Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-r5fsc Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-24T03:36:34.307Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Older persons’ right to health – a challenge to international law

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  04 March 2018

BARBARA MIKOŁAJCZYK
BARBARA MIKOŁAJCZYK*
Affiliation:
Faculty of Law and Administration, University of Silesia in Katowice, Poland.
*
Address for correspondence: Barbara Mikołajczyk, Faculty of Law and Administration, University of Silesia in Katowice, 11b, Bankowa, 40-007 Katowice, Poland E-mail: [email protected]
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Over the next 30 years, the number of people aged over 65 will exceed the number of children worldwide. Moreover, people at extreme old age will constitute a significant group of older adults. Undoubtedly, global ageing appears as a great challenge to the whole international community in relation to the protection of rights of older persons, including their right to health. The last one is recognised on international forums as one of the most current and complex issues. Therefore, in this paper, I discuss how the right of older adults to health is protected by international norms, and identify trends and perspectives for implementing this right effectively. Examining the degree of protection, I analyse existing international instruments and their interpretation provided by international bodies. I consider that the new international developments should fill in the existing loophole in international law and oblige States to focus on elimination of ageism, age discrimination in access to health care and various barriers to enjoying the right to health by older persons.

Keywords

right to healthhuman rights lawglobal ageinginternational obligations
Type
Article
Information
Ageing & Society , Volume 39 , Issue 8 , August 2019 , pp. 1611 - 1638
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2018 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

African Union 1981. African (Banjul) Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights of 27 June 1981. OAU Doc. CAB/LEG/67/3 rev. 5. Available online at https://www.au.int/web/en/treaties/african-charter-human-and-peoples-rights [Accessed 17 October 2017].Google Scholar
African Union 2016. Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Rights of Older Persons in Africa Adopted in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 31 January 2016. Available online at https://www.au.int/web/en/treaties/protocol-african-charter-human-and-peoples%E2%80%99-rights-rights-older-persons-africa [Accessed 17 October 2017].Google Scholar
Baer, B., Bhushan, A., Abou Taleb, H., Vasques, J. and Thomas, R. 2016. The right to health of older people. The Gerontologist, 56, S2, 206–17.Google Scholar
Buerghental, T., Shelton, D. L. and Steward, D. P. 2009. International Human Rights in a Nutshell. West Publishing Co., St. Paul, Minnesota.Google Scholar
Butler, R. N. 2008. The Longevity Revolution: The Benefits and Challenges of Living a Long Life. Public Affairs, New York.Google Scholar
Castleberry, C. 2015. A human right to health: is there one and, if so, what does it mean? Intercultural Human Rights Law Review, 10, 189–232.Google Scholar
Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (CESCR) 1995. Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights General Comment No. 6. The Economic, Social and Cultural Rights of Older Persons. UN Doc. E/C.12/1995/16/Rev. 1 (1995). Available online at http://tbinternet.ohchr.org/Treaties/CESCR/Shared%20Documents/1_Global/INT_CESCR_GEC_6429_E.pdf [Accessed 17 June 2017].Google Scholar
Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (CESCR) 2000. Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights General Comment No. 14. The Right to the Highest Attainable Standard of Health (Article 12 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights). E/C.12/2000/4. Available online at http://tbinternet.ohchr.org/_layouts/treatybodyexternal/Download.aspx?symbolno=E%2fC.12%2f2000%2f4&Lang=en [Accessed 18 June 2017].Google Scholar
Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (CESCR) 2009. Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights General Comment No. 20. Non-discrimination in Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (Art. 2, Para. 2). E/C.12/GC/20. Available online at http://tbinternet.ohchr.org/_layouts/treatybodyexternal/Download.aspx?symbolno=E%2fC.12%2fGC%2f20&Lang=en [Accessed 27 June 2017].Google Scholar
Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women 2010. Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women General Recommendation No. 27 Older Women and Protection of Their Human Rights, 16 December 2010. CEDAW/C/GC/2. Available online at http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/cedaw/docs/CEDAW-C-2010-47-GC1.pdf [Accessed 7 July 2017].Google Scholar
Council of Europe 1950. European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, Rome, 4 November 1950. European Treaty Series 5. Available online at http://www.coe.int/en/web/conventions/full-list/-/conventions/treaty/005 [Accessed 17 June 2017].Google Scholar
Council of Europe 1961. European Social Charter of 18 October 1961. European Treaty Series 35. Available online at http://www.coe.int/en/web/conventions/full-list/-/conventions/treaty/035 [Accessed 1 July 2017].Google Scholar
Council of Europe 1996. European Social Charter (Revised) of 3 May 1996. European Treaty Series 163. Available online at http://www.coe.int/en/web/conventions/full-list/-/conventions/treaty/163 [Accessed 17 June 2017].Google Scholar
Council of Europe 1997. Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Dignity of the Human Being with Regard to the Application of Biology and Medicine: Convention on Human Rights and Biomedicine, Oviedo, 4 April 1997. European Treaty Series 164. Available online at http://www.coe.int/en/web/conventions/full-list/-/conventions/treaty/164 [Accessed 23 June 2017].Google Scholar
Council of Europe 2000. Protocol No. 12 to the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, Rome, 4 November 2000. European Treaty Series 177. Available online at http://www.coe.int/en/web/conventions/full-list/-/conventions/treaty/177 [Accessed 10 July 2017].Google Scholar
Council of Europe 2013. Combating Discrimination Against Older Persons on the Labour Market, Report of the Committee on Social Affairs, Health and Sustainable Development, Rapporteur: Ms Gafarova, Doc. 13292. Available online at http://assembly.coe.int/nw/xml/XRef/Xref-DocDetails-en.asp?FileID=20028&lang=en [Accessed 10 July 2017].Google Scholar
Council of Europe 2014. Recommendation CM/Rec(2014)2 of the Committee of Ministers to Member States on the Promotion of Human Rights of Older Persons Adopted by the Committee of Ministers on 19 February 2014. Available online at https://search.coe.int/cm/Pages/result_details.aspx?ObjectID=09000016805c649f [Accessed 10 July 2017].Google Scholar
Council of Europe 2017. Resolution of the Parlamentary Assembly 2168 (2017) of May 2017. Human rights of older persons and their comprehensive care Available online at http://assembly.coe.int/nw/xml/XRef/Xref-XML2HTML-en.asp?fileid=23768&lang=en [Accessed 5 October 2017].Google Scholar
Council of Europe/European Court of Human Rights 2015. Thematic Report. Health-related in the Case-law of the European Court of Human Rights. Available online at http://www.echr.coe.int/Documents/Research_report_health.pdf [Accessed 5 October 2017].Google Scholar
Erk, C. 2011. Health, Rights and Dignity: Philosophical Reflections on an Alleged Human Right. Ontos Verlag, Frankfurt, Germany.Google Scholar
Etzioni, A. 2007. Life – the most basic right. Journal of Human Rights, 6, 1, 100–10.Google Scholar
European Court of Human Rights 2008. Dodov v. Bulgaria, Application No. 59548/00, Judgement of 17 January 2017. Available online at https://hudoc.echr.coe.int/ [Accessed 5 November 2017].Google Scholar
European Court of Human Rights 2017. Carvalho Pinto de Sousa Morais v. Portugal, Application No. 17484/15, Judgement of 25 July 2017. Available online at https://hudoc.echr.coe.int/ [Accessed 5 November 2017].Google Scholar
