5.
In 1991 the General Assembly adopted the United Nations Principles for Older
Persons which, because of their programmatic nature, is also an important document
in the present context. 3 It is divided into five sections which correlate closely to the
rights recognized in the Covenant. “Independence” includes access to adequate food,
water, shelter, clothing and health care. To these basic rights are added the
opportunity to remunerated work and access to education and training. By
“participation” is meant that older persons should participate actively in the
formulation and implementation of policies that affect their well-being and share their
knowledge and skills with younger generations, and should be able to form
movements and associations. The section headed “Care” proclaims that older persons
should benefit from family care, health care and be able to enjoy human rights and
fundamental freedoms when residing in a shelter, care or treatment facility. With
regard to “self-fulfilment”, the principles that older persons should pursue
opportunities for the full development of their potential through access to the
educational, cultural, spiritual and recreational resources of their societies. Lastly, the
section entitled “dignity” states that older persons should be able to live in dignity and
security and be free of exploitation and physical or mental abuse, should be treated
fairly, regardless of age, gender, racial or ethnic background, disability, financial
situation or any other status, and be valued independently of their economic
contribution.
6.
In 1992, the General Assembly adopted eight global targets on ageing for the
year 2001 and a brief guide for setting national targets. In a number of important
respects, these global targets serve to reinforce the obligations of States parties to the
Covenant. 4
7.
Also in 1992, and in commemoration of the tenth anniversary of the adoption
of the Vienna International Plan of Action by the Conference on Ageing, the
General Assembly adopted the Proclamation on Ageing in which it urged support of
national initiatives on ageing so that older women are given adequate support for their
largely unrecognized contributions to society and older men are encouraged to
develop social, cultural and emotional capacities which they may have been prevented
from developing during breadwinning years; families are supported in providing care
and all family members encouraged to cooperate in care giving; and that international
cooperation is expanded in the context of the strategies for reaching the global targets
on ageing for the year 2001. It also proclaimed the year 1999 as the International
Year of Older Persons in recognition of humanity’s demographic “coming of age”. 5
3
General Assembly resolution 46/91 of 16 December 1991, “Implementation of the International Plan
of Action on Ageing and related activities”, annex.
4
Global targets on ageing for the year 2001: a practical strategy (A/47/339), chapters III and IV.
5
General Assembly resolution 47/5 of 16 October 1992, “Proclamation on Ageing”.