Sue Westwood and Nancy Knauer (eds) Research Handbook on Law, Society and Ageing.

Edward Elgar.

CHAPTER 9

THE INTER-AMERICAN CONVENTION ON THE PROTECTION OF THE

HUMAN RIGHTS OF OLDER PERSONS – A STEP TOWARDS AN

INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION ON THE RIGHTS OF OLDER PEOPLE?

ANGELA ARENAS MASSA

Introduction
According to the World Health Organization, older adults currently represent 12% of the

world population. By 2050, this figure is expected to increase to 22%, that is, from 605

million to 2 billion. Among them, 434 million will be 80 years old or older, and 80% will

live in low- and middle-income countries1. In the inter-American region, during the 1950s,

people aged 60 and over made up 5.4% of the total population. By 2045 this proportion will

quadruple, reaching 19.8%2.

As in many parts of the world, Latin American countries have been concerned to

ensure that this greater longevity is is also reflected in a better quality of life for older

people. However, unlike in many other parts of the world, Latin American countries

1
United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2019). World Population
Prospects 2019: Highlights (ST/ESA/SER.A/423).U.N., ST/ESA/SER.A/223, World population prospects:
The 2002 revision, 2: sex and age distribution of populations”. (1 January 2003)
2
Sandra Huenchuan & CEPAL, LC/MEX/TS.2021/30, Indicadores sobre envejecimiento y personas mayores
en Centroamérica, México y el Caribe hispano (diciembre 2021).
Sue Westwood and Nancy Knauer (eds) Research Handbook on Law, Society and Ageing.
Edward Elgar.

determined that this necessitated the implementation of legal instruments that respect and

promote older people’s human rights both nationally and in the Latin American region. X

XThe Inter-American Convention on Protecting the Human Rights of Older Persons

is a International Treaty emanated from Organization of American States, adopted

at Washington, D.C., United States of America in the year 2015 (june 15)3. The chapters of

the instrument are:

Chapters Topics

Chapter I: The purpose of this Convention is to promote, protect and ensure the

Purpose, Scope, recognition and the full enjoyment and exercise, on an equal basis, of all

and definitions human rights and fundamental freedoms of older persons, in order to

(articles 1-2) contribute to their full inclusion, integration, and participation in society.

In definitions its find the concept: “abandonment; palliative care;

discrimination; multiple discrimination; age discrimination in old age;

ageing; active an healthy ageing; abuse; negligence; older person; older

person receiving long term care service; integrated social and health care

service; household unit or home, and old age”.

Chapter II: Promotion and defense of the human rights and fundamental freedoms

General of older persons; Recognizing older persons, their role in society, and

Principles (article their contribution to development; The dignity, independence,

3) proactivity, and autonomy of older persons; Equality and non-

discrimination; Participation, integration, and full and effective inclusion

3
OAS, Department of International Law, Inter-American Treaties- A-70, Signatories and Ratifications
(Monday, June 15 , 2015).
.https://www.oas.org/en/sla/dil/inter_american_treaties_A-70_human_rights_older_persons_signatories.asp
Sue Westwood and Nancy Knauer (eds) Research Handbook on Law, Society and Ageing.
Edward Elgar.

in society; Well-being and care; Physical, economic, and social

security; Self-fulfillment; Gender equity and equality, and the life course

approach; Solidarity and the strengthening of family and community

protection; Proper treatment and preferential care; Differentiated

treatment for the effective enjoyment of rights of older persons; Respect

and appreciation of cultural diversity; Effective judicial

protection; Responsibility of the State and participation of the family

and the community in the active, full, and productive integration of older

persons into society, and in the care of, and assistance to, the older

person, in accordance with domestic law.

Chapter III: Adopt measures to prevent, punish, and eradicate practices that

General Duties of contravene this Convention; Adopt affirmative measures and make such

States Parties reasonable adjustments as may be necessary for the exercise of the rights

(article 4) established in this Convention and shall refrain from adopting any

legislative measure that is incompatible with it; Adopt and strengthen

such legislative, administrative, judicial, budgetary, and other measures

as may be necessary to give effect to and raise awareness of the rights

recognized in the present Convention; Adopt, to the full extent of their

available resources and commensurate with their level of development;

Promote public institutions specializing in the protection and promotion

of the rights of older persons and their integral development; Encourage

the broadest participation by civil society and other social actors,

especially older persons, in the drafting, implementation, and oversight

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Edward Elgar.

of public policies and laws to implement this Convention; Promote the

gathering of adequate information, including statistical and research

data, with which to design and enforce policies to implement this

Convention.

Chapter IV: Equality and non-discrimination for reasons of age; Right to life and

Protected Rights dignity in old age; Right to independence and autonomy; Right to

(articles 5-31) participation and community integration; Right to safety and a life free

of violence of any kind; Right not to be subjected to torture or cruel,

inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment; Right to give free and

informed consent on health matters; Rights of older persons receiving

long-term care; Right to personal liberty; Right to freedom of expression

and opinion, and access to information; Right to nationality and freedom

of movement; Right to privacy and intimacy; Right to social security;

Right to work; Right to health; Right to education; Right to culture;

Right to recreation, leisure, and sports; Right to property; Righr to

housing; Right to a healthy environment; Right to accessibility and

personal mobility; Political rights; Freedom of association and assembly;

Situations of risk and humanitarian emergencies; Equal recognition

before the law; Access to justice.

Chapter V: Adopt measures to achieve dissemination of, and to progressively

Awareness- educate the whole of society about, this Convention; Foster a positive

Raising (article attitude to old age and dignified… and avoid stereotypical images and

32) language in relation to old age; Develop programs to sensitize the public

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about the ageing process and older persons; Promote the inclusion of

content that fosters understanding and acceptance of ageing in study

plans and programs at different levels of education; Promote recognition

of the experience, wisdom, productivity, and contribution to

development that older persons offer society as a whole.

Chapter VI: The Follow-up Mechanism shall be established upon deposit of the tenth

Follow up instrument of ratification or accession. Currently the counties that have

mechanism to the ratificated or accessed are: Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Costa Rica,

conventions and Ecuador, El Salvador, Perú and Uruguay.

means of So, lack two countries for its will start the follow up mechanism.

protection

(articles 33-36)

Chapter VII: Signature, ratification, and entry into force; Reservations; Denunciation;

General provision Depository; Amendments.

(articles 37-41)

Older people are not an homogenous group. The experience of ageing and older age

is influence by a wide range of factors, including socioeconomic status, and key life

events4. Older people are highly diverse and it is important to remember this in discussions

about their human rights.5 However, there are significant concerns about the human rights

of older people, and these have been heightened within the context of COVID-19,
4
Francisco Cenobio-Narcizo, Jessica Guadarrama-Orozco, Jessica H., Gerónimo Medrano-Loera, Karina
Mendoza-de la Vega & Daniela González-Morales. Una introducción al enfoque del curso de vida y su uso en
la investigación pediátrica: principales conceptos y principios metodológicos 76 (5) Bol Med Hosp Infant
Mex 203-209. (13 marzo 2020).
5
Ángela Arenas Massa, Adulto Mayor: nuevas perspectivas para el desarrollo humano, (1st ed. 2012).
Sue Westwood and Nancy Knauer (eds) Research Handbook on Law, Society and Ageing.
Edward Elgar.

particularly in relation to older people’s right to social security and pensions, to non-

discrimination, including during humanitarian emergencies, to life, to health, to equally

good care and support and to protection from neglect and abuse. 6 X The worl context has

leave pendent the recognize of the human rights of older people through a Universal

Convention. Until this moment, United Nations only has created the principles on the rights

of older person, guidelines and recommendations through the Independent Expert on the

enjoyment of all human rights by older persons.

This article aims to describe the political and legal evolution of the rights of older

persons in the Latin American region until the arrival of her Inter-American Convention.

And to then starting of this experience, discuss on the posibilty that this treaty will become

in the base of a Universal Convention on the Human Rights of older person.This article

aims to describe the political and legal evolution of the rights of older persons in the Latin

American region until the arrival of the Inter-American Convention on the Protection of

Human Rights of Older Persons, and to then discuss the implications for a UN convention

on the rights of older people. It argues that XXXX

The political and normative evolution of the rights of older persons in the Latin

American Region

United Nations and Human Rights Instruments

6
U.N. , Policy Brief: The impact of Covid-19 on Older Persons, New York, 3 (may 2020)
Sue Westwood and Nancy Knauer (eds) Research Handbook on Law, Society and Ageing.
Edward Elgar.

