Transcript Slide 1

The Dignity and Hazard of Elderly
Prague, Czech Republic
May 25-26 2009
Human rights of frail older persons –
Intercultural dialog
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K R Gangadharan
(Ganga)
Heritage Hospital & Heritage Foundation Hyderabad
Member National Council of Older Persons India
Vice President – Asia, International Federation on Ageing
Religions and Human Rights
Great religions - Hinduism, Judaism,
Buddhism, Christianity and Islam include
universal human rights tenets as the
responsibility of human beings towards
others and respect for human dignity
Hinduism
Conglomeration of
religious, philosophical,
cultural ideas & practices
Belief in reincarnation;
One absolute being of
multiple manifestations;
law of cause and effect,
Prominent theme include
Dharma (ethics & duties)
Samsara (rebirth)
Karma (right action)
Moksha (liberation from
Samsara)
 Matru Devo Bhava
Revere your mother as God
 Pitru Devo Bhava
Revere your father as God
 Acharya Devo Bhava
Revere your preceptor as God
 Atithi Devo Bhava
Revere guest as God
Judaism
• Individual has the right not only
to life, but to security from harm,
health, dignity and making a
living
• Under the Jewish Law, the
concept of an obligation implies
either a Human or Divine Right
• If one must choose between
performing a duty to God or
performing a duty to a person,
one should first perform good
deeds for another a person
• Parents are akin to our
relationship to God because
they created us. Disrespect to
them is considered an insult to
God
Buddhism
• Dharma determines what is right and just
• Individual’s role in sustaining and promoting social justice
and orderliness
• Role? Reciprocal duties exist between parents and children;
teachers and pupils; husband and wife; friends, relatives
and neighbours; employer and employee; clergy and laity if observed - they can create a just, peaceful and
harmonious society
• Dharma = Duties rather than rights
• “All individuals are Equal” same as Christian doctrine that
“All men created are Equal before God”
The Quran:
"And revere the wombs that bore you,
for God is ever watchful over you." (4:1)
Serving one's parents is a duty: Second
only to prayer and it is their right to
expect it
Islam
"Show gratitude to Me and to thy
parents; to Me is thy final Goal." (31:14)
Most beloved are those who bring most
benefit to people “Part of glorifying
Allaah is honouring the grey-haired
Muslim”
Christianity
• Christianity like Judaism and Islam,
believe in one God
• Lord Jesus encouraged people to
emphasize the intent behind the law
and to focus on their motivations. He
summarized the law as love for God
and for neighbour. Thus much of
Christian practice is focused on finding
ways to show love for our fellow
beings.
• Love is patience; love is kind; love is
not envious or boastful or arrogant or
rude. It does not insist on its own way;
it is not irritable or resentful; it does
not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices
in the truth. It bears all things, believes
all things, hopes all things, endures all
things
HR Violations against Elderly
• Widespread questioning:
– What respect the elderly require?
– Whether certain them are owed any respect at all?
• Economic support : A critical issue for societies
• % of elderly population ^g versus those generating wealth
and earning contracting
• % of frail elderly dependent on the support of others ^g
• Resources for state provision of welfare are under stress
while unemployment levels are ^g
Frustrations of Elderly
• Lack of redress mechanisms
• Extreme difficulty for poor to access the law
• Long delays in judicial processes
• Absence of protection for complainants and victims
Reports of Abuse of Elderly
• Despite the implementation of the Human Rights
Act (1998), UK, older people still face treatment
• Zivot (2007): Up to 400,000 elderly people may be tortured
abused or neglected while some 270,000 people over 60
may become a target of violence
• Germany in 1993: 440,000 elderly people were subjected
to physical and mental abuse at the hands of their relatives
and family members at least once each year
EU and HR of Elderly
28 April 2008
Elderly are "often ignored and denied their full human rights”
In our society, the elderly tend to be discriminated against on
several levels and considered as worthless or non-productive
Faced with ageing populations, the elderly are bound to be "a
strain on the social and health care system," therefore European
leaders urged to re-examine their social protection systems, health
care and housing policies, which are not "suited" to the elderly
Europe's Commissioner for Human Rights
Cultural Integration
• Non-racist and intercultural approach
• Enforce equal treatment of citizens
• Extend same Social Rights as Nationals - Make EU
attractive
• Protection of rights of immigrants
oEntry Regulations
oMigrant’s policies
• Culture allows foreigners more latitude than it does to its own citizens
irrespective of their religion
Reciprocity
The Golden Rule of Ethics of
Reciprocity
“One must do unto others as one would be treated
themselves” - Reciprocal Recognition and Respect
of Rights ensures protection of one’s own right.
Common amongst all major religions with slight
difference
Youth, Human Rights
and Elder Law
• Care and safety of the elderly in society
• Pace of life is fast and children have no time to care
for their ageing and vulnerable parents
• Monetary management and medical care are the
two main issues connected with the special needs
of the elderly
• Law for protection of Elderly becomes key to
safeguard their financial rights and ensure they get
health care benefits and medical care during
physical illness
Religion with a Purpose
Religion provides a supportive social
network through a sense of shared
beliefs which can aid an elderly
person in combating isolation and
loneliness
2007-2008 Gallup Poll
Does religion occupy an important place in your life?
Almost 50% said "No"
Accept Every Religion
Accept other religious points of view
– Respect beliefs, values and origins of all religion
– Enable them to adopt their needs such as building temples, mosques and
churches
– Find common ground rather than divergence in respective religions
– Faith is an individual identity and choice. So religious communities can play an
important role in furthering dialogue, fraternity, solidarity & peace
Community Watchdog
Non-partisan, grassroots
organization of concerned
Citizens – advocacy and
legal action
Establishment of interfaith
forums
Discussing interfaith relations in a
cordial manner always enhances
tolerance in people
Jesus Mosque - Jordan's latest symbol of
interfaith peace
A mosque named after
the central figure of
Christianity is the latest
milestone of interfaith
coexistence in Jordan
Dome of the Rock and
Vatican flag
12 May 2009