ABA position towards an International Convention on Rights of Older Persons

One of the most important bodies in the field of law and aging is the ABA Commission on Law and Aging.
The commission has been active for many years in developing legal policies in the realm of elder law.
In recent years ABA Commission has started to look beyond American elder law and into the international perspectives of rights of older persons.
This important interest has culminated in a recent policy adopted by the ABA House of Delegates, that was the outcome of the initiative of the the commission.
Below is a short report by Charlie Sabatino, the Director of the commission on this important development:

"At its August annual meeting, the ABA House of Delegates adopted a policy proposed by the Commission on Law and Aging urging the United States Department of State and the United Nations and its member states to support the ongoing processes at the U.N. and the Organization of American States to strengthen protection of the rights of older persons, including the efforts and consultations towards an international and regional human rights instrument on the rights of older persons. This is kind of a wordy way to say its time for an international convention on the rights of older persons. You can see the policy and report at: http://www.americanbar.org/groups/law_aging/policy.html (click on the bullet labeled "Towards the Creation of an International and Regional Human Rights Instrument ….”)

This finally puts the ABA in line with a growing number of NGOs that have been pursuing this goal for some time. These organizations have come together in the Global Alliance for the Rights of Older Persons. You may not have thought much about elder rights in an international context, but it's becoming hugely important. Check it out and see how you might be able to get involved at: http://rightsalliance.org/

Charlie Sabatino, Director
ABA Commission on Law and Aging
740 Fifteenth St., NW
Washington, DC 20005
Tel. 202-662-8686
Fax: 202-662-8698
Charles.Sabatino@americanbar.org
Web: www.americanbar.org/aging