Holy See urges promotion and
protection of human rights of the elderly
 |
| The elderly in their twilight years |
Archbishop Bernadito Auza, the Holy See’s Permanent Observer
to the United Nations in New York, on April 15 addressed a working group on the
promotion and protection of the human rights of older persons.
By Robin Gomes
The Holy See is urging the promotion and protection of the
rights of the elderly, saying they are the living memory of our people who can
help everyone discover their roots and dignity.
“The promotion and protection of the human rights of older
persons will be enhanced when they are advanced in the strength of youth, in
the maturity of adulthood, in the vulnerability of illness, and in the weakness
of the final moments of life,” said Archbishop Bernadito Auza, the
Holy See’s Permanent Observer to the United Nations in
New York, on Monday.
He was speaking at a working group on measures to enhance
the promotion and protection of the human rights of older persons.
Exclusion of the elderly
Warning with the words of Pope Francis that we have
“normalized the exclusion of our elderly,” the Vatican diplomat said they are
disproportionately impacted by the burdens of poverty, illness, disability,
social isolation, violence, abandonment, abuse, and lack of access to such
basic resources as adequate food and shelter, quality health care, reliable
communication, nourishing companionship, and effective support in times of
violence or disaster.
Respect for old age
To counter this trend, Arch. Auza suggested two areas of
focus. Firstly, he called for “education, training, life-long learning
and capacity building” to foster respect for the wisdom of age and the value of
full participation that leaves no senior behind. He said the elderly are
the “living memory of our people,” and for that reason they can help
everyone to discover their roots and become more aware of their own dignity.”
Social security
The other area of focus is to ensure “social protection and
social security” to the elderly which they are too often denied because they
are not considered “productive” and “useful” anymore and hence are a burden to
government and society.
This attitude is particularly pronounced in places
where euthanasia and assisted suicide claim the lives of the
elderly who are ill and vulnerable. The Holy See condemns, in the strongest
possible terms, these practices and calls for the protection of older persons
from such attacks.
Arch. Auza also called for redoubling efforts to promote
human rights for all, saying it will help promote an intergenerational solidarity that
does not separate generations from each other but binds them together.
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