Strengthening the rights of older people

Calls to strengthen the human rights for older people have been made as today marks the United Nations (UN) Human Rights Day.

Sue Hendy, COTA Victoria chief executive, claims existing discrimination laws are failing to protect older Australians against age discrimination.

“Australian legislation has no teeth and no one has yet to be prosecuted for discriminating against older people. Yet discrimination is widespread,” Ms Hendy says.

“UN Human Rights Day provides us with an opportunity to draw attention to the situation facing many older people who face age discrimination in employment and in housing,” she adds.

According to Ms Hendy, Australia needs to move towards a community where older peoples’ rights are recognised and promoted and where older people can fully participate as contributing members of society.

“We need to dispel the myths about ageing particularly the link between age and capacity. Older people make a major contribution to our society as carers and volunteers but are denied access to paid employment,” she says.

“Too many older people experience discrimination in employment. Too many are forced to retire early and live on an inadequate Newstart allowance; others become socially dislocated.

“A quarter of people over 65 years are living in poverty with many single aged pensioners finding it difficult to pay increasing rents and rising costs of electricity, gas and water.”

She says as a “good international citizen”, Australia has obligations.

“Australia refuses to support a UN convention on the rights of older people when most of the developing world is keenly supportive of a convention. Older Australians too would welcome a convention that ensures their rights are adequately described and upheld.”

The UN General Assembly proclaimed 10 December as Human Rights Day in 1950, to bring to the attention ‘of the peoples of the world’ the Universal Declaration of Human Rights as the common standard of achievement for all peoples and all nations.