Source: NewsDay
The African Union Commission and HelpAge International have urged African states to develop and implement policies that protect the rights of the continent’s old citizens.

Speaking at a roundtable meeting on the role of older persons in achieving Africa’s Agenda 2063 held in Ethiopia yesterday, AU director of social affairs Olawale Maiyegun said there was need to address the needs of Africa’s growing population of older people.

Maiyegun said although the AU had set up frameworks and legal instruments including the AU Policy Framework on Plan of Action on Ageing (AUPFAA), the African Common Position on Post-2015 Sustainable Development (AU, 2014) and the recently approved Protocol on the Rights of Older People, more needed to be done to implement these instruments at government level.

HelpAge International recently released the Global Age Watch Index 2015 report to raise visibility on ageing at regional and national levels.

The report noted that older women and men in Africa experienced economic and social hardships, with the majority unable to access basic services such as secure income, shelter and food.

HelpAge International trustee Sola Mahoney said without a well-established social security strategy, older people’s right to live dignified lives would be impossible to achieve.

“Older people play a critical role in many aspects of Africa’s economic and social development,” Sola said.

Sola challenged governments to put systems in place to facilitate inter-generational exchange of knowledge and skills and for the two generations to work together and realise Agenda 2063.