Older Persons
and contain implementable solutions to ensure the rights are
fulfilled
 - “The Union recognises and respects the
rights of the elderly to lead a life of
dignity and independence and to
participate in social and cultural life.”
- Inter-American Convention on Protecting
the Human Rights of Older Persons
- Protocol to the African Charter on
Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Rights
of Older Persons in Africa
- United Nations Principles for Older
Persons Adopted by General Assembly
resolution 46/91 of 16 December 1991
The European Union representative stated that
they are open to substantive discussions on the
rights of older people. He called for identifying
priority elements to improve the protection of
human rights of older persons and to formulate
ideas how it could be done in practice. He
further acknowledged that policies on health and
welfare need to be complemented with
measures to empower older people and
safeguard their autonomy.
Increasing participation to improve
implementation– Stakeholders:
a. society -->
b. government
c. international organization
d. older people
existing treaty bodies are already constrained with heavy
workload and limited timelines, and therefore, could not be
further burdened with the responsibility of addressing the
human rights of older persons
Believing that further improvements on the implementation
of existing frameworks, such as but not limited to the Madrid
Plan, is needed;
Notes that a new legal framework should be produced if
improvements on the implementation of existing frameworks
proved to be inefficient;
endorses further implementation of existing frameworks,
such as but not limited to MIPAA, should it be proven
ineffective baru buat legal framework
- Increasing participation by creating safe space, both
in the digital and real world, to facilitate dialogues
regarding the rights of older persons
- Society:
o Promote youth participations in supporting
the rights of older persons through
communication means suited to them. E.g.
through prevalent social media platforms
o Encourages public discussions broadcasted in
the mass media to raise awareness.
- Government:
o Encourages the creation or the review of
national legal framework regarding older
persons rights based on the Madrid Plan and
UN Principles for Older Persons. This will give
emphasis on the issue.
- International organization:
o NGO: enhance awareness and help change of
behavior in the society through volunteering

Major constraints on the further implementation
of the Madrid International Plan of Action on
Ageing remain the same as those identified
during the second review and appraisal in 2012
in some regions: lack of human and financial
resources, lack of political will and lack of data
for evidencebased policymaking and, hence,
recognition of the need for policy action on
ageing. A regional rights-based perspective on
ageing is evident in the Latin American region
and in the general policy approaches of other
Member States, but overall, remains lacking.
programs that helps the fulfillment of older
persons’ right.
o Technology companies: helps support living of
olders person (maintaining health etc.)
through the advancement of technology
o Intergovernmental organization: monitors
progress, gives consultation and
recommendation
- Older people
o destigmatization – older people should
present themselves as individuals who can
contribute back to the society. Hence,
building a sense of acceptance and
encourages other members of the society to
support for his rights. In doing contributions,
older people can be helped by the means of
technology and social services.
Improvements?
- lack of human and financial resources:
through Private foundations &
- lack of political will and lack of data for evidencebased
policymaking
New information technologies make possible—and
affordable—a series of monitoring opportunities, data
exchanges, analytical inquiries, policy evaluations, and
performance comparisons that would have been impossible
even a few years ago.
By more effectively harnessing these technologies,
government can begin to close data gaps that have long
impeded effective policymaking. As problems are illuminated,
policy-making can become more targeted, with attention
appropriately and efficiently directed; more tailored, so that
responses fit divergent needs; more nimble, able to adjust
quickly to changing circumstances; and more experimental,
with real-time testing of how problems respond to different
 strategies. Building such a data-driven government will
require sustained leadership and investment, but it is now
within our reach.
The Political Will and Public Will (PPW) Approach differs
from other approaches to enacting social change. The PPW
Approach calls for systematic assessment of both political will
and public will and also maps to potential tools. (World Bank)

How to ensure that older Open Ended Working Group National level
people are consulted at How to include older people in the dialogue – The establishment or the involvement of rights of older
the national and national and international persons advocacy groups.
international level in - The purpose is to compile aspirations from older
advance of the OEWG so people.
that the member states - The advocacy groups should remain neutral, not be
are well informed by the affiliated to any political stance, and act in accordance
views of older persons? of the fulfillment of older persons rights.
- The groups should provide statements and
recommendations, based on evidences gathered, for
the national legislative body to take into account
during policymaking and policy amendments.
- The groups should hold open dialogues between older
persons in order to achieve a consensus agreed by all
older persons.
 International level
- The establishment of an assembly consisting of
representatives of national advocacy groups.
- The assembly should give perspective of the older
person’s rights fulfillment during meetings, summit,
and events related to human rights.
How to build on the Independent Expert recommendation & Tailoring it to the nation’s need
conclusions and conclusion --> how to effectuate it at the Encourages nations to set personal priority and build on
recommendations of the national, regional, international conclusions and recommendations of expert based on their
Independent Expert at priority
the national, regional,
and international level?

Defining older people

Defining the problem in ageing people:
- generation gap – tech advancement
- Ageism and discrimination in labor market
- insufficient social protection policies and medical infrastructure
- violation of rights
Identifying root causes
Country stance
- bulgarian demographics
 - bulgarian views of older ppl
Bulgaria ranks fourth in the world in population ageing, figures released by the United Nations suggest.
The figures were presented at the round table “Improving the Demographic Situation in Bulgaria” held under the auspices of Deputy Prime Minister
Valeri Simeonov.
This country with a share of 26.1% of the population aged 60 and more ranks fourth in the world after Japan, Italy and Germany.

In the course of ten years /2004-2014/ the population of Bulgaria shrunk by more than 558,000. Every year the country loses close to 50,000 people.

Currently the labor market does not experience a conflict of generations. If at the beginning of the century the ratio of those leaving the market versus
the ones entering it was 100:124, today as 100 leave the market, only 64 young people join it.

- past actions
development of long term care – key priority
“This is not the G8, this is not the G20, this is the G192”
This clause is like Santa…a good Claus.”