The Dignity and Hazard of Elderly

Prague, Czech RepublicMay 25-26 2009

Human rights of frail older persons – Intercultural dialog

gK R Gangadharan (Ganga)Heritage Hospital & Heritage Foundation Hyderabad

Member National Council of Older Persons IndiaVice President – Asia, International Federation on Ageing

Religions and Human Rights

Great religions - Hinduism, Judaism, Buddhism, Christianity and Islam include

universal human rights tenets as the responsibility of human beings towards

others and respect for human dignity

Great religions - Hinduism, Judaism, Buddhism, Christianity and Islam include

universal human rights tenets as the responsibility of human beings towards

others and respect for human dignity

Hinduism

Matru Devo BhavaRRevere your mother as Godevere your mother as God Pitru Devo BhavaRRevere your father as Godevere your father as God Acharya Devo BhavaRevere your preceptor as God Atithi Devo BhavaRevere guest as God

Conglomeration of religious, philosophical, cultural ideas & practices Belief in reincarnation; One absolute being of multiple manifestations; law of cause and effect, Prominent theme include Dharma (ethics & duties) Samsara (rebirth) Karma (right action) Moksha (liberation from Samsara)

• Individual has the right not only to life, but to security from harm, health, dignity and making a living

• Under the Jewish Law, the concept of an obligation implies either a Human or Divine Right

• If one must choose between performing a duty to God or performing a duty to a person, one should first perform good deeds for another a person

• Parents are akin to our relationship to God because they created us. Disrespect to them is considered an insult to God

• Individual has the right not only to life, but to security from harm, health, dignity and making a living

• Under the Jewish Law, the concept of an obligation implies either a Human or Divine Right

• If one must choose between performing a duty to God or performing a duty to a person, one should first perform good deeds for another a person

• Parents are akin to our relationship to God because they created us. Disrespect to them is considered an insult to God

JudaismJudaism

BuddhismBuddhism

• Dharma determines what is right and just • Individual’s role in sustaining and promoting social justice

and orderliness• Role? Reciprocal duties exist between parents and children;

teachers and pupils; husband and wife; friends, relatives and neighbours; employer and employee; clergy and laity - if observed - they can create a just, peaceful and harmonious society

• Dharma = Duties rather than rights• “All individuals are Equal” same as Christian doctrine that

“All men created are Equal before God”

• Dharma determines what is right and just • Individual’s role in sustaining and promoting social justice

and orderliness• Role? Reciprocal duties exist between parents and children;

teachers and pupils; husband and wife; friends, relatives and neighbours; employer and employee; clergy and laity - if observed - they can create a just, peaceful and harmonious society

• Dharma = Duties rather than rights• “All individuals are Equal” same as Christian doctrine that

“All men created are Equal before God”

The Quran:"And revere the wombs that bore you, for God is ever watchful over you." (4:1)Serving one's parents is a duty: Second only to prayer and it is their right to expect it

"Show gratitude to Me and to thy parents; to Me is thy final Goal." (31:14)Most beloved are those who bring most benefit to people “Part of glorifying Allaah is honouring the grey-haired Muslim”

Islam

• Christianity like Judaism and Islam, believe in one God

• Lord Jesus encouraged people to emphasize the intent behind the law and to focus on their motivations. He summarized the law as love for God and for neighbour. Thus much of Christian practice is focused on finding ways to show love for our fellow beings.

• Love is patience; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things

ChristianityChristianity

• Widespread questioning: – What respect the elderly require? – Whether certain them are owed any respect at all?

• Economic support : A critical issue for societies• % of elderly population ^g versus those generating wealth

and earning contracting • % of frail elderly dependent on the support of others ^g• Resources for state provision of welfare are under stress

while unemployment levels are ^g

• Widespread questioning: – What respect the elderly require? – Whether certain them are owed any respect at all?

• Economic support : A critical issue for societies• % of elderly population ^g versus those generating wealth

and earning contracting • % of frail elderly dependent on the support of others ^g• Resources for state provision of welfare are under stress

while unemployment levels are ^g

HR Violations against ElderlyHR Violations against Elderly

Frustrations of Elderly

• Lack of redress mechanisms• Extreme difficulty for poor to access the law

• Long delays in judicial processes• Absence of protection for complainants and victims

Reports of Abuse of ElderlyReports of Abuse of Elderly

• Despite the implementation of the Human Rights Act (1998), UK, older people still face treatment

• Zivot (2007): Up to 400,000 elderly people may be tortured abused or neglected while some 270,000 people over 60 may become a target of violence

• Germany in 1993: 440,000 elderly people were subjected to physical and mental abuse at the hands of their relatives and family members at least once each year

