Latin America is
a region of contrasts. Great wealth in the hands of the privileged few coexists
next to populations living in poverty and extreme poverty. It is considered
to be one of the regions with the most social and financial inequality in the
world.
The region is undergoing
a sustained ageing process, the rate of which differs in each country. In recent
years the theme of ageing has had a greater presence on governments’ agendas,
but it is not always the case that policies catering for the specific needs
and rights of older people are implemented. The Latin American states have signed
up to many agreements, treaties and international conventions, including those
dealing with human rights, which have become an institution in the region. However,
specific monitoring of the human rights situation of older people is practically
non-existent. Few countries have human rights plans which include specific sections
on older people. What does exist is a tendency to develop specific legislation,
national
plans on ageing and, in some countries, social policies and programmes, but
generally this is without the corresponding budget allocation needed for implementation.
A review of the situation
regarding health, social protection, age discrimination, gender and ethnic origin
reveals just how neglected the rights of most older Latin Americans are. There
is also a lack of awareness among the older population of their rights and the
instruments in place to protect them, and in the majority of cases accessible
mechanisms through which older people can channel complaints about human rights
abuses either do not exist or are not well known. In many countries, older people
are not considered a priority group for public spending. Socially, older people
are considered to be worthless and in general there is a lack of awareness of
the ageing process and its social, political, cultural and financial implications.
Some sectors of civil society
are active in the field of social gerontology, as are a growing number of older
people’s associations, on a national level. However, in many cases there
is a lack of coordination because some are active in local, regional or national
planning, and in other cases because the members are a mixture of pensioners
and non-pensioners. A few years ago the Continental Network of Older Leaders
was set up, with representatives from 13 countries and it is gaining recognition
in important arenas such as intergovernmental meetings. To varying degrees,
non-governmental organisations and associations, and international networks
in the ageing field, contribute to the promotion of rights within their societies.
Some of these sectors are monitoring the implementation of the recommendations
that were made in the Madrid Plan of Action on Ageing.
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