Within the universal international guidelines, in 1991 the United Nations approved a series

of principles in favor of older people that have been gradually incorporated into the

Resolutions of the United Nations General Assembly 7, in order to recognize their rights and

guarantee them access to specific services. This are independence; involvement; care; self-

fulfilment and; dignity8.

These principles have been supplemented by other international standards. Without

limitation, The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948)9 states in Article 25.1, that

all people have the right to an adequate standard of living that ensures them and their

families healthcare and well-being, and especially food, clothing, housing, medical care and

necessary social services; people also have the right to insurance in case of unemployment,

illness, disability, widowhood, old age or other cases of loss of your means of subsistence

due to causes beyond their control. On the other hand, the International Covenant on

Economic, Social and Cultural Rights contains and recognizes the right to equality between

men and women regarding the enjoyment of economic, social and cultural rights (Article

3), to work (Article 6), to social security (Article 9), to an adequate standard of living,

including food, clothing and housing (Article 11), to the highest possible level of physical

and mental health (Article 12), to education (Article 13), to participation in cultural life and

to benefit from scientific progress (Article 15), among others.

7
U.N. A/RES/46/91,Principios de las Naciones Unidas a favor de las Personas de Edad. Resolución
Asamblea General, 74ª. sesión plenaria (1991)
8
Todos los principios enunciados se encuentran en las siguientes Resoluciones: Res. 3447 Declaración de los
Derechos de los Impedidos (1975). Res. 46/91, Principios de U.N. en favor de Personas de Edad (1991). Res.
47/5, Proclamación Sobre el Envejecimiento (1992). Res. N°50/141 de U.N (1996). Plan de Acción sobre el
Envejecimiento y Declaración Política aprobada en la II Asamblea Mundial sobre el Envejecimiento de la
ONU (2002).
9
U.N., Carta de Naciones Unidas (26 junio 1945).
Sue Westwood and Nancy Knauer (eds) Research Handbook on Law, Society and Ageing.
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In addition to the above, there are different meetings and declarations on the rights

of older persons carried out in the framework of: IV World Conference on Women (1995);

United Nations Conference on Human Settlements (HABITAT II) (1996); International

Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (1966); the Convention on the

Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (1979); the Convention on the

Rights of Persons with Disabilities (2006); Madrid International Plan of Action on Aging

(2002) and ILO Recommendation 162 of 1980. . These international instruments are

generals and don't refer directly to especific group of older persons.

Within the universal international guidelines, in 1991 the United Nations approved a

series of principles in favor of older people that have been gradually incorporated into the

Resolutions of the United Nations General Assembly10, in order to recognize their rights

and guarantee them access to specific services. This are independence; involvement; care;

self-fulfilment and; dignity11.

These principles have been supplemented by other international standardscobran

vida si se complementan con otras normas internacionales, por sí solos no son obligatorios

ni determinantes en su contenido.

From the World Assembly on Aging in Madrid (2002) 12, derived an International

Plan of Action that is offered as a practical instrument that considers the full realization of

10
U.N. A/RES/46/91,Principios de las Naciones Unidas a favor de las Personas de Edad. Resolución
Asamblea General, 74ª. sesión plenaria (1991)
11
Todos los principios enunciados se encuentran en las siguientes Resoluciones: Res. 3447 Declaración de
los Derechos de los Impedidos (1975). Res. 46/91, Principios de U.N. en favor de Personas de Edad (1991).
Res. 47/5, Proclamación Sobre el Envejecimiento (1992). Res. N°50/141 de U.N (1996). Plan de Acción
sobre el Envejecimiento y Declaración Política aprobada en la II Asamblea Mundial sobre el Envejecimiento
de la ONU (2002).
12
U.N., Declaración Política y Plan de Acción Internacional de Madrid sobre el Envejecimiento. Segunda
Asamblea Mundial sobre el Envejecimiento (8 a 12 abril 2002).
Sue Westwood and Nancy Knauer (eds) Research Handbook on Law, Society and Ageing.
Edward Elgar.

all human rights and fundamental freedoms; aging in safe conditions; participation in the

economic, political and social life of their societies and; development opportunities for

older people. Heterogeneity in old age is recognized; seeks the elimination of all forms of

violence and discrimination against older persons; the commitment to gender equality is

reaffirmed; the recognition that this age group has for the social development of families

and the interdependence, solidarity and reciprocity between generations; health care and

social protection of older people; the use of research and scientific knowledge and

harnessing the potential of technology, among other things. Las orientaciones del Plan han

influido en la creación de instrumentos internacionales de derechos humanos en el

continente latinoamericano.

Inter American Human Rights Instruments

The main Latin American legal instruments are: the American Declaration of the

Rights and Duties of Man (Bogotá, 1948); the American Convention on Human Rights or

Pact of San José, Costa Rica (1969); the Inter-American Convention to Prevent and Punish

Torture (Cartagena de Indias, 1985); the Inter-American Convention to Prevent, Punish and

Eradicate Violence against Women (Belém do Pará, 1994); the Inter-American Convention

on Forced Disappearance of Persons (Belém do Pará, 1994); Inter-American Convention on

all forms of discrimination and intolerance (Guatemala, 1999), among others. These

international instruments are generals and don't refer directly to especific group of older

persons.
Sue Westwood and Nancy Knauer (eds) Research Handbook on Law, Society and Ageing.
Edward Elgar.

In the region, a special instrument is provided by the Toronto Declaration for the

global prevention of elder abuse (2002)13. It considers the education and dissemination of

information in the formal sector (education of professionals) to be essential and through the

media (combating stigma, addressing taboos and helping to eliminate negative stereotypes

about old age). Also, the First Regional Intergovernmental Conference on Aging in the

Latin American and Caribbean region (Santiago de Chile, 2003)14 gave rise to a series of

instruments issued in the region, such as the Declaration of the Special Committee of the

Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) on Population and

Development (05.12-14.2010).

The interest and willingness of governments to promote an international treaty to

protect older people was formally pronounced in the Brasilia Declaration, approved at the

Second Regional Intergovernmental Conference on Aging in Latin America and the

Caribbean, organized by the Economy Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean

and the Government of Brazil in 200715. Subsequently, San José charter on the rights of

older persons in Latin America and the Caribbean it is approved (2012)16, the Montevideo

Consensus on Population and Development (2013)17.

13
OMS, Declaración de Toronto para la prevención total del maltrato a personas mayores. Toronto (17
noviembre 2002).
14
ECLAC, Regional Intergovernmental Conference on Ageing, Santiago (10 nov 2003).
https://www.cepal.org/en/eventos/conferencia-regional-intergubernamental-envejecimiento
15
U.N., Declaración de Brasilia: Segunda Conferencia Regional Intergubernamental sobre Envejecimiento en
América Latina y el Caribe: hacia una sociedad para todas las edades y de protección social basada en
derechos. (4-6 diciembre 2007)
16
CEPAL, Carta de San José sobre los Derechos de las Personas Myores de América Latina y El Caribe.
Tercera Conferencia regional Intergubernamental sobre envejecimiento en América Latina y El Caribe. San
José de Costa Rica, (8-11 mayo 2012)
17
CEPAL, Consenso de Montevideo sobre Población y Desarrollo. Primera reunión de la Conferencia
Regional sobre Población y Desarrollo de América Latina y el Caribe. Integración plena de la población y su
dinámica en el desarrollo sostenible con igualdad y enfoque de derechos (12-15 agosto 2013)
Sue Westwood and Nancy Knauer (eds) Research Handbook on Law, Society and Ageing.
Edward Elgar.

From the World Assembly on Aging in Madrid (2002) 18, derived an International

Plan of Action that is offered as a practical instrument that considers the full realization of

all human rights and fundamental freedoms; aging in safe conditions; participation in the

economic, political and social life of their societies and; development opportunities for

older people. Heterogeneity in old age is recognized; seeks the elimination of all forms of

violence and discrimination against older persons; the commitment to gender equality is

reaffirmed; the recognition that this age group has for the social development of families

and the interdependence, solidarity and reciprocity between generations; health care and

social protection of older people; the use of research and scientific knowledge and

harnessing the potential of technology, among other things. On this basisDesde el Plan de

acción de Madrid, the Brasilia Convention19 emerged in Latin America and the Caribbean, a

basic document for the generation of public policies in the region, which validates the

above-mentioned provisions and puts them into practice, respecting the territoriality and

reality of each country. It is suggested that measures be adopted at the local, national and

regional levels, in three priority areas for older people: development; health and well-being;

enabling and supportive environments.