European Union 2000. Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union of 18 December 2000. Official Journal of the European Union C 326 of 26.10.2012. Available online at http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A12012P%2FTXT [Accessed 3 July 2017].Google Scholar
European Union 2007. Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union of 13 December 2007. Official Journal of the European Union 326 of 26.10.2012. Available online at http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/HTML/?uri=OJ:C:2012:326:FULL&from=EN [Accessed 1 July 2017].Google Scholar
Global Ageing 2006. Global Ageing Report. Threats to Longevity. Call for Action. International Longevity Centre Global Alliance. Available online at http://www.ilc-alliance.org/images/uploads/publication-pdfs/09-02_publications_Global_Aging_Report.pdf [Accessed 17 September 2017].Google Scholar
Heymann, J., Cassola, A., Raub, A. and Mishra, L. 2013. Constitutional rights to health, public health and medical care: the status of health protections in 191 countries. Global Public Health, 8, 6, 639–53.Google Scholar
Human Rights Committee 1982. CCPR General Comment No. 6: Article 6 (Right to Life), 30 April 1982. Available online at http://www.refworld.org/docid/45388400a.html [Accessed 4 July 2017].Google Scholar
Human Rights Committee 2011. Néstor Julio Canessa Albareda et al. v. Uruguay. Communications Nos. 1637/2007, 1757/2008 and 1765/2008, Views of 24 October 2011. CCPR/C/103/D/1637/2007, 1757 and 1765/2008. Available online at http://juris.ohchr.org/Search/Details/1648 [Accessed 4 July 2017].Google Scholar
Human Rights Council 2014. Report of the Independent Expert on the Enjoyment of All Human Rights by Older Persons, Rosa Kornfeld-Matte, UN General Assembly (2014) A/HCR/27/46. Available online at http://www.refworld.org/docid/55f7ee694.html [Accessed 19 June 2017].Google Scholar
Human Rights Council 2015. Report of the Independent Expert on the Enjoyment of All Human Rights by Older Persons, Rosa Kornfeld-Matte, on Her Mission to Austria, A/HRC/30/43/Add.2. Available online at http://socialprotection-humanrights.org/category/resources/hrmb/independent-expert-on-the-enjoyment-of-all-human-rights-by-older-persons/ [Accessed 21 June 2017].Google Scholar
Human Rights Council 2016. Report of the Independent Expert on the Enjoyment of All Human Rights by Older Persons, Rosa Kornfeld-Matte. A/HRC/33/44. Available online at http://ap.ohchr.org/documents/dpage_e.aspx?si=A/HRC/33/44 [Accessed 17 June 2017].Google Scholar
Jasudowicz, T. 2010. Prawo do życia’ [Right to life]. In Gronowska, B., Jasudowicz, T., Balcerzak, M., Lubiszewski, M., Mizerski, R. (eds), Prawa człowieka i ich ochrona’ [Human Rights and Their Protection]. TNOIK Dom Organizatora, Toruń, Poland, 269–92.Google Scholar
League of Arab States 2004. Arab Charter on Human Rights, May 22, 2004. Available online at https://www.acihl.org/texts.htm?article_id=16 [Accessed 11 July 2017].Google Scholar
Limburg Principles 1987. The Limburg Principles on the Implementation of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. UN doc. E/CN.4/1987/17. Human Rights Quarterly, 9, 2, 122–35.Google Scholar
Maastricht Guidelines 1997. Maastricht Guidelines on Violations of Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. Available online at http://hrlibrary.umn.edu/instree/Maastrichtguidelines_.html [Accessed 20 June 2017].Google Scholar
Marks, S. P. 2016. Normative expansion of the right to health and the proliferation of human rights. George Washington International Law Review, 49, 1, 98–100.Google Scholar
Mikołajczyk, B. 2012. Międzynarodowa ochrona praw osób starszych [International Protection of the Rights of Older Persons]. Wolters Kluwer Business, Warsaw.Google Scholar
Mikołajczyk, B. 2015. International law and ageism. Polish Yearbook of International Law, 35, 47–82.Google Scholar
Nordenfelt, L. 2009. Dignity in Care for Older People. Wiley-Blackwell, Chichester, UK.Google Scholar
Organization of American States 1969. American Convention on Human Rights ‘Pact of San Jose, Costa Rica’ (B-32). San Jose, 22 November 1969. Available online at http://www.oas.org/dil/treaties_B-32_American_Convention_on_Human_Rights.htm [Accessed 5 July 2017].Google Scholar