• Despite the implementation of the Human Rights Act (1998), UK, older people still face treatment

• Zivot (2007): Up to 400,000 elderly people may be tortured abused or neglected while some 270,000 people over 60 may become a target of violence

• Germany in 1993: 440,000 elderly people were subjected to physical and mental abuse at the hands of their relatives and family members at least once each year

28 April 2008

Elderly are "often ignored and denied their full human rights”

In our society, the elderly tend to be discriminated against on several levels and considered as worthless or non-productive

Faced with ageing populations, the elderly are bound to be "a strain on the social and health care system," therefore European leaders urged to re-examine their social protection systems, health care and housing policies, which are not "suited" to the elderly

Europe's Commissioner for Human Rights

28 April 2008

Elderly are "often ignored and denied their full human rights”

In our society, the elderly tend to be discriminated against on several levels and considered as worthless or non-productive

Faced with ageing populations, the elderly are bound to be "a strain on the social and health care system," therefore European leaders urged to re-examine their social protection systems, health care and housing policies, which are not "suited" to the elderly

Europe's Commissioner for Human Rights

EU and HR of ElderlyEU and HR of Elderly

Cultural IntegrationCultural Integration

• Non-racist and intercultural approach• Enforce equal treatment of citizens• Extend same Social Rights as Nationals - Make EU

attractive• Protection of rights of immigrants

oEntry RegulationsoMigrant’s policies

• Culture allows foreigners more latitude than it does to its own citizens irrespective of their religion

• Non-racist and intercultural approach• Enforce equal treatment of citizens• Extend same Social Rights as Nationals - Make EU

attractive• Protection of rights of immigrants

oEntry RegulationsoMigrant’s policies

• Culture allows foreigners more latitude than it does to its own citizens irrespective of their religion

The Golden Rule of Ethics of Reciprocity

“One must do unto others as one would be treated themselves” - Reciprocal Recognition and Respect of Rights ensures protection of one’s own right. Common amongst all major religions with slight difference

The Golden Rule of Ethics of Reciprocity

“One must do unto others as one would be treated themselves” - Reciprocal Recognition and Respect of Rights ensures protection of one’s own right. Common amongst all major religions with slight difference

ReciprocityReciprocity

• Care and safety of the elderly in society• Pace of life is fast and children have no time to care

for their ageing and vulnerable parents • Monetary management and medical care are the

two main issues connected with the special needs of the elderly

• Law for protection of Elderly becomes key to safeguard their financial rights and ensure they get health care benefits and medical care during physical illness

• Care and safety of the elderly in society• Pace of life is fast and children have no time to care

for their ageing and vulnerable parents • Monetary management and medical care are the

two main issues connected with the special needs of the elderly

• Law for protection of Elderly becomes key to safeguard their financial rights and ensure they get health care benefits and medical care during physical illness

Youth, Human Rights and Elder Law

Religion with a PurposeReligion with a Purpose

Religion provides a supportive social network through a sense of shared

beliefs which can aid an elderly person in combating isolation and

loneliness2007-2008 Gallup Poll

Does religion occupy an important place in your life?Almost 50% said "No"

Religion provides a supportive social network through a sense of shared

beliefs which can aid an elderly person in combating isolation and

loneliness2007-2008 Gallup Poll

Does religion occupy an important place in your life?Almost 50% said "No"

Accept Every Religion

Accept other religious points of view – Respect beliefs, values and origins of all religion– Enable them to adopt their needs such as building temples, mosques and

churches– Find common ground rather than divergence in respective religions– Faith is an individual identity and choice. So religious communities can play an

important role in furthering dialogue, fraternity, solidarity & peace

Accept other religious points of view – Respect beliefs, values and origins of all religion– Enable them to adopt their needs such as building temples, mosques and

churches– Find common ground rather than divergence in respective religions– Faith is an individual identity and choice. So religious communities can play an

important role in furthering dialogue, fraternity, solidarity & peace

Community Watchdog

Non-partisan, grassroots organization of concerned Citizens – advocacy and legal action

Establishment of interfaithforums

Non-partisan, grassroots organization of concerned Citizens – advocacy and legal action

Establishment of interfaithforums

Discussing interfaith relations in a cordial manner always enhances

tolerance in people

Discussing interfaith relations in a cordial manner always enhances

tolerance in people

Jesus Mosque - Jordan's latest symbol of interfaith peace

Jesus Mosque - Jordan's latest symbol of interfaith peace

A mosque named after the central figure of Christianity is the latest milestone of interfaith coexistence in Jordan

Dome of the Rock and Vatican flag 12 May 2009

Dome of the Rock and Vatican flag 12 May 2009