A special reinforcement of the Madrid Action Plan is provided by the Toronto

Declaration for the global prevention of elder abuse (2002) 20. It considers the education and

dissemination of information in the formal sector (education of professionals) to be

essential and through the media (combating stigma, addressing taboos and helping to
18
U.N., Declaración Política y Plan de Acción Internacional de Madrid sobre el Envejecimiento. Segunda
Asamblea Mundial sobre el Envejecimiento (8 a 12 abril 2002).
19
U.N., Declaración de Brasilia: Segunda Conferencia Regional Intergubernamental sobre Envejecimiento en
América Latina y el Caribe: hacia una sociedad para todas las edades y de protección social basada en
derechos. (4-6 diciembre 2007).
20
OMS, Declaración de Toronto para la prevención total del maltrato a personas mayores. Toronto (17
noviembre 2002).
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eliminate negative stereotypes about old age). Also, the First Regional Intergovernmental

Conference on Aging in the Latin American and Caribbean region (Santiago de Chile,

2003)21 gave rise to a series of instruments issued in the region, such as the Declaration of

the Special Committee of the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean

(ECLAC) on Population and Development (05.12-14.2010).

In the history of the Convention, the protection of human rights requires observing

the society in which older persons live and are inserted. The interest and willingness of

governments to promote an international treaty to protect older people was formally

pronounced in the Brasilia Declaration, approved at the Second Regional

Intergovernmental Conference on Aging in Latin America and the Caribbean, organized by

the Economy Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean and the Government of

Brazil in 200722. Subsequently, San José charter on the rights of older persons in Latin

America and the Caribbean it is approved (2012)23, the Montevideo Consensus on

Population and Development (2013)24. All of these instances raised the need for an

international convention on the human rights of older people, which will materialize in

2015 with the Inter-American Convention on Protecting the Human Rights of Older

Persons, approved by the American States. That same year at an international level, the

21
ECLAC, Regional Intergovernmental Conference on Ageing, Santiago (10 nov 2003).
https://www.cepal.org/en/eventos/conferencia-regional-intergubernamental-envejecimiento
22
U.N., Declaración de Brasilia: Segunda Conferencia Regional Intergubernamental sobre Envejecimiento en
América Latina y el Caribe: hacia una sociedad para todas las edades y de protección social basada en
derechos. (4-6 diciembre 2007)
23
CEPAL, Carta de San José sobre los Derechos de las Personas Myores de América Latina y El Caribe.
Tercera Conferencia regional Intergubernamental sobre envejecimiento en América Latina y El Caribe. San
José de Costa Rica, (8-11 mayo 2012)
24
CEPAL, Consenso de Montevideo sobre Población y Desarrollo. Primera reunión de la Conferencia
Regional sobre Población y Desarrollo de América Latina y el Caribe. Integración plena de la población y su
dinámica en el desarrollo sostenible con igualdad y enfoque de derechos (12-15 agosto 2013)
Sue Westwood and Nancy Knauer (eds) Research Handbook on Law, Society and Ageing.
Edward Elgar.

2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Sustainable Development Goals 25 (ODS

in Spanish) are published, which are in the work stage by the States, generating challenges

that must be coordinated between both instances.

At the time, it served as the basis for the drafting of the Inter-American Convention

on the Protection of the Human Rights of Older Persons, the Convention on the Rights of

Persons with Disabilities (2008)26, however, there are differences. Aging is more inclusive

(given that it is a possibly universal condition) than disability and is tremendously complex.

On the other hand, old age and disability are different conditions, never synonymous and

can occur in the same person.

The States that have ratified or adhered to the instrument by 2022 are: Argentina, Bolivia,

Chile, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Peru and Uruguay (OAS, 2022) 27. As prescribed

by the Convention: "The Follow-up Mechanism will be constituted when the tenth

instrument of ratification or accession has been received" (Article 33, paragraph 2),

therefore, two Member States are missing that comply with this step, to activate this follow-

up. .

Within the rights recognized in the Inter-American Convention on the Protection of

the Human Rights of Older Persons, human rights are enshrined in a triple dimension

(CEPAL, 2017)28. In the first place, there is a group of unprecedented rights in its

25
CEPAL LC/PUB.2020/5, La Agenda 2030 para el Desarrollo Sostenible en el nuevo contexto mundial y
regional: escenarios y proyecciones en la presente crisis (), Santiago, (abril 2020).
26
U.N & O.H.C.H.R., Convención sobre los Derechos de las Personas con Discapacidad. Oficina del Alto
Comisionado para los derechos humanos. Nueva York, Ginebra (2008)
27
OEA, Convención Interamericana Sobre La Protección De Los Derechos Humanos De Las Personas
Mayores A-70 (15 jun 2015)
28
CEPAL, Derechos de las personas mayores. Retos para la interdependencia y la autonomía. Cuarta
conferencia regional intergubernamental sobre Envejecimiento y derechos de las personas mayores en
América Latina y El Caribe. Asunción (27-30 junio 2017).
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Edward Elgar.

recognition, that is, for the first time they are considered in an International Convention on

the Protection of Human Rights. This has made it possible to visualize the peculiarities of

old age, which have been surveyed by associations for older people.

These rights are29:

1. Right to life and dignity in old age (Article 6), expressly guaranteeing palliative care.
This provision is consistent with Article 4 of the American Human Rights Convention,
which demands respect for life throughout its course.
2. Right to independence and autonomy (Article 7), already recognized in the United
Nations Principles of 1991, and emphasizing decision-making in accordance with their
traditions and beliefs.
3. Right to long-term care services (Article 12), which seeks to respond to structural
mistreatment and also direct or personal, which can occur in long-term residences,
mainly.

Secondly, there is another group of rights -political and civil-, which have been considered

with precedence in international human rights law, for example in the International

Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (2008). However, the Inter-American

Convention considers these rights must be reinterpreted to better represent the situations

experienced by older persons. These are:

1. Right to equality and non-discrimination based on age (Article 5).

2. Right to free and informed consent in matter of health (Article 11), constitutes a
manifestation of autonomy.
3. Right to security and life without violence (Article s 9 and 10). Emphasis is placed on
the fact that domestic violence regulations must an older person as a possible victim
and not only women and children.

29
Enrique Dussel, Derechos vigentes, nuevos derechos y derechos humanos: Crítica Jurídica. (29) Revista
Latinoamericana de Política, Filosofía y Derecho (junio 2010).
Sue Westwood and Nancy Knauer (eds) Research Handbook on Law, Society and Ageing.
Edward Elgar.

Thirdly, there are two rights that until now had not been specifically addressed to older

people:

1. Right to accessibility and personal mobility (Article 26).

2. Guarantee in situations of risk and humanitarian emergencies (Article 29).

These rights are recognized by the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

(2008) (Articles 9, 11 and 20), however, disability and old age are not synonymous.

Directly related to the Inter-American Convention on the Protection of the Human Rights

of Older Persons is the Inter-American Human Rights System, which is the body that

enforces it.

Para comprender la aplicación de la Convención Interamericana de Derechos

Humanos, se debe contextualizar tThe Inter-American Human Rights System en el cual

está inserta. El sistema has two peculiarities. First, the protection of the individual of the

human species throughout its life cycle, "in general, from the moment of conception"

(Article 4 of the Inter-American Convention on Human Rights 30). Second, it is based on the

contributions of its indigenous peoples31. Both characteristics are relevant when referring to

the rights of older persons in the continent.

The system is integrated by the Inter-American Commission located in Washington

D.C. and the Inter-American Court of Human Rights based in San José, Costa Rica.

In the Inter- American System is the Inter-American Court of Human Rights based

in San José, Costa Rica. In its first stage, the Inter-American Court ruled on the crime of

30
OEA & CADH, Convención Americana de Derechos Humanos- Pacto de San José de Costa Rica (22
noviembre 1969).
31
Pedro NIkken, Los sitemas internacionales de protección a los Derechos Fundamentales: la perspectiva del
acceso a la justicia y la pobreza, 48 Revista Instituto Interamericano de Derechos Humanos, 64-105. (2008).
Sue Westwood and Nancy Knauer (eds) Research Handbook on Law, Society and Ageing.
Edward Elgar.

forced disappearance, which left wounds in recent history; In a second stage, efforts are

concentrated on issues such as extrajudicial executions, torture, violations of due process,

children's rights, nationality rights, freedom of expression, and indigenous peoples 32. It is in

the third stage, when issues such as workers' rights, private property, the relationship of

indigenous peoples with their lands, migrants' rights, children's rights, women's rights,

rights of people with disabilities and older people.

Regarding older persons, the Inter-American Court of Human Rights applies the

Inter-American Convention on the Protection of the Human Rights of Older Persons for the

first time en un Trial on March 8, 2018 Poblete Vilches vs. Chile 33. A senior citizen, died

in February 2001 due to septic shock and bilateral bronchopneumonia after being treated in

a public hospital in Chile. El fallo resuelve que el Estado chileno es responsable por la

violación del derecho a la salud, por la violación del derecho a la vida en perjuicio del señor

Poblete Vilches, por la violación del derecho a la integridad personal, en perjuicio del señor

Poblete Vilches y por la violación del derecho a obtener un consentimiento informado y

acceso a la información en materia de salud en perjuicio del señor Vinicio Poblete Vilches

y de sus familiares. También por la violación a la integridad personal, en perjuicio de sus

familiares Blanca Tapia Encina, Gonzalo Poblete Tapia, Vinicio Marco Poblete Tapia y

Cesia Poblete Tapia. The sentence explicitly developed criteria in relation to informed

consent as a derivation of the right to health and implicitly recognized, from a

gerontological perspective, a manifestation of structural abuse toward older persons and

32
Nicolás Espejo & Carla Leiva, Digesto de Jurisprudencia de la Corte Interamericana de Derechos humanos
(enero 1984-febrero 2012). p. I-VI. (Chile, Thomas Reuters 2012).
33
Inter-American Court of Human Rights. Case of Poblete Vilches et al. v. Chile judgment of march 8, 2018.
https://www.corteidh.or.cr/docs/casos/articulos/seriec_349_ing.pdf
Sue Westwood and Nancy Knauer (eds) Research Handbook on Law, Society and Ageing.
Edward Elgar.

their supportive environments. The gerontological gaze brings new challenges for the

development of older persons’ rights. The ruling is unique in the inter-American human

rights system, as recognized by the court itself34.

The impact of the

The main Latin American legal instruments are: the American Declaration of the Rights

and Duties of Man (Bogotá, 1948); the American Convention on Human Rights or Pact of

San José, Costa Rica (1969); the Inter-American Convention to Prevent and Punish Torture

(Cartagena de Indias, 1985); the Inter-American Convention to Prevent, Punish and

Eradicate Violence against Women (Belém do Pará, 1994); the Inter-American Convention

on Forced Disappearance of Persons (Belém do Pará, 1994); Inter-American Convention on

all forms of discrimination and intolerance (Guatemala, 1999), among others. To these

documents must be added the recent Inter-American Convention on Protecting the Human

Rights of Older Persons (Costa Rica, 2015).

In its first stage, the Inter-American Court ruled on the crime of forced disappearance,

which left wounds in recent history; In a second stage, efforts are concentrated on issues

such as extrajudicial executions, torture, violations of due process, children's rights,

nationality rights, freedom of expression, and indigenous peoples35. It is in the third stage,

when issues such as workers' rights, private property, the relationship of indigenous peoples

with their lands, migrants' rights, children's rights, women's rights, rights of people with

disabilities, older people, etc… begin to proliferate.

34
Angela Arenas Massa, Marilú Budinich Villouta, and Carolina Riveros Ferrada, Sanctioning Chile’s Public
Health Care System for Not Providing Basic Services to the Elderly: The Inter-American Court’s Poblete
Vilches Ruling, 23 (1) Health and Human Rights Journal. 251-258. (June 2021).
35
Nicolás Espejo & Carla Leiva, Digesto de Jurisprudencia de la Corte Interamericana de Derechos humanos
(enero 1984-febrero 2012). p. I-VI. (Chile, Thomas Reuters 2012).
Sue Westwood and Nancy Knauer (eds) Research Handbook on Law, Society and Ageing.
Edward Elgar.

Regarding older persons, the Inter-American Court of Human Rights applies the Inter-

American Convention on the Protection of the Human Rights of Older Persons for the first

time, in favor of the right to health of an older person, non-discrimination based on age and

their right to autonomy, in the Case of Vilches et al. v. Chil, Trial on March 8, 201836.

International projections of the Inter-American Convention on the Protection of the

Human Rights of Older Persons

Siete de ocho países que han ratificado la Convención (Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Costa

Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Perú and Uruguay), han creado legislación en materia de

personas mayores o actualizado la existente, a saber:

1. Argentina. La Ley XIX Nº 41 sobre Derechos de la Ancianidad, fue actualizada por la

suscripción de la Convención la ley vigente es la Nº5.429 sobre Prevención y

protección Integral contra abuso y maltrato a los adultos mayores, de 8 enero 2016.

“Las medidas que se adopten para proteger a los Adultos Mes víctimas de abuso o

maltrato estarán orientadas a la búsqueda de una resolución integral de la

problemática del Adulto Mayor, intentando ofrecer una variedad de dispositivos que

lo acerquen a la posibilidad de mejorar su calidad de vida” (artículo 9º)37.

2. Bolivia. Ley Nº369 del 1 mayo de 2013. Ley General de las personas Adultas Mayores.

“regular los derechos, garantías y deberes de las personas adultas mayores, así como
36
Corte Interamericana de Derechos Humanos CIDH Inter-American Court of Human Rights, 8
March 2018. “Poblete Vilches v Chile” C No. 349 (Chile).
Angela Arenas Massa, Marilú Budinich Villouta, and Carolina Riveros Ferrada, Sanctioning Chile’s Public
Health Care System for Not Providing Basic Services to the Elderly: The Inter American Court’s Poblete
Vilches Ruling, 23 (1) Health and Human Rights Journal. 251-258. (June 2021).
37
Ley Nº 5.429 sobre Prevención y protección Integral contra abuso y maltrato a los adultos mayores,
Repúbica de la Argentina, de 8 enero 2016. https://aldiaargentina.microjuris.com/2016/01/12/ley-5420-ley-
de-prevencion-y-proteccion-integral-contra-abuso-y-maltrato-a-los-adultos-mayores/ [22.08.2022].
Sue Westwood and Nancy Knauer (eds) Research Handbook on Law, Society and Ageing.
Edward Elgar.

la institucionalidad para su protección” 38. Desde el arribo de la Convención este país

ha reforzado a través del Ministerio de Justicia y el Consejo de Coordinación

Intersectorial por una vejez digna, el trato preferente en materia de pensiones, salud,

acceso a la justicia y seguridad, educación y transporte y conectividad.

3. Costa Rica. Ley Nº 7.935 sobre Ley Integral para la Persona Adulta Mayor (1999

actualizada el 2013), que incluye aspectos de salud, educación, pensión, vivienda,

participación social, acceso a la justicia de forma real y efectiva, acceso a la banca,

derechos de familia, orientación socio legal, entre otros39.

4. Perú. La Ley Nº30.490 de la persona Adulta Mayor del 21 julio 2016, deroga la la Ley

Nº28803, Ley de las Personas Adultas Mayores actualizando sus disposiciones a la

Convención Interamericana40. Su objetivo es establecer un marco normativo general

que garantice los derechos de la persona mayor.

5. Uruguay. La Ley de Promoción Integral del Adulto Mayor Nº 17.796 del año 2004 que

era bastante precaria (6 artículos), fue sustituida en diciembre 2016 por el Código del

Adulto Mayor. La causa de esta evolución legal fue la suscripción de la Convención

Interamericana por parte de este país y el cumplimiento del mandato internacional que

ella contiene41. Considera persona mayor a quienes han cumplido 65 años.

38
Ley Nº369 del 1 mayo de 2013. Ley General de las personas Adultas Mayores.
https://www.defensoria.gob.bo/uploads/files/ley-nº-369-general-de-las-personas-adultas-mayores.pdf
[22.08.2022].
39
Ley Nº7.935, Ley Integral para la persona adulta mayor, 11 noviembre 1999, actualizada el 28 noviembre
de 2013. http://www.pgrweb.go.cr/scij/Busqueda/Normativa/Normas/nrm_texto_completo.aspx?
param1=NRTC&nValor1=1&nValor2=43655&nValor3=95259&strTipM [22.08.2022].
40
Ley de la Persona Adulta Mayor de la República de Perú, del 21 julio de 2016.
https://busquedas.elperuano.pe/download/full/7Tvks0xDKVy9NDWbBJRThB [22.08.2022].
41
Código del Adulto Mayor de Uruguay. Diciembre 2016, XLVIII Magistratura de la República Oriental del
Uruguay. https://legislativo.parlamento.gub.uy/temporales/D2016120623-001587017.pdf [22.08.2022].
Sue Westwood and Nancy Knauer (eds) Research Handbook on Law, Society and Ageing.
Edward Elgar.

6. Ecuador. Dado que suscribe la Convención, dicta la Ley Orgánica de las personas

Adultas Mayores, 29 abril 2019. El objeto de la ley es “promover, regular y garantizar

… los derechos específicos de las personas adultas mayores, en el marco del principio

de atención prioritaria y especializada, … con enfoque de género, movilidad humana,

generacional e intercultural”42.

