Mexico is making progress in protecting the rights of older people.

The Inter-American Convention on the Protection of the Human Rights of Older Persons was adopted in Washington DC, United States of America, on June 15, 2015(1). Its objective is to promote, protect and ensure the recognition and full enjoyment and exercise, under conditions of equality, of all human rights and fundamental freedoms of older persons(1).

In Mexico, the Convention was approved by the Senate of the Honorable Congress of the Union on December 13, 2022. The instrument of accession was signed by the Federal Executive on January 11, 2023 and deposited with the Secretary General of the Organization of American States on March 28 of this year(2). Finally, it was promulgated in Mexico on April 20, 2023(1).

To date, six countries in the region have ratified the Convention: Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, and Uruguay(3). The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (SRE) thanked the joint committees of the Senate and the senators who approved the ratification report(4).

Rights such as those to accessible environments, already considered in the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, are being expanded, and commitments are being specified for the Mexican state in aspects of utmost importance such as the right to work, which in some cases means profound changes to our regulatory frameworks.

The constitutional protection for the elderly - fortunately - now includes much more than just financial support; it means transforming whatever is necessary so that being an elderly person in this country is not yet another reason for exclusion.

References

(1) ECLAC

https://www.cepal.org/sites/default/files/events/files/betilde_munoz_pogossian.pdf

(2) Official Gazette of the Federation https://www.dof.gob.mx/nota_detalle.php?codigo=5686151&fecha=20/04/2023#gsc.tab=0

(3) Organization of American States

https://www.oas.org/es/CIDH/jsForm/?File=/es/cidh/r/pm/bdocuments.asp

(4) Government of Mexico

https://www.gob.mx/sre/prensa/sre-se-congratula-por-de-la-ratificacion-de-la-convencion-interamericana-sobre-la-proteccion-de