WASHINGTON, CMC -Three Caribbean Community (CARICOM) countries have so far ratified the Inter-American Convention on the Protection of the Rights of Older Persons, as the Inter American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) urges regional countries to ensure that care facilities for older persons are appropriately regulated and supervised to eradicate and prevent acts of violence.
In a statement, the IACHR, a principal and autonomous organ of the Organization of American States (OAS), said on Tuesday that older persons have the right to receive care without discrimination and with autonomy, independence, and security.
The IACHR stated that it welcomes the fact that more countries ratify the Inter-American Convention on the Protection of the Rights of Older Persons each year and is calling on those that have not yet done so to demonstrate their commitment by signing and ratifying this instrument.
It stated that currently, Belize, St. Kitts and Nevis, and Suriname are the only CARICOM countries that are parties to the Convention, joining countries like Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Mexico, Peru, and Uruguay that have also done so.
The IACHR said that during this year, publicly available information reported serious situations of violence and insecurity affecting the lives and integrity of older persons residing in care facilities.
It said that it finds it alarming that more than 10 older persons have died as a result of fires in care facilities in different countries of the region.
“Likewise, the violations of integrity reported in several cases include physical, verbal, and psychological abuse by care staff in these residences; poor medication provision to residents; and unsanitary conditions and lack of cleaning supplies. Arbitrary limitations on the right to live an independent life were also reported through restrictions on mobility and access to outdoor areas.”
The IACHR stated that, based on the information analyzed, it noted that following official inspections, some care centers were closed, their licenses revoked, and residents relocated to other institutions.
It said criminal proceedings have also been initiated against individuals linked to acts of violence in the administration or provision of care.
The Commission encourages the measures adopted by countries for supervision and oversight, while calling on them to strengthen these efforts in care facilities for older persons. This includes investigating the impacts on life, security, and integrity that occur in these places, as well as providing accessible channels for filing complaints, where appropriate.
The Inter-American Convention on the Protection of the Rights of Older Persons stipulates that States Parties shall establish an adequate regulatory framework for the operation of long-term care services, allowing for the evaluation and monitoring of the situation of older persons.
In its report on the human rights of older persons and national protection systems, the IACHR reiterated the need for member states to regulate and supervise the operation of care centers on an ongoing basis and to eradicate discriminatory patterns of institutionalization of older persons.
Recently, the Inter-American Court recognised the autonomous right to care and that guaranteeing this right obliges States to adopt measures to ensure access to quality care services and permanence in those services without discrimination when required, as well as to ensure that older persons can exercise self-care, respecting their autonomy and their right to live a life free from violence.
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