CONSULTATIVE WORKSHOP ON THE OEWG10 focus areas, Kigali on January 12, 2019

Since September 2018, NSINDAGIZA Organization, promoting the rights of older people in Rwanda, has been implementing, in partnership with the GAROP and HelpAge International, a project called “Global Fight Against Ageism”, funded by the Swedish Postcode Foundation. The project is implemented in 10 countries of Africa and Asia, with the aim to strengthen the capacity of older people and for the civil society organization to advocate for the establishment of the UN convention on the rights of older people and the national policies on the rights of older people.

The first training of older activists was conducted in Kigali from November 26th to 29th 2018 and the participants thereafter conducted a survey with the objective to collect information on older people in order to understand the focus areas of the UN OEWG10 to be held in New York from April 15th to 18th 2019 where one of the older activists from Rwanda will participate.

Objective of the meeting

To raise awareness of older people on the OEWG on ageing, and collect their views on the focus areas of the UN OEWG10

Participants

In order to deepen the survey conducted to 147 individual older people from different districts, NSINDAGIZA organized, in collaboration with other older people’s platform “URUMURI RW’IZABUKURU”, two one-day consultative meetings in Kigali on January 12, 2019 and in Huye on January 20, 2019 with 67 older people (34F and 33M), and the 4 Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) were conducted on the four topics respectively Autonomy and Independence, Long-term and palliative care, social protection and Education, training, long-term learning and capacity building. Participating in the meeting were also the representatives of the Rwanda Association of older people (ARPA), Rwanda Association on pensioners (ARR), The St Vincent of Paul Society (SSVP) and different NSINDAGIZA elderly support groups.

After the presentations by the experts, focus groups were formed, to discuss on the presented topics and come up with the findings to share in the plenary sessions.

Recommendations

  1. Palliative care
  • The Government of Rwanda and non-governmental organizations to include in their programs educating and giving ability to the elderly, so as to help them reduce their pain so that they may be able to age gracefully.
  • The Government to ensure that all older people, without discrimination, have access to affordable, available and holistic palliative care services, including access to controlled medicines for pain relief in settings which meet their needs, will and preferences, including at home and in residential facilities.
  • The Government to ensure adequate and appropriate training of health personnel in palliative care.
  • The Government to ensure regulation of all palliative care providers and monitoring of their compliance with professional obligations and standards.

 

  1. Autonomy and Independence
  • The Government to ensure that older persons are recognized before the law on an equal basis with others and are able to make their own decisions in all aspects of their lives and lead autonomous and independent lives in line with their will and preferences.
  • The Government to ensure older persons have access to support services, including support to make decisions and exercise their legal capacity, and services to support independent living and inclusions in the community.
  • The Government to ensure the full, effective and meaningful participation of older persons in family, social, cultural, economic, public and political life and educational and training activities. Violence, abuse and neglect

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *