New solutions Dr Jane Barratt on building societies that respect the rights of the elderly Older people across the world experience hardship and adversity each day. In countries such as Somalia, where approximately 43 per cent of the population lives below the poverty line, it’s more pronounced in rural areas than in urban regions. In the United Kingdom, nine out of every 10 mature workers have experienced age discrimination in seeking employment — a report by The Age and Employment Network (TAEN; www.taen.org.uk) reveals that 32 per cent of respondents were degree educated, 23 per cent had professional qualifications, and 67 per cent felt they had the right skills for today’s labour market. Older people are also a source of comfort, wisdom, safety and mentorship to people of all ages. They are resilient, dependable, interested and insightful. So, over the course of this year not only will we highlight some of the latest in policy, practice and business developments but bring attention to the leadership of older people around the world. In February 2010, the United Nations (UN) Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) will hold the 48th Session of the Commission for Social Development (www.un.org/esa/socdev/csd/2010.html). UN Secretary General Ban-Ki Moon will work towards promoting full employment and decent work for all. ECOSOC serves as the central forum for the discussion of international economic, social, humanitarian and environmental issues. It also serves as a platform to formulate policy recommendations addressed to member states and the UN system. Through these discussions, the Council plays a key role in fostering international cooperation for development and setting priorities for action. The Council has 54 member states elected by the UN General Assembly for overlapping three-year terms. Seats on the Council are based on geographical representation with 14 allocated to African nations, 11 to Asian countries, six to the Eastern European region, 10 to Latin American and Caribbean countries, and 13 to Western European and other nations. India is one of the member states in the Asian region and its term will be completed in 2011. In preparation for the Commission, major NGOs around the world have come together to advocate for the formal protection of the rights of older people. In our joint statement to the UN, we have expressed that in the face of continuing discrimination and insufficient legal protection, the time has come to explore new mechanisms to better protect older people’s rights. These include a special rapporteur (a special person appointed by a deliberative body) and a convention on the rights of older people. A convention would help older people live with dignity. It would help change attitudes towards older people; increase the visibility of older people, ageism and age discrimination; clarify responsibilities towards older people; improve accountability; and provide a framework for policy and decision making. A special rapporteur on the rights of older people could advise and support member states on the better implementation of the Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing and eventually a new convention. He or she could promote and give visibility to rights by examining and reporting on the nature and extent of violations and making recommendations on better protection of rights. Whatever the way forward, it is essential for achieving social integration and building societies for all that respect everyone’s rights. Therefore we are urging the Commission for Social Development to recommend that member states explore the possibility of new mechanisms. In March 2010, the 54th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women (http://www.un.org/womenwatch/daw/beijing15/index.html) will be held. It’s a historic meeting for being the 15th anniversary and a review of the implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action (1995), which was entitled ‘Action for Equality, Development and Peace’. Emphasis will be placed on sharing experiences and good practices, with a view to overcome remaining obstacles and new challenges, including those related to the Millennium Development Goals. Over the decade, since the Beijing Declaration, mobile phones have been a boon to developing countries, social development and social integration. Geoffrey Sachs, the popular and sometimes controversial development advocate, asserts that “the cell phone is the single most transformative technology for development” — a new mechanism that can spread awareness and bring in a revolution. He notes that rural poverty especially has been characterised by isolation and that mobile phones have “broken that isolation”. There is, however, another story behind the revolution of mobile technology. Studies have shown that it has the ability to change the way we communicate, but its effects are not evenly distributed. In societies that are divided by social and gender roles, women, especially rural women, are often left out. Gender disparity in society is often echoed in mobile usage; while technology allows some women greater social and economic freedom, in other cases it simply upholds previously held social constructs. In the areas of social interaction, education and economics, mobile phones have a distinctly gendered impact on its users. An examination of research and case studies that focus on women and mobile technology reveals that although access to mobile phones has many benefits for female users, it’s not a solution to female poverty or gender inequality. There are also social barriers to accepting the phone as a legitimate means of communication. In many cultures, there is importance given to face-to-face communication. Limited phone access and a lack of visual contact that results in short, impersonal messages can lead to feelings of isolation even if they are in contact with family or advocates via mobiles. Societal norms often leave women in charge of raising families and caring for the home — work that does not earn an income for women to afford a cell phone or airtime. Of course there is a great deal of evidence demonstrating the value of mobile technology: programmes such as Text to Change (www.texttochange.com) and Souktel (www.souktel.org) offer great opportunities to women — from anonymous sexual and reproductive health information and reinforcement of positive professional female role models to fair access to job opportunities. One of the key issues in the debate: Are women who most need access to mobile phones getting it? In the poorest areas, cell phones are scarcer than in richer areas, and cost and literacy are greater barriers to women who tend to be poorer and are more likely to be illiterate than men. While there is a lack of reliable data on access to phones globally, women who are most at risk for domestic abuse or isolation are often the ones who are most likely to be unable to access mobile phones. Similarly, it is often the poorest, most rural women who could most use information about market prices, civil rights, and female healthcare. Nelson Mandela said, ‘After climbing a great hill, one only finds that there are many more hills to climb.’ As technology connects and enables us to engage and be involved, we must also consider that there remain barriers for some older people around us — poor literacy, inadequate funds, impaired functional capacity or isolation and loneliness. Humans are not invincible, yet we have resilience and compassion that lend themselves to empower the person next to us. Let us be who we strive to be in 2010 and join with others in creating solutions to issues that affect people of all ages including older people. Dr Jane Barratt is Secretary General, International Federation on Ageing Featured in Harmony Magazine January 2010