18.
The methods that States parties use to fulfil the obligations they have assumed
under the Covenant in respect of older persons will be basically the same as those for
the fulfilment of other obligations (see general comment No. 1 (1989)). They include
the need to determine the nature and scope of problems within a State through regular
monitoring, the need to adopt properly designed policies and programmes to meet
requirements, the need to enact legislation when necessary and to eliminate any
discriminatory legislation and the need to ensure the relevant budget support or, as
appropriate, to request international cooperation.
In the latter connection,
international cooperation in accordance with articles 22 and 23 of the Covenant may
be a particularly important way of enabling some developing countries to fulfil their
obligations under the Covenant.
19.
In this context, attention may be drawn to Global target No. 1, adopted by the
General Assembly in 1992, which calls for the establishment of national support
infrastructures to promote policies and programmes on ageing in national and
international development plans and programmes. In this regard, the Committee notes
that one of the United Nations Principles for Older Persons which Governments were
encouraged to incorporate into their national programmes is that older persons should
be able to form movements or associations of older persons.
5. Specific provisions of the Covenant
Article 3: Equal rights of men and women
20.
In accordance with article 3 of the Covenant, by which States parties
undertake “to ensure the equal right of men and women to the enjoyment of all
economic, social and cultural rights”, the Committee considers that States parties
should pay particular attention to older women who, because they have spent all or
part of their lives caring for their families without engaging in a remunerated activity
entitling them to an old-age pension, and who are also not entitled to a widow’s
pension, are often in critical situations.
21.
To deal with such situations and comply fully with article 9 of the Covenant
and paragraph 2 (h) of the Proclamation on Ageing, States parties should institute
non-contributory old-age benefits or other assistance for all persons, regardless of
their sex, who find themselves without resources on attaining an age specified in
national legislation. Given their greater life expectancy and the fact that it is more
often they who have no contributory pensions, women would be the principal
beneficiaries.
Articles 6 to 8: Rights relating to work
22.
Article 6 of the Covenant requires States parties to take appropriate steps to
safeguard the right of everyone to the opportunity to gain a living by work which is
freely chosen or accepted. In this regard, the Committee, bearing in mind that older
workers who have not reached retirement age often encounter problems in finding and