World Psychiatric Association delivers statement at UN Intergovernmental Working Group on the rights of older persons

Professor Danuta Wasserman, President of the World Psychiatric Association, delivered an oral statement on behalf of WPA during the first session of the UN Intergovernmental Working Group on the elaboration of a legally binding instrument on the rights of older persons.

The statement emphasized that human rights do not diminish with age and must be realised in everyday life, including in homes, communities, hospitals, long-term care settings, mental health services, and support systems. WPA highlighted the importance of ensuring that mental health, brain health, dementia, psychosocial disability, long-term care, community-based care and support, legal capacity, supported decision-making, and protection from abuse and neglect are meaningfully reflected in the development of a future UN Convention on the Rights of Older Persons.

The statement also affirmed that older persons are rights holders and experts through lived experience, and that their meaningful participation must be central to the development, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of the Convention.

The oral statement can be viewed on UN Web TV at the link below. Professor Wasserman’s statement begins at approximately 2 hours and 34 minutes into the session:

The full statement from the President can be read in our previous news story that was published earlier this month.