IACHR Welcomes Mexico's Ratification of the Inter-American Convention on the Protection of the Human Rights of Older Persons

April 19, 2023

Washington, DC—The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) welcomed the fact that Mexico has deposited its instrument of ratification of the Inter-American Convention on the Protection of the Human Rights of Older Persons. This made it the tenth country in the region to have subscribed to this convention, which entered into force on January 11, 2017.

Mexico's ratification means that there are now sufficient signatories to implement the follow-up mechanism to the instrument, which is made up of a Conference of States Parties and a committee of experts, as established in Article 33. The objective of the follow-up mechanism is to monitor the commitments undertaken and promote the effective implementation of the convention.

The Convention on the Protection of the Human Rights of Older Persons is the only international treaty that specifically protects the human rights of older people. It establishes a new paradigm with respect to aging, through which older people are recognized as subjects of rights, with the right to live autonomous, independent, and productive lives, such that States commit to guaranteeing the necessary benefits for them to live a dignified old age. The convention also establishes that the IACHR has the jurisdiction to hear petitions regarding violations of its contents.

Prior to Mexico, Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Peru, and Uruguay had already deposited their instruments of ratification.

The IACHR deems that the accession of the Mexican State marks the beginning of a new era of respect for the rights of older people and guarantees in this regard. Through the Office of the Rapporteur on the Rights of Older People, the IACHR placed itself at the disposal of the States Parties to provide technical assistance regarding the implementation of the convention. It also called on the other OAS Member States to work toward achieving universal ratification of this instrument.

A principal, autonomous body of the Organization of American States (OAS), the IACHR derives its mandate from the OAS Charter and the American Convention on Human Rights. The Inter-American Commission has a mandate to promote respect for and to defend human rights in the region and acts as a consultative body to the OAS in this area. The Commission is composed of seven independent members who are elected in an individual capacity by the OAS General Assembly and who do not represent their countries of origin or residence.

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