A/HRC/26/46
term care based on principles for improved quality of service and priority areas for action
set out in the WeDO project.
45.
In the interactive dialogue, representatives of Care Rights, INPEA and the Older
Women’s Network, Europe discussed long-term care and end-of-life decisions. Speakers
raised the implications of migration for long-term care, the lack of adequate protections of
older persons’ rights, including legal protections of their independence and autonomy,
inadequate or unaffordable long-term care solutions, and the absence of an explicit right to
long-term care. They called for the establishment of a new instrument on the rights of older
persons. One speaker noted that progress was also necessary at the national level, citing the
example of stalled legislative reform to protect persons living in long-term private
residential care homes in the United Kingdom under the national human rights act.
46.
In her concluding remarks, Ms. Dhar emphasized the complexity of long-term care
and called upon governments to increase financing. Ms. Mahler explained that, while the
German Institute for Human Rights was aware of the need for culturally sensitive long-term
care for migrants, the capacity to address those needs, particularly in the palliative care
sector, was lacking. She emphasized that private care institutions were also subject to
human rights responsibilities. Ms. Luherne claimed that end-of-life care was part of
palliative care and referenced current work at the European level to integrate palliative care
into all health-care systems. On quality of care concerns, she recommended that the
European quality framework become the standard in all care settings, public and private.
H.
Experiences and opportunities for bilateral cooperation on the rights of
older persons
47.
Ms. Bashtovenko, president of the Resource Centre for the Elderly, described the
organization’s work to promote continuing independence and autonomy for older persons
through cooperation with other organizations. The Resource Centre provided legal support,
training, and information, and organized self-help groups to give medical and social support
to older persons in Kyrgyzstan. It also lobbied at the local, national and international levels
for policy changes, and participated in government working groups on policy issues
affecting older persons. It was a member of a number of coalitions of NGOs, including the
Age Net International network, which was active in 10 countries in the region. Age Net
International held monthly coordination meetings, lobbied with State agencies, developed a
culture of philanthropy, and provided humanitarian assistance to members. Among other
successes, the network had successfully lobbied for a bill on social protection in
Kyrgyzstan, which was currently being implemented.
48.
Mr. Jessurun, representing ADI/CLATJUPAM/CORV, recounted 25 years of
experience working on older persons’ issues through grass-roots organizations in Latin
America, first at the national level, and then in an international coalition. Following the
Madrid Action Plan, the coalition aimed to realize all human rights of older persons by
2012. All organizations and national federations were autonomous, but coordination
meetings allowed for sharing information and adopting common action plans. Through
participation in intergovernmental meetings, the coalition successfully lobbied for a
commitment from regional governments to protect the rights of older persons. It had
developed a digital bulletin to reduce the costs of cooperation, and online forums to share
experiences. Since 2012, the coalition had increasingly focused on international
cooperation to share the experience of the Latin America and Caribbean region and provide
input to United Nations processes that might lead to the development of a binding
instrument on the rights of older persons. The coalition had also developed a regional
strategy on dementia and planned to continue its advocacy in relevant forums.
13
Select target paragraph3
Connect to a paragraph
Connect to an entity
Disable highlights
Add to table of contents