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Secretary General Insulza Reaffirms OAS’ Commitment to Protecting and Promoting the Rights of Older People

  October 1, 2012

The General Secretary of the Organization of American States (OAS), José Miguel Insulza, welcomed Elderly Day; reaffirming the Organization’s commitment to the promotion and protection of older people’s rights. He also stressed the need to continue supporting the negotiation process of the Interamerican Convention on the Rights of the Elderly.

Secretary General Insulza noted that the increase in the number of older people in the Americas and their vulnerable situation makes it essential to provide a special injunction to those belonging to this sector, especially from the viewpoint of the protection of rights, and not just the viewpoint of assistance rights.

In that regard, he recalled the project that the Interamerican Convention is working on, which seeks to lesson the regulatory fragmentation that exists with respect to the rights of this social group, with emphasis on combating cultural stereotypes and the protection from abuse, violence, and neglect.

For more information, please visit the OAS Website at www.oas.org.

Reference: E-340/12