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

March 9, 2021

Washington, DC—The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) welcomes the fact that on March 1, 2021, Peru deposited its instrument of ratification of the Inter-American Convention on the Protection of the Human Rights of Older Persons. Peru thus became the eighth country to ratify this convention, which was approved by the General Assembly of the Organization of American States (OAS) on June 15, 2015, and has been in force since January 11, 2017.

The convention is the first and only legally binding instrument to establish the human rights and fundamental freedoms of older people in a far-reaching, comprehensive manner. It also presents an innovative, explanatory catalogue of rights that includes mechanisms for monitoring the implementation of these by States Parties, technical advisory services, and their legal enforceability within the inter-American system of protection for human rights. Through the convention, governments and societies become part of a new paradigm regarding the perception and social understanding of older people, moving from a vision of them as passive objects of protection to full bearers of rights, thus contributing to their full inclusion, integration, and involvement in society.

"I want to congratulate the State of Peru on its decision to deposit the instrument of ratification of the Inter-American Convention on the Protection of the Human Rights of Older Persons. This is evidence of the Peruvian State's commitment to promoting, protecting, and ensuring the recognition and full enjoyment and exercise of older people's human rights and fundamental freedoms on equal footing with all other citizens, which contributes to their full inclusion, integration, and participation in society," said Commissioner Stuardo Ralón, Rapporteur for Peru.

The IACHR calls once more on other States in the region to take the necessary measures to sign and ratify the convention and thus enable the monitoring mechanism it contemplates to be put into action to follow up on the commitments in question and promote the effective implementation of these. It also reiterates the importance of the states that are part of the inter-American system moving towards the universal acceptance and application of its norms through the ratification of all regional human rights instruments by all member countries.

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

No. 055/21