7. El Salvador. La Asamblea Legislativa, a través del Decreto Nº717 de 27 enero 2021,

dicta la Ley de atención Integral para la persona Adulta Mayor, cuyo objeto es “objeto

garantizar y asegurar una atención integral para la protección de las personas

adultas mayores y contribuir al fortalecimiento e integración de la familia”43.

En el caso de Chile, se ha presentado desde Presidencia en octubre 2020 el Boletín

Nº13.822. Un Proyecto de Ley para promover el envejecimiento positivo, el cuidado

integral de las personas mayores y el fortalecimiento de la institucionalidad del adulto

mayor, que se encuentra en tramitación en el Parlamento. El proyecto ha generado

acuerdos en materias de cuidado, participación, acceso a la justicia y fortalecimiento

institucional. Hay dificultad para avanzar en temas de derecho al trabajo, porque un sector

político no está de acuerdo en regular un contrato especial de trabajo al adulto mayor que

sea flexible, tal como han solicitado las diversas asociaciones de personas mayores en

ejercicio de su derecho a la participación 44. Si bien Chile tiene pendiente reforzar su

42
Ley Orgánica de las personas adultas mayores de Ecuador. 29 abril 2019.
https://www.gob.ec/sites/default/files/regulations/2019-06/Documento_%20LEY%20ORGANICA%20DE
%20LAS%20PERSONAS%20ADULTAS%20MAYORES.pdf [22.08.2022].
43
Ley de atención Integral para la persona Adulta Mayor, Decreto Nº717 de 27 enero 2021 de El Salvador.
https://www.pddh.gob.sv/sociales/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/LEY-DE-ATENCION-INTEGRAL-PARA-
LA-PERSONA-ADULTA-MAYOR-1.pdf [22.08.2022].
44
Boletín 13822-07, Para promover el envejecimiento positivo, el cuidado integral de las personas mayores, y
el fortalecimiento de la institucionalidad del adulto mayor. Biblioteca Congreso Nacional de Chile.
https://www.camara.cl/legislacion/ProyectosDeLey/tramitacion.aspx?prmID=14381&prmBOLETIN=13822-
07
[24.08.2022].
Sue Westwood and Nancy Knauer (eds) Research Handbook on Law, Society and Ageing.
Edward Elgar.

regulación integral, hay voluntad política para avanzar en ello. Por el momento han entrado

en vigencia la Ley Nº21.375 (2021) que consagra los cuidados paliativos y los derechos de

las personas que padecen enfermedades terminales graves 45 y el Decreto 22 que aprueba

garantías explícitas en salud del régimen general de garantías en salud (2019) cubriendo

los costos de las demencias tempranas, especialmente el Alzheimer 46. También la Ley

Nº21.168 (2019) que crea el derecho a la atención preferente al adulto mayor y a las

personas con discapacidad47 y la Ley Nº21.380 que reconoce el derecho a la atención

preferente a los cuidadores en ámbito de salud (2021)48.

En cuanto a otros países que no han ratificado la Convención y que si tienen regulación

específica sobre personas mayores destaca Brasil con el “Estatuto do Idoso” (2003 y

actualizado el 2017)49 y Colombia con la Ley Nº1.850 (2017) por medio de la cual se

establecen medidas de protección al adulto mayor, se modifican leyes, se penaliza el

maltrato intrafamiliar por abandono y se dictan nuevas disposiciones50. También se puede

45
Ley Nº21.375 que consagra los cuidados paliativos y los derechos de las personas que padecen
enfermedades terminales graves, 21 octubre 2021
https://www.bcn.cl/leyfacil/recurso/reconocimiento-y-proteccion-de-los-derechos-de-las-personas-con-
enfermedades-terminales-y-el-buen-morir [24.08.2022].
46
Decreto 22 aprueba garantías explícitas en salud del régimen general de garantías en salud (7 sepiembre
2019)
https://www.bcn.cl/leychile/navegar?idNorma=1135882 [24.08.2022].
47
Ley Nº21.168 modifica la Ley Nº20.584, a fin de crear el derecho a la atención preferente al adulto mayor
y a las personas con discapacidad, 27 julio de 2019
https://www.bcn.cl/leychile/navegar?idNorma=1134300&idParte=10041938&idVersion=2019-07-27
[24.08.2022].
48
Ley Nº21.380 que reconoce a los cuidadores o cuidadoras el derecho a la atención preferente en ámbito de
salud, 21 octubre de 2021
https://www.bcn.cl/leychile/navegar?i=1166847&t=0 [24.08.2022].
49
Estatuto do Idoso, Brasil, 2017.Senado Federal
https://www2.senado.leg.br/bdsf/bitstream/handle/id/530232/estatuto_do_idoso_1ed.pdf [24.08.2022].
50
Ley Nº1.850 por medio de la cual se establecen medidas de protección al adulto mayor en Colombia, se
modifican leyes, se penaliza el maltrato intrafamiliar por abandono y se dictan nuevas disposiciones, 19 julio
de 2017
https://docs.google.com/viewerng/viewer?url=https://www.asivamosensalud.org/sites/default/files/
ley_1850_de_2017.pdf [24.08.2022].
Sue Westwood and Nancy Knauer (eds) Research Handbook on Law, Society and Ageing.
Edward Elgar.

mencionar México con la Ley de los Derechos de las Personas Adultas Mayores (2002 y

actualizada el 2016)51.

Claramente la entrada en vigencia de la Convención Interamericana sobre la

Protección de los Derechos Humanos de las Personas Mayores ha causado un impacto

positivo en los países que han ratificado el instrumento y en otros que por su envergadura

son importantes para la región, pues ha motivado o renovado el diálogo en los parlamentos

locales que van visibilizando los problemas específicos dándoles solución. Por otro lado,

en los países se ha marcado su identidad continental promocionada por el Sistema

Interamericano que inspira a la Convención, esto es en primer lugar, el respeto al derecho a

la vida durante todo el curso de vida, lo que se ve representado en el énfasis que se ha dado

a los cuidados paliativos en contraposición a legislaciones que aprueban la eutanasia. En

segundo lugar, el respeto que existe hacia los pueblos originarios en el Sistema

Interamericano, espíritu que refleja la Convención, ha facilitado que se transmita con

admiración la sabiduría que tienen las personas mayores al interior de la comunidad, junto

a la importancia de los vínculos intergeneracionales, promoviendo a través de la ley,

iniciativas locales concretas, como leyes de atención preferente en los servicios públicos,

leyes de subsidio a los cuidadores (que en el continente son mayoritariamente un familiar y

mujer), regulación del trabajo de las personas mayores para que permanezcan activas e

incorporadas en la comunidad, etc.

A step towards a UN Convention on the rights of older persons?

51
Ley de los Derechos de las Personas Adultas Mayores, México, 22 noviembre de 2016.
https://www.gob.mx/cms/uploads/attachment/file/175189/245_221116.pdf [24.08.2022].
Sue Westwood and Nancy Knauer (eds) Research Handbook on Law, Society and Ageing.
Edward Elgar.

Until before the arrival of Covid-19, the Inter-American Convention on the

Protection of the Human Rights of Older Persons probably did not envision a universal

projection. This situation has been changing since age discrimination became evident on

the continents due to the pandemic, as well as the lack of records of older people in

humanitarian emergency situations, among other violated rights.La Convención

Interamericana de sobre la Protección de los Derechos Humanos de las Personas Mayores

ha demostrado que esta experiencia de regulación “especial” ha contribuido en forma

tangible a favorecer el ejercicio de derechos, cumpliendo una función simbólica. Es decir,

se afirma que las personas mayores por su relevancia requieren un instrumento peculiar y

por consiguiente la sociedad se compromete en su favor. Por ejemplo, la revisión de los

Objetivos de Desarrollo Sostenible y Agenda 2030, deja de manifiesto que si están

incorporados los grupos de discapacidad, género, infancia y adolescencia, en metas e

indicadores; las referencias a vejez son pocas. Para la Experta Independiente de Naciones

Unidas -Claudia Mahler- esto es reflejo de la falta de un instrumento jurídico específico

para las personas de edad52.

Otro punto de interés es que el tratado ha visibilizado a las personas de edad y la

discriminación por edad en los países que lo han suscrito, facilitando recursos y activación

de acciones en los propios gobiernos. En este sentido the Inter-American Convention53, in

its Article 2 in the fifth definition considers age discrimination in old age, as "any

distinction, exclusion or restriction based on age that has the purpose or effect of annulling

52
U.N. A/HRC/49/70, Criterios normativos y obligaciones en virtud del derecho internacional respecto de la
promoción y la protecciónde los derechos humanos de las personas de edad. Resolución Asamblea General,
49º. sesión plenaria (2022)

53
OEA y Convención Interamericana sobre la Protección de los Derechos Humanos de las Personas Mayores,
art.2, 5ta. def., art.5; art.32 letra b (15 junio 2015).
Sue Westwood and Nancy Knauer (eds) Research Handbook on Law, Society and Ageing.
Edward Elgar.

or restricting the equal recognition, enjoyment or exercise conditions of human rights and

fundamental freedoms in the political, economic, social, cultural sphere or in any other

sphere of public and private life”. The same instrument refers to equality and non-

discrimination for reasons of age, prohibiting it in Article 5 and, linked to the awareness-

raising provisions, demands "to promote a positive attitude towards old age and a

dignified, respectful and considerate treatment towards the older person… avoid

stereotyped language and images about old age”, in Article 32 letter b). For Mahler 54, age

discrimination constitutes an important barrier in the implementation of effective policies.

Unfortunately, age discrimination is prevalent, pervasive, and insidious because it goes

largely unrecognized and unquestionable. In itself, discrimination represents a directly

negative behavior, which addresses nuances that range from invisibilization to violence 55.

In older people, age discrimination is associated with worse physical and mental health,

increased social isolation and loneliness and premature death, increased financial

insecurity, decreased quality of life56. In 2015, the United Nations Human Rights Council,

through its independent expert -Rosa Kornfeld Matte- on the enjoyment of all human rights

by older persons, has already observed that "discrimination based on age causes a lack of

of self-esteem and helplessness to older persons and erodes their sense of autonomy”57.

Por otro lado, la Convención ha acelerado y concentrado la defensa y solidaridad

intergeneracional, creando un marco de acción positivo para políticas púbicas en los

54
U.N. G.A. Res A/HRC/48/53 Report on ageism and age discrimination (5 agugust 2021).
55
John Dovidio, Lisa Pagotto, Michael Hebl, Implicit Attitudes and Discrimination Against People with
Physical Disabilities. In: Wiener R., Willborn S. (eds) Disability and Aging Discrimination (New York,
Springer 2011).
56
W.H.O. & U.N., Res. A/HRC/30/43, Global Report on Ageims, Informe de la Experta Independiente sobre
el disfrute de todos los derechos humanos por las personas de edad, Rosa Kornfeld-Matte, 21-24. (13 agosto
2015).
57
Id.
Sue Westwood and Nancy Knauer (eds) Research Handbook on Law, Society and Ageing.
Edward Elgar.

distintos gobiernos, lo que podría extenderse a otros continentes de crearse una Convención

Universal de personas mayores. The international regulation of the rights of elderly people

would make it possible to generate specific approaches towards the diversity of old age,

expanding the offer of services to respond to the requirements of ageing populations, with

a participatory approach. In fact, the States Parties “will promote the participation of older

persons in intergenerational activities to strengthen solidarity and mutual support as key

elements of social development” (Article 8). The supply of services must generate public-

private partnerships with a solidarity approach.

In terms of pensions, today less than 20% of older people in retirement worldwide

receive an old-age pension58as a permanent income. In the scope of international human

rights law, within the norms that refer to the subject, the Universal Declaration of Human

Rights (1948) stands out, which prescribes in Article 2559, the right to insurance in case of

old age . In the same sense, the International Covenant on Social, Economic and Cultural

Rights (1966)25, in Article 9, recognizes “…the right of every person to social security,

including social security”. The International Labor Organization, recognizes in Convention

102 on Social Security (minimum standard) (1952) 26, in part V, Articles 25 – 30, old-age

benefits. In the same sense, Convention 128 (1967)27, part III, Articles 14 -19.

At the Latin American level, there is the Additional Protocol to the American

Convention on Human Rights in the area of economic, social and cultural rights (1988) 60

which in its Article 17 expressly refers to the "protection of the elderly", in terms of a

"special protection”. For its part, the Inter-American Convention on the Protection of the
58
U.N. , Policy Brief: The impact of Covid-19 on Older Persons, New York, 3 (may 2020)
https://unsdg.un.org/sites/default/files/2020-05/Policy-Brief-The-Impact-of-COVID-19-on-Older-Persons.pdf
59
U.N., Declaración Universal de los Derechos Humanos, art.25 (10 diciembre 1948).
60
U.N., Pacto Internacional de Derechos Sociales, Económicos y Culturales, art. 9 (16 diciembre 1966).
Sue Westwood and Nancy Knauer (eds) Research Handbook on Law, Society and Ageing.
Edward Elgar.

Human Rights of Older Persons (2015)61 in its Article 17, orders the States Party to

“progressively promote, within the available resources, that the elderly person receives an

income for a dignified life through social security systems and other flexible mechanisms of

social protection”. The chosen pension system for older people, must consider access to

basic services, especially health, and eliminate arbitrary discrimination against women, in

order -among other things- to overcome the feminization of poverty in old age 62. Part of the

report of the Human Rights Council for the year 2020, issued by the Independent Expert on

the enjoyment of all human rights by older persons, -Mrs. Claudia Mahler 63-, refers to the

need to provide a socioeconomic and humanitarian response to elderly people. She adds

that it is essential to ensure income security for older people, especially women, through

universal pension coverage and compensation measures. El ejemplo de las pensiones

requiere ser extendido y medidas concretas respecto de un 80% de mayores que no las

reciben.

Otro motivo para proyectar la Convención Interamericana a una Convención

Universal en materia de personas mayores, es que la experiencia regional ha generado

diálogos con las leyes vigentes, mejorando la articulación entre distintos sectores que

prestan servicios y optimizando las estrategias de trabajo colaborativo. Este ejercicio

provoca la generación de nuevas ideas y desarrollo de innovación. Por ejemplo, se ha

avanzado en bancarización obligatoria en Argentina, la que se vinculó a programas de

educación a las familias para aumentar el conocimiento de las obligaciones inherentes a la

61
id
62
U.N Mujeres & CEPAL, LC/TS.2022/26, Hacia la construcción de sistemas integrales de cuidados en
América Latina y el Caribe: elementos para su implementación (noviembre 2021).
63
G.A. Res. A/75/205, Impacto de la enfermedad por coronavirus (COVID 19) en el disfrute de todos los
derechos humanos por las personas de edad”, Sra. Claudia Mahler 20 y 25 (21 july 2020).
Sue Westwood and Nancy Knauer (eds) Research Handbook on Law, Society and Ageing.
Edward Elgar.

gestión de las finanzas e informática de las personas mayores64. En Chile, la salud digital

aparece como una oportunidad de respuesta al control de las demencias65.

No se debe olvidar que el efecto de un tratado no se acota a su ratificación y

aplicación directa en los países que lo suscriben, aborda además las modificaciones que

motiva en las políticas públicas y en los indicadores que dimensionan los avances. Este

tema es abordado por la Convención Interamericana y ha obligado a los Estados a revisar

sus propios indicadores. Rosa Kornfeld66 relates that this issue is also linked to the records

of older persons, for which it is necessary to adopt a systematic approach to data collection

and analysis at all levels, outside the emergency response system (Article 29 Inter-

American Convention on the Protection of Human Rights of Older Persons). This would be

-for example- the first step to ensure that in emergency planning and response, there is

reliable evidence to support the plans and monitor their operational effectiveness. An

example of the lack of data is that statistical models have been generated to guide the

response to the pandemic, which have not taken into account the populations living in

residences67. Statistical data must include a gender approach. It is often forgotten that, in

64
Fassio, A. & García Fronti, J.I. (2015). Innovación responsable en políticas públicas: la bancarización
obligatoria de las personas mayores en Argentina. TRILOGÍA. Ciencia. Tecnología y Sociedad, 7(13), 47-62.
65
Godoy, Juan A., Ríos L., Carola, Venegas A., Pía, López R., Carolina, Álvarez, José Luis, Labbé, Tomás
P., Ramírez M., Camila, & Ríos, Juvenal A.. (2020). Oportunidad en la salud digital: una respuesta al control
de las demencias. Revista médica de Chile, 148(7), 1018-1024. https://dx.doi.org/10.4067/S0034-
98872020000701018

66
U.N. G.A. Res A/HRC/42/43 , Doc. Informe de la Experta Independiente sobre el disfrute de todos los
derechos humanos por las personas de edad, Sra. Rosa Kornfeld 10-16 (4 july 2019).
67
Karl Pillemer, Lakshminarayanan Subramanian, Nataliel Hupert, The importance of long-term care
populations in models of COVID-19. 324(1) JAMA (5 june 2020).
Sue Westwood and Nancy Knauer (eds) Research Handbook on Law, Society and Ageing.
Edward Elgar.

general, women live longer and in worse conditions; it is easier for them to fall into

poverty68.

The Inter-American Convention69, in its Article 2 in the fifth definition considers age

discrimination in old age, as "any distinction, exclusion or restriction based on age that has

the purpose or effect of annulling or restricting the equal recognition, enjoyment or

exercise conditions of human rights and fundamental freedoms in the political, economic,

social, cultural sphere or in any other sphere of public and private life”. The same

instrument refers to equality and non-discrimination for reasons of age, prohibiting it in

Article 5 and, linked to the awareness-raising provisions, demands "to promote a positive

attitude towards old age and a dignified, respectful and considerate treatment towards the

older person… avoid stereotyped language and images about old age”, in Article 32 letter

b). For Mahler70, age discrimination constitutes an important barrier in the implementation

of effective policies. Unfortunately, age discrimination is prevalent, pervasive, and

insidious because it goes largely unrecognized and unquestionable. In itself, discrimination

represents a directly negative behavior, which addresses nuances that range from

invisibilization to violence71. In older people, age discrimination is associated with worse

physical and mental health, increased social isolation and loneliness and premature death,

increased financial insecurity, decreased quality of life72. In 2015, the United Nations
68
U.N.& CEPAL, LC/TS.2022/26, La igualdad de Género y el Empoderamiento de las Mujeres: Hacia la
construcción de sistemas integrales de cuidados en América Latina y el Caribe: elementos para su
implementación (noviembre 2021)
69
OEA y Convención Interamericana sobre la Protección de los Derechos Humanos de las Personas Mayores,
art.2, 5ta. def., art.5; art.32 letra b (15 junio 2015).
70
U.N. G.A. Res A/HRC/48/53 Report on ageism and age discrimination (5 agugust 2021).
71
John Dovidio, Lisa Pagotto, Michael Hebl, Implicit Attitudes and Discrimination Against People with
Physical Disabilities. In: Wiener R., Willborn S. (eds) Disability and Aging Discrimination (New York,
Springer 2011).
72
W.H.O. & U.N., Res. A/HRC/30/43, Global Report on Ageims, Informe de la Experta Independiente sobre
el disfrute de todos los derechos humanos por las personas de edad, Rosa Kornfeld-Matte, 21-24. (13 agosto
Sue Westwood and Nancy Knauer (eds) Research Handbook on Law, Society and Ageing.
Edward Elgar.

Human Rights Council, through its independent expert -Rosa Kornfeld Matte- on the

enjoyment of all human rights by older persons, has already observed that "discrimination

based on age causes a lack of of self-esteem and helplessness to older persons and erodes

their sense of autonomy”73.

Since the beginning of the pandemic, older people have been exposed to prejudice

and discrimination. There is evidence of these practices in access to health services and

other critical resources in several countries, especially for those who live in residences

receiving long-term care74_75 In this same sense, when there is a risk of scarcity of

resources, such as ventilators or access to intensive care units, age has been reported as an

exclusion criterion in the Ethical Guidelines associated with COVID 19 76. Physical

isolation can also be justified by the need to prevent the virus from spreading, age has

determined that this type of measure is stricter in older people due to the greater threat of

the disease, which has caused cases of loss of social support15.

Communication policies have influenced and thus strengthening age discrimination

in the international community. At the beginning of the pandemic, messages appeared that

Covid-19 was a "older people" disease and they were asked to stay home, despite the fact

that at that time there was not enough scientific evidence. While there is consensus that

2015).
73
Id.
74
Aida Suárez-González, Jordi A Matías-Guiu, Adelina Comas-Herrera, Impact and mortality of the first
wave of COVID 19 on people living with dementia in Spain, LTCcovid, International Long-Term Care Policy
Network, CPEC-LSE 1-15 (9 August 2020).
75
EUR.CONSULT, Protecting the right to heath through inclusive and resilient health care for all, 6-10
(february 2021).
76
Susanne Joebges y Nikola Biller-Andorno, Ethics guidelines on COVID-19 triage-an emerging
international consensus. 24(1) Crit Care 201. (6 may 2020).
Sue Westwood and Nancy Knauer (eds) Research Handbook on Law, Society and Ageing.
Edward Elgar.

lockdowns are protective, the message conveyed was that older people are the “vulnerable”

members of society77_78. Rosa Kornfeld79 relates that this issue is also linked to the records

of older persons, for which it is necessary to adopt a systematic approach to data collection

and analysis at all levels, outside the emergency response system (Article 29 Inter-

American Convention on the Protection of Human Rights of Older Persons). This would be

the first step to ensure that in emergency planning and response, there is reliable evidence

to support the plans and monitor their operational effectiveness. An example of the lack of

data is that statistical models have been generated to guide the response to the pandemic,

which have not taken into account the populations living in residences 80. Statistical data

must include a gender approach. It is often forgotten that, in general, women live longer

and in worse conditions; it is easier for them to fall into poverty81.

From the normative point of view, an age discrimination regarding the limits mandated by

law was observed. For example, in Chile during the pandemic there was a discussion about

the need to re-establish compulsory voting, excluding people over 70 years of age, despite

the fact that their exemplary participation in electoral events is recognized, regarding which

the Society of Geriatrics and Gerontology of Chile 82 has expressed its opinion to the

contrary, because euphemistic terms would mean “taking the vote away from memory”. On
77
Martins Van Jaarsveld, The Effects of COVID-19 Among the Elderly Population: A Case for Closing the
Digital Divide, (11) Frontiers in Psychiatry (12 November 2020).
78
Sarah Fraser et al. Ageism and COVID-19: what does our society's response say about us? 49(5) Age
Ageing. 692-695 (5 september 2020).
79
U.N. G.A. Res A/HRC/42/43 , Doc. Informe de la Experta Independiente sobre el disfrute de todos los
derechos humanos por las personas de edad, Sra. Rosa Kornfeld 10-16 (4 july 2019).
80
Karl Pillemer, Lakshminarayanan Subramanian, Nataliel Hupert, The importance of long-term care
populations in models of COVID-19. 324(1) JAMA (5 june 2020).
81
U.N.& CEPAL, LC/TS.2022/26, La igualdad de Género y el Empoderamiento de las Mujeres: Hacia la
construcción de sistemas integrales de cuidados en América Latina y el Caribe: elementos para su
implementación (noviembre 2021)
82
Ángela Arenas Massa., Jaime Hidalgo A., Marco Espíldora H., Carta a el Director: Voto obligatorio para
mayores de 70, Diario El Mercurio, 10 julio 2021.
Sue Westwood and Nancy Knauer (eds) Research Handbook on Law, Society and Ageing.
Edward Elgar.

the other hand, in this same country, affirmative measures have made it possible to advance

in the recognition of rights. Thus, older people were considered a priority in the

vaccination processes against COVID 1983, which was reinforced with the entry into force

of Law No. 21.168, which creates the right to preferential care in health care for the elderly

and people with disabilities84.

The international regulation of the rights of older people would make it possible to generate

specific approaches towards the diversity of old age, expanding the offer of services to

respond to the requirements of ageing populations, with a participatory approach. In fact,

the States Parties "will promote the participation of older persons in intergenerational

activities to strengthen solidarity and mutual support as key elements of social

development" (Article 8). The supply of services must generate public-private partnerships

with a solidarity approach.

In terms of pensions, today less than 20% of older people in retirement worldwide

receive an old-age pension85as a permanent income. In the scope of international human

rights law, within the norms that refer to the subject, the Universal Declaration of Human

Rights (1948) stands out, which prescribes in Article 2586, the right to insurance in case of

old age . In the same sense, the International Covenant on Social, Economic and Cultural

Rights (1966)25, in Article 9, recognizes "...the right of every person to social security,

including social security". The International Labor Organization, recognizes in Convention

83
Wei Wang, Qianhui Wu, Juan Yang, Kaige Dong, Xinghui Chen, Xufang Bai, Xinhua Chen, Zhiyuan
Chen, C&eacutecile Viboud, Marco Ajelli, and Hongjie Yu, Global, regional, and national estimates of target
population sizes for covid-19 vaccination: descriptive study, 371 BMJ m4704 (15 december 2020)
84
Law No. 21168, modifies the Law No.20584, in order to create the right to preferential care (2019), art.
5ºbis and 5º ter. 2020;324:25–6.(Chile)
85
U.N. , Policy Brief: The impact of Covid-19 on Older Persons, New York, 3 (may 2020)
https://unsdg.un.org/sites/default/files/2020-05/Policy-Brief-The-Impact-of-COVID-19-on-Older-Persons.pdf
86
U.N., Declaración Universal de los Derechos Humanos, art.25 (10 diciembre 1948).
Sue Westwood and Nancy Knauer (eds) Research Handbook on Law, Society and Ageing.
Edward Elgar.