Organization of American States 1988. Additional Protocol to the American Convention on Human Rights in the Area of Economic, Social and Cultural Rights of 1988. OAS Treaty Series 69. Available online at http://www.oas.org/juridico/english/treaties/a-52.html [Accessed 7 July 2017].Google Scholar
Organization of American States 2015. Inter-American Convention on Protecting the Human Rights of Older Persons. Washington, D.C., 15 of June 2015, A-70. Available online at http://www.oas.org/en/sla/dil/inter_american_treaties_A-70_human_rights_older_persons.asp [Accessed 7 July 2017].Google Scholar
People's Health Movements 2000. The People's Charter for Health Adopted by First People's Health Assembly Held at Dhaka, Bangladesh. Available online at http://www.phmovement.org/en/resources/charters/peopleshealth [Accessed 17 June 2017].Google Scholar
Scott, S. 2004. International Law in World Politics. Lynne Rienner Publisher, London.Google Scholar
Shelton, D. (ed.) 2003. Commitment and Compliance: The Role of Non-binding Norms in the International Legal System. Oxford University Press, Oxford.Google Scholar
Stanford Encyclopaedia of Philosophy 2001. Equality. Available online at https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/equality/ [Accessed 7 November 2017].Google Scholar
Terpan, F. 2015. Soft law in the European Union – the changing nature of EU law. European Law Journal, 21, 1, 68–96.Google Scholar
The Lancet 2008. Editorial: The right to health: from rhetoric to reality. The Lancet, 372, 9655, 2001.Google Scholar
Tobin, J. 2012. The Right to Health in International Law. Oxford University Press, Oxford.Google Scholar
Toebes, B., Ferguson, R., Markovic, M. M. and Nnamuchi, O. 2014. The Right to Health: A Multi-country Study of Law. Policy and Practice. Asser Press, The Hague.Google Scholar
United Nations 1965. International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, 21 December 1965. United Nations Treaty Series 660. Available online at http://www.ohchr.org/EN/ProfessionalInterest/Pages/CoreInstruments.aspx [Accessed 17 June 2017].Google Scholar
United Nations 1966 a. Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights Civil and Political Rights of 16 December 1966. United Nations Treaty Series 993. Available online at http://www.ohchr.org/EN/ProfessionalInterest/Pages/CoreInstruments.aspx [Accessed 17 June 2017].Google Scholar
United Nations 1966 b. International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights Adopted in New York, 16 December 1966. United Nations Treaty Series 999 and 1057. Available online at http://www.ohchr.org/EN/ProfessionalInterest/Pages/CoreInstruments.aspx [Accessed 17 June 2017].Google Scholar
United Nations 1969. Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties. United Nations Treaty Series 155. Available online at https://treaties.un.org/Pages/ViewDetailsIII.aspx?src=TREATY&mtdsg_no=XXIII-&chapter=23&Temp=mtdsg3&clang=_en [Accessed 17 June 2017].Google Scholar
United Nations 1979. Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women. United Nations Treaty Series 1249. Available online at http://www.ohchr.org/EN/ProfessionalInterest/Pages/CoreInstruments.aspx [Accessed 17 June 2017].Google Scholar
United Nations 1989. Convention on the Rights of Child of 20 November 1989. United Nations Treaty Series 1577. Available online at http://www.ohchr.org/EN/ProfessionalInterest/Pages/CoreInstruments.aspx [Accessed 17 June 2017].Google Scholar
United Nations 1990. International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families of 18 December 1990. United Nations Treaty Series 2220. Available online at http://www.ohchr.org/EN/ProfessionalInterest/Pages/CoreInstruments.aspx [Accessed 17 June 2017].Google Scholar
United Nations General Assembly 1991. United Nations Principles for Older Persons, Adopted by General Assembly Resolution 46/91 of 16 December 1991. Available online at http://www.ohchr.org/EN/ProfessionalInterest/Pages/OlderPersons.aspx [Accessed 17 June 2017].Google Scholar
