Международная Федерация по старению: Бюллетень

Ms. Rosa Kornfeld-Matte, Independent Expert

The Independent Expert on the enjoyment of all human rights by older persons, Ms. Rosa Kornfeld-Matte, is assessing the human rights implications of the implementation of MIPAA pursuant to the Human Rights Council Resolution 24/20.

The Independent Expert prepared a questionnaire with the objective to collect information about whether the implementation of MIPAA has enhanced the enjoyment of all human rights by older persons or whether it has had a negative impact and which rights have been affected.  It also seeks to identify good practices and challenges encountered by Member States regarding the promotion and protection of all human rights by older persons in the implementation of MIPAA.

Ms. Kornfeld-Matte welcomes input from international and regional organizations, civil society, associations of older persons, national human rights institutions (NHRIs), academia, research institutions and private sector, among others.

The questionnaire is available in English, French and Spanish and should be completed in either of these languages.  Responses to the questionnaire should be addressed to the Independent Expert, Ms. Kornfeld-Matte and sent to olderpersons@ohchr.org, with a copy to Khaled Hassine,khassine@ohchr.org by 31 July 2015. 

Are you 50+ Looking for Work or a Change in Career?

AGEWORKS aims to combat the ageism stigma and discredit myths about employing older people.  AGEWORKS will identify and celebrate companies that promote age-friendly business and employment practices.

Visit the AGEWORKS website and take advantage of one or all webinars.

The UN Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction Spells Disaster for Older Adults 

Older adults were not a priority at the UN Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction and were only mentioned twice in the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030.

The framework discussed the importance of adopting a broader, person-centred preventative approach to disaster risk.  This included engaging relevant stakeholders in the design and implementation of policies, plans and standards.

Older adults were almost completely overlooked.  Older adults are an invaluable asset in reducing risk in disasters with their years of knowledge, skills and wisdom and should be considered an imperative stakeholder in the discussion of risk reduction.

The IFA is taking responsibility to demonstrate the importance of including older adults in the discussion and implementation of policies surrounding disaster management in the IFA 13th Global Conference on Ageing: Disasters in an Ageing World — Readiness, Resilience and Recovery. 

For more information, read the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030.

The IV. TURYAK International Congress on Longevity on 13-14 March 2015 in Istanbul, Turkey aimed to introduce active old-age living as a necessary complement to the ever improving longevity of our times.  The Congress viewed the growing segment of the older age population as an opportunity and an asset.

For more information, read the Declaration from the IV. TURYAK International Congress on Longevity.

The report, entitled An Age Friendly City — how far has London come? demonstrated considerable successes.  For example, the continuation of the hugely popular Freedom Pass and Oyster 60+ for public transit as well as the introduction of 20 mph zones and countdown technology at traffic lights are welcomed by all older Londoners.

On the other hand, the report stresses the persistent shortage of affordable homes for older Londoners as well as the poor quality of most housing, indicating more diverse housing choices are necessary.  The report further discusses how older adults are a valuable, but often unrecognized resource to their families, community groups, the economy and wider society.

For more information, view the Press Release and the report, An Age Friendly City- How Far Has London Come?

Dobroe Delo (Kind Deed) is a Moscow-based charity providing care for older adults, founded in 2000 by Dr. Karyukhin, Gerontologist.

Dobroe Delo’s main mission was to establish and develop an efficient system of gerontology services across Russia with particular focus on lonely and isolated older adults who were victims of totalitarian regimes (Gulag).  For the past 15 years, this organization has provided gerontological legal assistance, supplied medical and social at-home help to isolated older adults, and has led scientific research in the field of social gerontology.

Through the immense commitment of Dr. Karyukhin, Dobroe Delo has established special consultative status at the UN.

Learn more about the Dobroe Delo Fund on their website.

The new IRPP Study entitled Financing Municipal Services in Aging Communities raises difficult policy questions and financing dilemmas for municipalities, touching on important services like social housing, public transit and recreation. To answer questions set out in this report, a municipal finance expert demonstrates an analytical framework along with some guiding principles, using Ontario as a case study.

Discussions such as the one set out in the IRPP study are significant as the older adult population grows, making it increasingly difficult for local governments to introduce necessary changes and to provide and finance the services their ageing communities need.

For more information, read the IRPP Study.

Data on older women and men are missing — often not collected, fully analysed, reported or utilised, leading to the absence of issues affecting older people in policies and development interventions.

Age specific data gaps must be filled with new data aggregated by age, especially covering the age cohorts from 60 years and over.

For more information, read the Stakeholder Group on Ageing’s Indicators for SDGs — disaggregation of data by age.

Older Adults make up 38% in Public Housing for Disaster Victims in Tohoku Area  

Since the 2011 earthquake, older adults aged 65 years and older are still living in temporary public housing, with Iwate prefecture having the highest figure at ~42%, followed by ~37% in Fukushima and ~36% in Miyagi.

One in five older adult disaster victims cannot rebuild their homes on their own.  Consequently, around 30,000 housing units for disaster victims have been planned for construction, mainly in the three prefectures.

Learn more on the Japan Times website.

Despite the improvements of women’s lives within the context of social, economic, political and education mobility, there still exists gender-based violence against older woman and children.  Specifically in Africa, many woman and children as still oppressed and dehumanized by their communities from accusations such as witchcraft.

Read more of what Mr. Slewion, representative of the International Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse (INPEA), discussed at the UN Women Panel in New York.

Meet Betty, 88 years old, residing at a Revera residence in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, who pursued a career in nursing, even though it was against her father’s wishes.

There have been dramatic changes to women’s position in society over the past 100 years, and who better to talk about these changes than woman in their eighties and nineties? These videos were created in collaboration with Revera and Reel Youth Age is More Film Project: Women’s Wisdom Edition.

Listen to Betty’s story and her advice for young women today.

Seventeen rural councils were funded by the Municipal Association of Victoria in Australia to work with older residents in creating more age-friendly communities.

The new Good Practice Guide is now available and provides insights on the impact of these local projects on the lives of older people.  The projects highlighted in this guide will be of interest to councillors, council staff, community organizations, agencies, and older adults.

Access the guide on the Municipal Association of Victoria’s website.

Ms. Margaret Gillis, President, International Longevity Center of Canada (Canada)

Professor Leonid Godlevsky, Odess National Medical University (Ukraine)

NWT Seniors’ Society, Represented by Ms. Barbara Hood, ED (Canada)

Thank you for your membership to IFA’s global network and look forward to your continuing support in generating positive change for older people throughout the world!