UN Convention on the Rights of Older Persons
5.10.2021
Question for written answer E-004530/2021
to the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy
Rule 138
Jordi Cañas (Renew)
The crisis triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic has once again demonstrated that the existing legislative framework is not strong enough to promote and safeguard the rights of older persons. The initial response to the crisis not only failed to protect the rights of older persons but also played a part in the deterioration of their physical, mental and cognitive health and compounded the stigmatisation and discrimination that millions of older persons face.
Although Article 21 of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights prohibits discrimination on the grounds of age, the EU has no effective mechanisms that would enable it to take specific measures to protect the rights of older persons.
Recently, in the Action Plan for Human Rights and Democracy, the Council stated that efforts to combat age discrimination in its relations with third countries needed to be stepped up, while stressing that it remains important to ensure coherence between the Union’s internal and external policies.[1]
In view of the above:
- 1.Does the Vice-President / High Representative intend to push for a UN Convention on the Rights of Older Persons that legally binds its ratifying countries?
- 2.What practical steps will he take in this respect?
- [1] https://www.consilium.europa.eu/media/46838/st12848-en20.pdf