New York (VNA) – Vietnam willprotect and promote rights of the elderly at regional and global level,Ambassador and deputy permanent representative of the Vietnam mission to theUnited Nations (UN) Pham Thi Kim Anh has affirmed.
Addressing the eighth session of the Open-EndedWorking Group on Aging that took place at the UN headquarters in New York onJuly 5-7, Anh highlighted Vietnam’s achievements in providing care for theelderly and increasing their role, including designating June 6 as VietnamElderly Day and October as an action month for the elderly with free healthcheck-ups and medicine, gift-giving and house construction.
Vietnam has 1.2 million old people in thepolitical system, many of whom were elected to the National Assembly andPeople’s Councils, and 2.5 million others engaging in production, trade andservices.
Participants discussed rapid aging worldwideand challenges facing senior citizens such as inequality, violence, abuse,limited access to health insurance and social welfare.
They detailed their countries’ efforts toensure rights of old persons via laws, policies and action programmes.
Several delegates underscored the need foran international document on promoting and protecting rights of the elderly.They welcomed Latin American countries’ adoption of the Inter-AmericanConvention on Protecting the Human Rights of Older Persons - the first documentof regional level on the issue.-VNA