The Southern Africa Expert Meeting on the Rights of Older Women was organised by the Centre for Human Rights and took place at the University of Pretoria on 30 May 2018. The Southern Africa Expert meeting was convened as part of the #AgeWithRights Campaign that aims to strengthen protection of the fundamental human rights of older persons, with specific focus on older women; and to facilitate a robust discussion on the popularisation and ratification of the Protocol on the Rights of Older Persons. The meeting was attended by representatives from the African Union, the Pan African Parliament, the South African Human Rights Commission and the Commission for Gender Equality, government representatives, embassies, civil society and academics from Southern Africa.

The meeting had three objectives:

1. to identify and examine emerging issues regarding protection and promotion of the rights of older women, including measures to prevent discrimination, neglect, abuse and violence;
2. to evaluate national and international approaches to widening and deepening the rights of older persons and;
3. to elaborate on how to promote the rights of older persons, with specific focus on the popularisation and ratification of the Protocol on the Rights of Older Persons.

The meeting also discussed specific issues and obligations that were critical to the enjoyment of all rights by older persons with a key focus on older women, such as discrimination and; the right to health; the right to work and the right to social security.

The Director of the Centre, Prof. Frans Viljoen in his opening address underscored the importance of addressing the rights of older persons and noted that older persons were the fastest growing rights holders. He also emphasised the critical need for states to ratify the Protocol on the Rights 0f Older Persons.

Programme

Download the programme of the Southern Africa Expert Meeting on the Rights of Older Women

Report

Download the report of the Southern Africa Expert Meeting on the Rights of Older Women

Conference Presentations

• The lived experience of ageing in an African context
  Mrs Kufekisa Laugery
  Chairperson of the Senior Citizens Association of Zambia
   
• The Social Profile of Older Persons, 2011-2015
  Dr Isabelle Schmidt
  Chief Director: Social Statistics, Stats SA: Vulnerable Groups Series ii: 
   
• Population ageing and the status of older women in Africa
  Ms Roseline Kihumba
  International & Regional Policies Coordinator, HelpAge International: 
   
• The rights of older persons
  Dr Nhongo 
  Expert on Older Persons: 
   
• The value and importance of the Protocol on the Rights of Older Persons
  Mr Lefhoko Kesamang
  Senior Social Welfare Officer, Social Affairs Department, African Union: 
   
• The role of the Pan African Parliament in advancing rights of older persons
  Clement Mavungu
  Legal Counsel, Pan African Parliament
   
• AU Protocol to the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights on the Rights of older persons in Africa
  Ms Roseline Kihumba
  International & Regional Policies Coordinator, HelpAge International: 
   
• Lesotho’s ratification process for the Protocol on the Rights of Older Persons
  Ms Nthabiseng Lelisa
  Legal officer, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Relations, Lesotho: 
   
• Ratification of the Protocol on the Rights of Older Persons: The role of civil society 
  Mrs Kufekisa Laugery
  Chairperson of the Senior Citizens Association of Zambia: 
   
• Harmful traditional practices against older women
  Naomi Maloba
  Deputy Director, Directorate of Older Persons, Department of Social Development: 
   
• The work of the South African Human Rights Commission on older persons
  Commissioner Malatji
  South African Human Rights Commission: The work of the South African Human Rights Commission on older persons
   
• Older women with disabilities
  Commissioner Nomasonto Mazibuko
  Commission for Gender Equality (CGE): 
   
• What makes older persons vulnerable, the type of abuse and access to justice in the South African context
  Gus Trigo
  HelpAge International, South Africa: 
   
• Realising the rights of older women in Africa: A transformative social approach
  Marion Ouma
  University of South Africa (UNISA)
   
• Durban: Work of the Muthande Society for the Aged
  Nokuthula Ngcobo
  Muthande Society for the Aged (MUSA)