​Bogotá, D.C, September 14, 2022.  The Ministry of Health and Social Protection celebrates the ratification, by the Colombian State, of the "Inter-American Convention on the Rights of Older Persons," which was adopted in Washington on June 15, 2015 by the Organization of American States (OAS).

This tool seeks to promote, protect, and ensure the recognition and full enjoyment and exercise, under conditions of equality, of all human rights and fundamental freedoms of the elderly.

"The Government is committed to guaranteeing the rights of the elderly, and to complying with the 27 rights consigned in the convention, advancing towards equality and overcoming social injustice," said Jaime Urrego, deputy minister of public health and provision of services.

He added that "it is an honor to be part of this first harvest of civil society struggle. Now comes the task of implementing it. We have to finish building the action plan of the National Policy on Aging and Old Age, with the participation of the territories and their diversity, which we have been leading with the support of the 16 signatory entities and the National Council for the Elderly."

The convention is a unique document of its kind that reaffirms the respect due to human rights, their promotion and protection, in line with the provisions of the American Declaration of Rights and Duties of Man and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

For his part, Foreign Minister Álvaro Leyva, who is leading the process at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of depositing before the OAS Colombia's adherence to the Inter-American Convention on the Rights, reaffirmed his strong commitment to this population: "I am part of this population of older people in Colombia, which is a sign that a person, regardless of their condition, socio-economic level and age, continues to be useful and productive for a society and for the family. I feel honored and exalted to be part of this fight and to sign this accession not only as minister but also as a representative of this population group; this is a very pleasant coincidence," he noted.

It is relevant to highlight how civil society, as represented in organizations of the elderly, organizations that work for and by the elderly, scientific societies, academia, among others, has actively participated in advocating to achieve this important milestone in the country, becoming the ninth in accession to the convention.

From 2011 to 2021, older people doubled their participation in the national total with a growth of 51.5%, representing 13.9% of the Colombian population today, that is, 7,107,914 older people. According to what is projected, there will be almost 3 million older people in 2031, which would be equivalent to 10,012,815 older adults.

Background

On June 15, 2015, the Inter-American Convention on the Rights of Older Persons, of the Organization of American States (OAS), was adopted in Washington. This is a tool to eliminate all forms of discrimination, and thus improve their quality of life.

This convention, which proclaims 15 principles based on human rights and recognizes 27 human rights, was approved by Colombia through Law 2055 of July 2020 and was declared enforceable by the Constitutional Court in Sentence C-395 of November 2021.

National Public Policy on Aging and Old Age

The Ministry of Health and Social Protection started from these precepts for the construction of the Public Policy on Aging and Old Age with the aim of improving the living conditions of this population, their families and communities. For this, it set forth 6 strategic axes and 25 lines of action which converge with the formulation of the National Intersectoral Action Plan for the Implementation of the National Policy on Aging and Old Age, which is under construction, and the National Observatory on Aging and Old Age that was launched on August 4.

The purpose of the policy is for older people to have access to a basic old age pension, enjoy effective access to public goods, be protected against mistreatment, discrimination and violence and the redefinition of their value in society through the development of opportunities for a productive old age, among others.

"We assume this responsibility, as well as that of the National Observatory on Aging and Old Age, to work in an articulated manner and diligently guarantee real access to health services for this population, without any type of discrimination," concluded Urrego.