By CLEMENT NWOJI, Abuja

The Executive Secretary of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Tony Ojukwu, has enjoin all relevant stakeholders to collaborate with one another towards realizing the primary aim of improving the lives/ well-being and the human rights situation of older persons.

Ojukwu, who is also the Vice-Chair of Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions (GANHRI), spoke while welcoming stakeholders to the High Level Conference on the Rights of Older Persons, organised by National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) and ECOWAS Parliament in Abuja.

He said the prospect of having a conference of this nature affords the opportunity to exchange ideas on leaps taken by various countries and continents in escalating the civil, political, economic, social, economic and cultural rights of older persons.

According to Ojukwu, “The promotion and protection of the human rights of older persons should be a major concern for public authorities as older persons are full members of the society and their contribution remains important for national development.

“These discussions and agitations for the human rights of older persons should be considered as calls for inclusion and ensuring that no one is left behind in the scheme of things in achieving the aspirations of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

“As issues of such importance cannot be handled by an individual or an organization alone, I enjoin all relevant stakeholders to collaborate with one another towards realizing the primary aim of improving the lives/ well-being and the human rights situation of older persons.”

He noted that the narrative surrounding the rights of older persons which previously occupied the back burner has in recent times continued to resonate in major discussions within the national, regional and international space.

Further, Ojukwu maintained that there is need to firstly recognize and appreciate the fact that older persons occupy a special position in the world demographics.

“In addition, social security and social protection floors for older persons should be regarded as human rights which are interrelated, interdepended and indivisible and hinged on the principle of non- discrimination.

“Lobbying and political persuasions are important tools to mount political pressure on government to develop and implement policies of this kind.

“We are lucky today to have in our mist the representative of the President and Commander-in-chief of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in the Person of the Secretary General whose office is influential enough to change the plight of older persons in Nigeria and beyond.

The 74th President of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), Prof Tijjani Muhammad Bande is here with us today, though of African origin, has by virtue of his position become a global figure.

“I wish to appeal to all of us that it is imperative that we do not postpone any critical decision that are required to be taken to achieve our desired goals as this will contribute immensely towards ensuring the successful development of an operative framework, that will guarantee the human rights of older persons.

“These decisions will not come easy, they will entail a lot of deliberations and compromise but we should be assured that it will go a long way in improving the human rights situation of older persons”, he said.

Also, HelpAge International, a Non Governmental Organisation (NGO), has urged parliamentarians from Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to enhance protection for older persons in Africa.

Mr Shem Ochola, the Head of Network Coordination and Development of the organisation, who made the call during the High Level Conference on the Rights of Older Persons, organised by National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), said there was need for ECOWAS parliamentarians to work toward protecting the rights of older persons.

He called on them to rectify the protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Rights of Older Persons in Africa.

According to him, for a convention on older people’s rights to be strong and effective, it must reflect older people’s experiences across the world.