International Representatives from the Holy See Advocate for Elderly Dignity and Family Employment at the United Nations
In a powerful speech at the 60th regular session of the United Nations Human Rights Council on September 17, 2020, Archbishop Ettore Balestrero, Permanent Observer of the Holy See at the United Nations in Geneva, called for the protection of the human rights of the elderly worldwide.
Archbishop Balestrero argued that the elderly should not be considered a burden, but rather a challenge for societies to care for and value appropriately. He affirmed that if the elderly must continue working, they should enjoy labor protection to combat discrimination.
The archbishop noted that many elderly find their sole sustenance within families. He called for greater investment in social security policies to support families, emphasizing the importance of intergenerational solidarity to foster solid social security systems.
The Holy See's representative warned that societies worldwide are ill-prepared to face upcoming demographic changes. By 2030, approximately one in six people will be 60 years or older, totaling 1.4 billion people. Archbishop Balestrero highlighted that by this time, the figure is expected to double by 2050.
The fragility and dignity of the elderly must be protected with due respect and concrete interventions, including their economic and social well-being, the archbishop stated. He called for defending the dignity of the elderly through pensions, financial support, and social and health services.
Women, in particular, should have equal access to social security and pensions, according to the archbishop. He criticized policies that consider the elderly a burden, including those legalizing euthanasia or assisted suicide.
Archbishop Balestrero emphasized that the value of a person does not decrease with age or physical and mental deterioration. He stated that the value of a person resides in the immutable truth that every person is created in the image and likeness of God.
The family, according to the Holy See, is the permanent foundation of human society. The archbishop's appeal comes as the world grapples with the challenges posed by an aging population. He called for defending the dignity of the elderly through policies that promote economic and social well-being, rather than those that he described as promoting a 'culture of death'.
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