"We should all be able to aspire to a life of dignity, free from fear and want in our old age"

Maldives Minister of Foreign Affairs and the President of the 76th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), Abdulla Shahid has said that everyone should be able to aspire to a life of dignity, free from fear and want in their old age.

The Maldivian foreign minister made this remark at the 12th session of the Open-ended Working Group on Ageing for the purpose of strengthening the protection of the human rights of older persons, on Monday.

In his message, the foreign minister noted that the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic has expanded several gaps in protection suffered by the elderly, due to which they continue to endure challenges such as discrimination, lack of social protection, limited access to health services, limited economic opportunities, inadequate pensions, and human rights abuses.

Further he noted that the current international legal framework remains “fragmented” and “incomplete” to address specific protection gaps for the elderly to enjoy their human rights.

Highlighting that people are living “longer lives”, FM Shahid stated that the number of older persons is projected to more than double between 2020 and 2050.

With this being said, he urged the people to lay the foundation for a more resilient, compassionate future as the “decade of action” now shifts to a “decade of recovery”.

FM Shahid highlighted that an ageing population presents important opportunities including an opportunity to refocus on strengthening human rights for the elderly, the opportunity to ensure that the elderly meaningfully and effectively participate in their communities and act to revitalize their commitment to the 2030 Agenda, with stronger protections for the elderly including protection from poverty and ageism.