New Shared Goals podcast episode to highlight International Day of Older Persons

On the International Day of Older Persons, the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission is delighted to release a new episode of its ‘Shared Goals’ podcast series with guest Zvezdan Pirtošek, the United Nations Independent Expert on the enjoyment of all human rights by older persons.

Sitting down with Commission staff, the Independent Expert explores a wide range of human rights issues affecting older persons. Focusing on ageism, the Independent Expert highlights the far-reaching consequences of discrimination in healthcare, housing, employment and the effects these can have on older persons autonomy.

The wide-ranging discussion also touches upon loneliness, digital exclusion, poverty, social protection and violence against older persons. We explore how a human rights-based approach can help address these barriers and enable older persons to claim and exercise their rights. 

The Independent Expert outlines the opportunities that a legally binding international instrument on the human rights of older persons could offer, including making rights more explicit, strengthening older persons as rights holders and enhancing accountability. 

Alyson Kilpatrick, Chief Commissioner of the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission, said:

“The International Day of Older Persons offers us the opportunity to reflect on human rights issues affecting older persons in our society, taking stock of the progress made, and the work still to be done. 

The Commission welcomes developments on the creation of an international instrument on the rights of older persons, to empower them to claim their rights, and to provide accountability in ensuring their rights are respected and fulfilled.

We advise the Northern Ireland Executive and Northern Ireland Assembly to take a human rights-based approach to policy and legislation that considers and addresses the wide range of issues still affecting older persons in Northern Ireland.

The Independent Expert highlights the role that national human rights institutions can play in promoting and protecting the rights of older persons. Through our mandate and statutory functions, we work to ensure the rights of everyone in Northern Ireland are respected, protected and fulfilled.

Thank you to Zvezdan Pirtošek, Independent Expert on the enjoyment of all human rights by older persons for joining us on our ‘Shared Goals’ podcast to discuss this important topic.”

Zvezdan Pirtošek, the Independent Expert on the enjoyment of all human rights by older persons added:

“On the International Day of Older Persons, it is important to remember that human rights do not diminish with age. As our societies grow older, we must ensure that older persons are recognised as full rights holders, able to participate in decisions that affect their lives and to live with dignity and autonomy. 

Ageing should never mean gradually losing one’s voice, one’s choices or one’s place in the community. A human rights-based approach asks us to look beyond care and protection alone and to ensure that older persons can continue to exercise their rights throughout later life.

I very much welcomed the opportunity to join the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission's Shared Goals podcast to discuss these issues. The questions we discussed – ageism, participation, loneliness, digital exclusion, social protection and the development of stronger international standards – concern not only older persons today. They concern the kind of societies in which all of us may one day grow old."

ENDS

You can listen to the episode at this link: https://open.spotify.com/episode/2QGaW3tENSCd6kldH2s5wV?si=7vCsJP3ATmKSwhEtfxaRvQ or wherever you get your podcasts.

NIHRC: The NI Human Rights Commission is a statutory public body established in 1999 to promote and protect human rights. In accordance with the Paris Principles the Commission reviews the adequacy and effectiveness of measures undertaken by the UK Government to promote and protect human rights, specifically within Northern Ireland.

About the Independent Expert on the enjoyment of all human rights by older persons:

Find out more about the work of Zvezdan Pirtošek, the United Nations Independent Expert on the enjoyment of all human rights by older persons through the following link: https://www.ohchr.org/en/special-procedures/ie-older-persons/mr-zvezdan-pirtosek

About Shared Goals: Our ‘Shared Goals’ podcast shines the spotlight on current human rights issues here in Northern Ireland. Human rights touch on every aspect of life. From health, to housing, to child protection, climate change, gender equality, and rights of persons with disabilities amongst many others. In this series staff from the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission interview diverse voices including academics, practitioners, and activists who are championing human rights, and to highlight current human rights issues.