Children and elders are two sides of the same coin. After all, one must pass childhood to become an elder. Today, we mark the International Day of Older Persons (IDOP) and the Children’s Day, though many countries celebrate the Universal Children’s Day on November 20 after the date which marks the anniversary of the dates when the UN General Assembly adopted both the Declaration and Convention of Children’s Rights.
But in celebrating these days together, Sri Lanka shines the spotlight on the issues faced by both these segments. Children also get an idea of how important it is to take care of their parents and other elders, a trait that is ingrained in our psyche.
The goal of Universal Children’s day is to improve child welfare worldwide, promote and celebrate children’s rights and promote togetherness and awareness among all children. Children in today’s world face a multitude of problems and challenges that the world must come together to resolve.
Education is a basic right of every child, but worldwide there are around 300 million children and youth around who do not go to school. They do not get to put on a uniform and walk or take a bus to school; they do not get to sit in a classroom, listen to a teacher, read a textbook and take notes. They do not have the opportunity to learn to read, write and do math. The situation in Sri Lanka is very different, as there is near-universal school attendance by both boys and girls.
It is estimated that there are one billion people around the world with disabilities, and at least one in 10 are children. Again, the vast majority of children with disabilities in the developing world do not go to school. They face multiple barriers, from stigma and ignorance, to lack of infrastructure, materials, or trained teachers.
Child labour – key issues
Child labour is another problem that has to be tackled. Too many children around the world don’t even have a chance to be children. Worldwide, it is estimated that 160 million children are engaged in child labour (UNICEF data). Most often because their families live in poverty, children are asked to contribute to their livelihoods. They do household chores like cleaning, cooking and fetching water, selling goods or working in factories. Child labour can be a couple of hours a day to a full day.
Child soldiers are deployed in many conflicts around the world, which means they have no chance at all for any kind of education, apart from weapons training and the like. It is a harsh life as many of them are abducted in the first place and then compelled to undergo training, with rudimentary facilities and meagre food rations.
Thousands of children are also trafficked for sex and slavery worldwide, not to mention the sexual abuse of children, most often by those close to them. Conflicts and natural disasters have displaced children and separated them from their parents. More than 50 million children have been uprooted from their homes due to conflict, poverty and Climate Change while millions more face violence in their communities.
The world has to confront the “uncomfortable truth” that around the planet, the rights of millions of children are being violated every day. But can the world address these problems? It costs just US$ 1.25 per day per child in developing countries to provide a full cycle of pre-primary through secondary education.
The largest share of this cost, 88 percent, is borne by developing countries themselves. The international community must fill the gap of just 15 cents a day per child to ensure every child can go to school by 2030. This is part of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which were reviewed recently at the SDG Summit held in New York.
Parents’ role
One cannot also forget the role played by parents and teachers in moulding the future generation. UNICEF has drawn attention to the critical role parents play in a child’s first five years through early care giving, socialising and disciplining practices, which can affect their child’s brain development for their whole lives, and even future generations. Parents play a key role in ensuring children get good nutrition, stimulation and protection, known as ‘eat, play and love’, yet they need more support to ensure their children reach their full potential and become responsible adults.
Looking at the other side of the coin – elders – between 2023 and 2030, the number of persons aged 60 years or over is projected to grow by 46 percent (from 962 million to 1.4 billion) globally outnumbering youth, as well as children under the age of 10. Moreover, this increase will be the greatest and most rapid in the developing world. In certain developed and developing countries, the number of older persons already exceeds the number of children. In some developed countries, the number of older persons will be more than twice that of children by 2050. The fastest growing group of the older population is the “oldest old” that is, those who are 80 years or more. In fact, there are some villages in Italy and Japan where everyone is over 80.
Ageing of entire populations is poised to become one of the most significant social transformations of the 21st century. As the UN notes: Older people have always played a significant role in society as leaders, caretakers and custodians of tradition. Yet they are also highly vulnerable, with many falling into poverty, becoming disabled or facing discrimination. As health care improves, the population of older people is growing. Their needs are also growing, as are their contributions to the world.
The IDOP is an opportunity to highlight the important contributions that older people make to society and raise awareness of the opportunities and challenges of ageing in today’s world. It was in 1990 that the United Nations General Assembly designated October 1 as the International Day for the Elderly, also known as the ‘International Day for Older Persons’. This is the result of the UN World Assembly on Ageing which was formed in 1982 to explore and tend to the needs of the elderly in the world.
This year’s theme
The theme for 2023 is “Fulfilling the Promises of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights for Older Persons”. The Objectives of UNIDOP 2023 are to: increase global knowledge and awareness of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and generate commitments among all stakeholders to strengthen the protection of the human rights of current and future generations of older persons around the world; share and learn from intergenerational models for the protection of human rights around the world; call on Governments and UN entities to review their current practices with a view to better integrate a life course approach to human rights in their work, and to ensure the active and meaningful participation of all stakeholders, including civil society, national human rights institutions and older persons themselves, in the work on strengthening solidarity among generations and intergenerational partnerships.
