Ageing, human rights and public policies

This book examines the ageing phenomenon in Latin American countries from the demographic perspectives, and the guaranteeing of human rights in old-age. The book catches two notable facts about the region: population is ageing faster in the region than it did historically in the developed countries; and poor coverage and quality of social protection systems are dominating.

The paper concludes the following findings: 

• there are high demands placed on the family to provide security and protection
• in most cases, old-age vulnerability is not age-related, but instead stems from the generally precarious nature of the protection mechanisms provided by the state
• there is a deep-rooted notion that problems of ageing are a matter for the private sphere rather than an issue calling for collective solidarit.

The author points out that the challenge for Latin American countries is to develop a long-range vision, without neglecting the urgent need to solve short-term problems. Nonetheless, the paper emphasises that the way forward depends on the mechanisms adopted and the scope for social cohesion within society. In this respect, it underlines the issue of how to strengthen the reciprocal relationship between current generations, and how this is accomplished without jeopardising the future of coming generations.

As a result, the document suggests the following recommendations:

• creating opportunities through an increasingly favourable ratio between the population of dependent ages and the working-age population can bring tangible benefits
• Latin American countries should build up human capital and job-related skills and expand the capacity of production sectors
• authorities must take stock of the exting situation, deal with persistent lags and gradually move forward, expanding social protection to encompass the entire population
• population ageing must not be regarded as a matter that concerns only the current generation of older persons.