102 on Social Security (minimum standard) (1952) 26, in part V, Articles 25 - 30, old-age

benefits. In the same sense, Convention 128 (1967)27, part III, Articles 14 -19.

At the Latin American level, there is the Additional Protocol to the American

Convention on Human Rights in the area of economic, social and cultural rights (1988) 87

which in its Article 17 expressly refers to the "protection of the elderly", in terms of a "

special protection”. For its part, the Inter-American Convention on the Protection of the

Human Rights of Older Persons (2015)88 in its Article 17, orders the States Party to

“progressively promote, within the available resources, that the older person receives an

income for a dignified life through social security systems and other flexible mechanisms of

social protection”. The chosen pension system for older people, must consider access to

basic services, especially health, and eliminate arbitrary discrimination against women, in

order -among other things- to overcome the feminization of poverty in old age 89. Part of the

report of the Human Rights Council for the year 2020, issued by the Independent Expert on

the enjoyment of all human rights by older persons, -Mrs. Claudia Mahler 90-, refers to the

need to provide a socioeconomic and humanitarian response to older people affected by the

pandemic. She adds that it is essential to ensure income security for older people, especially

women, through universal pension coverage and compensation measures.

Since the arrival of the pandemic, there has been a detriment to the quality of life of

older people91. To mitigate the effects of the pandemic, 32 governments in the region have
87
U.N., Pacto Internacional de Derechos Sociales, Económicos y Culturales, art. 9 (16 diciembre 1966).
88
id
89
U.N Mujeres & CEPAL, LC/TS.2022/26, Hacia la construcción de sistemas integrales de cuidados en
América Latina y el Caribe: elementos para su implementación (noviembre 2021).
90
G.A. Res. A/75/205, Impacto de la enfermedad por coronavirus (COVID 19) en el disfrute de todos los
derechos humanos por las personas de edad”, Sra. Claudia Mahler 20 y 25 (21 july 2020).
91
ECLAC & CEPAL, Challenges for the protection of older persons and their human rights during the
COVID 19 pandemic, COVID 19 Report (december 2020).
Sue Westwood and Nancy Knauer (eds) Research Handbook on Law, Society and Ageing.
Edward Elgar.

adopted 263 non-contributory measures aimed at protecting formal work, including money

transfers, extension of existing programs, delivery of food and medicine, cleaning supplies,

masks and actions to ensure the provision of basic services (such as the temporary

suspension of charges). Cash deliveries and transfers are estimated to have reached 49.4%

of the population in the countries of the region92.

A medium-term qualitative need is the change in the productive organizational

structure that has been launched and is expected to accelerate. The impact that occurs in the

order of work, employability and well-being depends on it. In terms of pension schemes,

advancing the collective conscience to find solutions seems to be essential. Efforts from all

the actors are required, given that the mixed contributory/non-contributory systems require

advancing to tripartite systems that consider the employers contribution from the private

sector and, where all those involved make an effort to increase their contribution.

Health is another sensitive point that could be reinforced in the recognition of

advance directives and long-term care (Articles 11 and 12 Inter-American Convention on

Protecting the Human Rights of Older Persons), where it is promoted that the older person

can stay at home. The States Parties also “…shall design support measures for families and

caregivers by introducing services for those who care for the elderly , taking into account

the needs of all families and other forms of care, as well as the full participation of the

older person, respecting their opinion” (Article 12). This also means promoting a positive

attitude towards people who face a mental health condition and their families, generating

instances of support.

92
U.N. ECLAC, 2020, Social Panorama of America Latina, Chapter III, 128-129 (mar 2021).
Sue Westwood and Nancy Knauer (eds) Research Handbook on Law, Society and Ageing.
Edward Elgar.

Another aspect revealed by the pandemic is the need to consolidate access to justice

in situations of abuse of older persons, promoting care led by specialized services (Article

31 Inter-American Convention on the Protection of the Human Rights of Older Persons). In

many countries court hearings began to take place virtually. Several challenges are

generated here, because the mistreatment of older people usually takes place in the

domestic sphere and those attacked were often in confinement living with their aggressor 93.

On the other hand, access to virtual hearings can be a problem if adequate digital literacy is

not ensured94_95.

Finally, the cultural change on the positive image of old age must permeate the State

and civil society. In relation to the self-perception of older people, a study led by HelpAge

International96 in October 2020 on Unequal treatment, in which ten countries from different

continents participated, observes that the greatest prejudices that older people have faced

and that affect the exercise of their rights would be the lack of adaptation skills of older

persons, their lack of resilience and their resistance to change. Public information has

caused fear in their relatives and close circles, which has restricted their own mobility.

Older people think - in exercise of their right to freedom of expression and opinion (Article

14 Inter-American Convention on the Protection of the Human Rights of Older People) that

the legal regulation of their rights would be a positive measure in order to improve the
93
SENAMA, Informe estadístico nacional sobre casos y consultas de maltrato a las personas mayores, años
2020 y 2021. Programa Buen Trato al Adulto Mayor (2021).
94
Carolina Riveros; Ángela Arenas Massa, Marcela Castro y Maximiliano Olivares, Políticas Públicas ,
Brechas y Alfabetización Digital de la Persona Mayor: la Realidad Chilena Mirada desde las Comunas de
Talca y San Joaquín. 12 (1) The Law, State and Telecommunications Review, Brasilia, 137-158 (May 2020).
95
José Luis Borgoño, La experiencia de las personas mayores víctimas de violencia intrafamiliar en
audiencias virtuales en Chile: una mirada desde lo humano. XLII Congreso Internacional de Derecho Procesal
para estudiantes de derecho nivel pregrado “Semilleros de Derecho Procesal” del Instituto Colombiano de
Derecho Procesal. (2021).
96
HelpAge International, Trato desigual: Lo que dicen las personas mayores sobre sus derechos durante la
pandemia COVID 19, 2, 5, 8, 16. (Reino Unido 2020).
Sue Westwood and Nancy Knauer (eds) Research Handbook on Law, Society and Ageing.
Edward Elgar.

actions or behaviors of the rest of the generations, towards themselves (it would work as an

affirmative measure). They also maintain that explicit legal recognition "just like the rest of

the people" would make them feel more valued, calm and with better expectations of access

to quality health. In this same sense, it is auspicious to corroborate that the effort of the

Latin American region to promote the rights of older people has generated instances of

awareness, given the long time and normative work dedicated to this objective. There are

more and more political wills aimed at achieving the approval of a Convention on the

human rights of older persons led by the United Nations 34 and it seems that the pandemic

could influence the leaders opinion about its relevance and necessity.

A step towards a UN Convention on the rights of older persons?

Conclusion

Until before the arrival of Covid-19, the Inter-American Convention on the

Protection of the Human Rights of Older Persons probably did not envision a universal

projection. This situation changed since age discrimination became evident on the

continents due to the pandemic, as well as the lack of records of older people in

humanitarian emergency situations, among other violated rights.

The new Universal Convention will help to the cultural change on the positive

image of old age must permeate the State and civil society. In relation to the self-perception

of older people, a study led by HelpAge International 97 in October 2020 on Unequal

97
HelpAge International, Trato desigual: Lo que dicen las personas mayores sobre sus derechos durante la
pandemia COVID 19, 2, 5, 8, 16. (Reino Unido 2020).
Sue Westwood and Nancy Knauer (eds) Research Handbook on Law, Society and Ageing.
Edward Elgar.

treatment, in which ten countries from different continents participated, observes that the

greatest prejudices that older people have faced and that affect the exercise of their rights

would be the lack of adaptation skills of older persons, their lack of resilience and their

resistance to change. Older people think - in exercise of their right to freedom of expression

and opinion (Article 14 Inter-American Convention on the Protection of the Human Rights

of Older People) that the legal regulation of their rights would be a positive measure in

order to improve the actions or behaviors of the rest of the generations, towards themselves

(it would work as an affirmative measure). They also maintain that explicit legal

recognition "just like the rest of the people" would make them feel more valued, calm and

with better expectations of access to quality health.

In this same sense, it is auspicious to corroborate that the opinion of the elderly that

live in different places in the world coincides with the effort of the Latin American region

to promote the rights of older people through of a Convention, given the long time and

normative work dedicated to this objective. However, after the pandemic everyone leaders

must be conscientious of the international structural mistreatment that provoque the absense

of a International Convention on Human Rights of Elderly People. For this, there are more

and more political wills aimed at achieving the approval of a Convention on the human

rights of older persons led by the United Nations34 .