IACHR welcomes Belize’s accession to the Inter-American Convention on the Human Rights of Older Persons

December 20, 2024

Washington, DC—The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) welcomes Belize’s accession to the Inter-American Convention on Protecting the Human Rights of Older Persons. After depositing its instrument of accession on December 16, 2024, Belize became the 12th State Party to this treaty.

The convention was adopted by the OAS Member States in 2015 and is the first legally binding treaty seeking to promote, protect, and guarantee the full recognition and exercise of the human rights and fundamental freedoms of older people. It aims to foster their inclusion, integration, and participation in society under conditions of equality.

In October 2024, during its most recent technical cooperation visit to Belize, the IACHR stressed the importance of ratifying inter-American instruments to the country’s authorities, including the Inter-American Convention on Protecting the Human Rights of Older Persons.

Belize joins Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Mexico, Peru, Suriname, and Uruguay as a State Party to the Convention. These countries have already pledged to implement legislative, administrative, and other measures to eradicate discrimination and violence against older persons, ensuring their right to a full, independent, and autonomous life. This includes guaranteeing access to health, security, and opportunities for active participation in economic, social, cultural, and political life.

The IACHR calls again on OAS Member States that have not yet ratified the Inter-American Convention on Protecting the Human Rights of Older Persons to do so. It also expresses its readiness to provide technical assistance to States in implementing the convention and to continue working together on initiatives that underscore the value of older people and their role and contributions to society.

The IACHR is a principal and autonomous body of the Organization of American States (OAS), whose mandate stems from the OAS Charter and the American Convention on Human Rights. The Inter-American Commission has the mandate to promote the observance and defense of human rights in the region and acts as an advisory body to the OAS on the matter. The IACHR is made up 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. 327/24

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