United Nations 2006. Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities of 13 December 2006. United Nations Treaty Series 2515. Available online at http://www.ohchr.org/EN/ProfessionalInterest/Pages/CoreInstruments.aspx [Accessed 17 June 2017].Google Scholar
United Nations 2007. United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples – Resolution United Nations General Assembly 61/295 of 13 September 2007. Available online at https://www.un.org/ga/search/view_doc.asp?symbol=A/RES/61/295&Lang=E [Accessed 17 June 2017].Google Scholar
United Nations 2008. Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights New York, 10 December 2008, Doc. A/63/435. Available online at http://www.ohchr.org/EN/ProfessionalInterest/Pages/CoreInstruments.aspx [Accessed 17 June 2017].Google Scholar
United Nations 2015. Profiles of Ageing, United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Ageing and Development Chart 2009. Available online at http://www.un.org/en/development/desa/population/publications/pdf/ageing/WPA2015_Report.pdf [Accessed 17 June 2017].Google Scholar
United Nations General Assembly 1948. Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Resolution 217 A (III). Available online at http://www.un.org/en/universal-declaration-human-rights/ [Accessed 19 June 2017].Google Scholar
United Nations General Assembly 1982. Vienna International Plan of Action on Ageing 26 July 8 August 1982, Adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in Resolution 37/51. Available online at http://www.un.org/es/globalissues/ageing/docs/vipaa.pdf [Accessed 17 June 2017].Google Scholar
United Nations General Assembly 2002. Resolution 57/167 Adopted by the General Assembly on 18 December 2002. Follow-up to the Second World Assembly on Ageing. Available online at https://www.un.org/development/desa/ageing/resources/general-assembly-2.html [Accessed 5 July 2017].Google Scholar
United Nations General Assembly 2010. Resolution Adopted by the General Assembly on 21 December 2010, Res. 65/182. Follow-up to the Second World Assembly on Ageing. Available online at https://www.un.org/development/desa/ageing/resources/general-assembly-2.html [Accessed 16 June 2017].Google Scholar
United Nations General Assembly 2011. Thematic Study on the Realization of the Right to Health of Older Persons by the Special Rapporteur on the Right of Everyone to the Enjoyment of the Highest Attainable Standard of Physical and Mental Health, Anand Grover, General Assembly, 4 July 2011, A/HRC/18/37. Available online at http://hrbaportal.org/wp-content/files/A-HRC-18-37_en.pdf [Accessed 16 June 2017].Google Scholar
United Nations General Assembly 2012. Towards a Comprehensive and Integral International Legal Instrument to Promote and Protect the Rights and Dignity of Older Persons. Resolution 67/139 Adopted by the General Assembly on 20 December 2012, A/RES/67/139. Available online at https://www.un.org/development/desa/ageing/resources/general-assembly-2.html [Accessed 17 June 2017].Google Scholar
Williams, P. W. 2009. Age discrimination in the delivery of health care services to our elders. Marquette Elder's Advisor, 11, 1, 1–46.Google Scholar
World Health Organization (WHO) 1946. Constitution of the World Health Organization adopted by the International Health Conference, New York from 19 June to 22 July 1946. Official Records of the World Health Organization, 2. Available online at http://apps.who.int/gb/bd/PDF/bd47/EN/constitution-en.pdf?ua=1 [Accessed 3 July 2017].Google Scholar
World Health Organization (WHO) 1978. Declaration Adopted by the International Conference on Primary Health Care, Alma-Ata, USSR, 6–12 September 1978. Available online at http://www.who.int/publications/almaata_declaration_en.pdft [Accessed 3 July 2017].Google Scholar
World Health Organization (WHO) 2002. World Report on Violence and Health. Available online at http://www.who.int/violence_injury_prevention/violence/world_report/en/ [Accessed 3 July 2017].Google Scholar
Yamin, A. E. 2005. The right to health under international law and its relevance to the United States. American Journal of Public Health, 95, 7, 1156–61.Google Scholar