But very often, the rights of older people are neglected or ignored. Around 10 years ago, Governments around the world adopted a resolution at the Economic and Social Council that recognised ageism as “the common source of, the justification for and the driving force behind age discrimination.” Such discrimination shapes how older persons are treated and perceived by their societies, including in medical settings and workplaces, creating environments that limit older persons’ potential and impact their health and well-being. The failure to tackle ageism undermines older persons’ rights and hinders their contributions to social, economic, cultural and political life.
In fact, the booming silver generation is posing serious questions for many countries. Between 1950 and 2010 life expectancy worldwide rose from 46 to 68 years, and it is projected to increase to 81 by the end of the century in most developed and developing countries such as Sri Lanka which have good health indices.
The biggest challenge faced by Governments is managing an ageing population. The best answer is keeping them productive. Some countries have raised the mandatory retirement to above 60, but the bigger challenge is finding avenues to keep them occupied even after a late retirement. There are many jobs which do not require much physical exertion that can be done by older persons.
The rapid advances in medicine and surgery over the past few decades have enabled millions more to live to a ripe old age, but this puts Governments and health care authorities in a dilemma – healthcare costs have spiraled as more people live longer but require advanced medication, surgery and other procedures.
There is no single solution to the problem of managing an aging population. The best approach is to think of them as an asset and evolve programs that enable them to give their best to the society in the twilight of their life.
UN’s 18 Principles
It is in this context that the 18 Principles agreed upon by UN Member States, framed as 18 entitlements that older persons “should have” should be given more prominence.
They are organised into five areas relating to the status of older persons: independence; participation; care; self-fulfilment; and dignity. Under Independence, the UN specifies that: Older persons should have access to adequate food, water, shelter, clothing and healthcare through the provision of income, family and community support and self-help; older persons should have the opportunity to work or to have access to other income- generating opportunities; older persons should be able to participate in determining when and at what pace withdrawal from the labour force takes place; older persons should have access to appropriate educational and training programs; Older persons should be able to live in environments that are safe and adaptable to personal preferences and changing capacities; older persons should be able to reside at home for as long as possible.
The United Nations has called for granting universal access to social services; increasing the number and worth of pension plans; and creating laws and policies that prevent age and gender discrimination in the workplace.
150 years, an attainable age
There are suggestions that people will live up to 150-160 years within the next 150 years thanks to advances in medical care and even ‘bionic’ devices. (The maximum limit today is generally believed to be 120 years). Scientists say the first person to live to 150 has already been born somewhere on the planet. Thus ageing has to be taken even more seriously by Governments and societies.
Paradoxically, more people are dying ‘young’ – at around 50 or 60 years due to factors such as diabetes, obesity, heart disease and lung disease. Earlier, this trend was apparent only in developed countries, but with rapid development, countries with emerging economies are also facing the same problem. Studies on longevity (and even immortality) must necessarily address this issue, along with viable medical solutions.
Unfortunately, some young people in developing countries do not even live up to five years, leave alone old age. Diseases which are easily preventable and curable claim millions of lives of infants and young children every year, especially in the poorest parts of the world including Sub-Saharan Africa. They too will live to a ripe old age if the world can get together to prevent and cure these maladies. A fraction of the annual cumulative defence spending of rich countries can put this right.
But Governments alone cannot be expected to handle the challenges posed by an ageing population, the so-called ‘Silver Generation’. The society does have a role to play. The Elders Day should be celebrated in our homes first.
We must care for and show respect to our elders, be they parents, grandparents or elderly relatives. Indeed, any elderly person deserves our care and respect. These values must be inculcated in the minds of children. Religious leaders have a special role in this regard.
Our social institutions must be strengthened to raise care levels for elderly citizens. Fulfilling the physical, psychological and emotional needs of elders is the key to keeping them healthy and happy. Neglecting these basics could lead to various physical ailments, psychological and emotional disorders and even death in some cases. Elders need attention and care at all times.
This is not only in physical terms (gifts, food, accommodation) but also in terms of ‘quality time’. We must spare time for the elderly, share their happiness and woes and look into their concerns. Remember, we will all be elders one day. How will the younger generation treat us if we do not treat our elders properly?
It is only through such a basic approach that we could collectively fulfill the noble goals espoused by the UN with regard to elders. Today, elders can lead dignified lives thanks to better social care, medical facilities, opportunities for self-enhancement and many other factors. They can and do make a huge contribution to the world we live in – the world needs their guidance, acumen and wisdom. As we celebrate yet another World Children’s and Elders’ Day on October 1, we must reaffirm our commitment to protect and nurture both these groups.
