Palliative care included in UN Human Rights Council resolution on the rights of older persons

Categories: Policy.

Palliative care was specifically mentioned twice in this important document. The resolution also renewed the mandate of Ms Rosa Kornfeld-Matte, first Independent Expert on the enjoyment of all human rights by older persons.

Organisations and individuals working in hospice and palliative care and related fields at national and regional levels can draw on this resolution for their advocacy work. The resolution:

  1. Recognizes that older persons face a number of particular challenges in the enjoyment of their human rights that need to be addressed urgently, including in the areas of prevention of and protection against violence and abuse, social protection, food and housing, right to work, equality and non-discrimination, access to justice, education, training, health support, long-term and palliative care, lifelong learning, participation and accessibility; and
  2. Emphasizes the need for a comprehensive, all-encompassing approach to the care of older persons, which should be sustainable and based on human rights, and the need for coordination among sectors, policies, institutions, regional and local governments throughout the continuum of care, from prevention, promotion, rehabilitation to long-term and palliative care, including social care and other community services.

You can access the full text of the resolution from the WHPCA website. 

Find out more about the International Day of Older Persons on the HelpAge International website

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