J Swanson-Jacobs: International Human Rights Day for older
Persons

10 December 2007

Ladies and gentlemen
21 March 1960
16 June 1976
12 September 1977.

These are all dates that have become infamous in the history of our country.
The Sharpeville Massacre, the Soweto Uprisings, the death of comrade Steve Biko
are all engrained in our collective memories as gross violations of human
rights.

Each passing year marks a new chapter in the maturing of our democracy. Our
struggle for the eradication of poverty, for the restoration of human rights
and dignity continues to gather momentum as we seek to make good on the dreams
of our elders who envisioned in the Freedom Charter that "The aged, the
orphans, the disabled and the sick shall be cared for by the state". This
ripening of our democracy has borne fruit in today's commemoration of the
International Human Rights Day. In particular we are focusing on the human
rights of older persons.

Today also marks the official end of the 16 Days of Activism for No Violence
Against Women campaign. Thus we have come together to strengthen our battle for
human rights on two fronts. The growing number of older persons means that the
human rights of this group will take on increasing importance. The theme for
this year's International Day of Older Persons which we celebrated on 1 October
was "Challenges and Opportunities of Ageing: Empowering Older Persons". It is
within this context that we seek to strengthen the human rights of older
persons.

Our country's struggle for freedom has produced a veritable treasure chest
of elders who have become remarkable role models, not only to South Africans,
but the world over. Among them are those whose contribution to the cause of
democracy has been honoured in the naming of our National Orders, the Order of
Luthuli, and the Order of the Companions of OR Tambo. This year we commemorate
the 40th anniversary of the passing of our first Nobel Peace Laureate, Inkosi
Albert Luthuli. We have thus always recognised the wisdom and involvement of
our elders in the development of our society.

Our role as government is to recognise the challenges facing and assist
older persons in identifying opportunities that are there for them. They need
to reclaim their rights as older persons. The United Nations has identified
five key areas of importance for older persons: These are independence,
participation, care, self-fulfilment and dignity.

With regard to independence, we have identified opportunities for
employment, education, training and provision of support required to enable
older people to live at home for as long as possible. As government we are
currently enlisting older persons to pass on the skills they have acquired to
our younger generation of apprentices and professionals.

Another element of our strategy is to improve the participation of older
persons in all aspects of society. This will ensure an active role in decision
making and communicating in the family, the community and society as a whole.
To this end we have established the Older Persons Forum that will provide the
aged with a voice.

Access to health care is one of the challenges facing older persons. Coupled
with this is the need to access social, legal and other services that enhance
personal security and provide a safe, humane and caring environment for those
in residential care or treatment facility. During financial year 2007/08, the
department will allocate resources to improve social welfare service delivery
by implementing the Older Persons Act of 2006 which requires the state to
progressively extend services to older persons. One of the areas of focus of
the Act is the protection of the elderly from all forms of abuse and the Act
provides for anyone caring for the elderly to take steps to ensure their
safety.

Personal development opportunities, with access to cultural, spiritual and
recreational resources form another cornerstone of our policy for older
persons. The above can only be achieved if the dignity of older persons is
affirmed through respect for older persons' beliefs, privacy and security.
Already now, older persons make major contributions to society. For instance,
throughout Africa and elsewhere, millions of adult AIDS patients are cared for
at home by their parents. On their death, orphaned children left behind
(currently, 14 million under the age of 15 in African countries alone) are
mainly looked after by their grandparents.

There is recognition that the potential of older persons is a powerful basis
for future development, enabling society to rely increasingly on the skills,
experience and wisdom of older persons not only to take the lead in their own
betterment, but also to participate actively in that of society as a whole.
Today also marks the end of the 16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against
Women campaign. As we have discovered even older women now face the brunt of
violence that has permeated our society. As government we seek to send a clear
message to all perpetrators that such violence against the most helpless
individuals in our society will not be tolerated. A cornerstone of our campaign
this year has been the Million Men's March. The march is symbolic of men and
boys joining together with women to say "No!" to the abuse of women and
children. We call upon all men both young and old to uphold the dignity of
women.

Ladies and gentlemen, in almost every corner of the world, old age is
revered, if not for nothing else, but its gift of longevity and wisdom. Older
persons almost always are respected and held in high esteem. Because of their
wealth of knowledge, the aged in Africa, for example, serve as advisers to
those people who lead their communities. The aged play significant role in the
extended family relations that is prevalent in Africa and elsewhere. They
baby-sit and take care of young children while the parents go to work.

In western society, the important role of elders has been lost and they are
often seen as a burden on society, a drain on the country's fiscus. In Africa
however, elders are respected and trusted, as mediators, facilitators and
repositories of knowledge and wisdom. Indeed, in African societies, the elders
are considered to be vast reservoirs of the collective wisdom that has been
accumulated over time, living libraries whose knowledge and wisdom can and
should be tapped.

We as government have come here today to affirm the role of the elderly in
society. We have come here to assure you that the human rights of the elderly
are protected in South African society. We have come here to avow that the days
of ignoring the role of the elderly have come to an end. As our former
President Nelson Mandela himself stated, older persons have a much more
important role to play in society to "support courage where there is fear,
foster agreement where there is conflict and inspire hope where there is
despair."

Thank you.

Issued by: Department of Social Development
10 December 2007