As part of the International Day of Older Persons (1 October), the Office of Citizen Protection (OPC), reminds that this is an important date that must appeal to the conscience of humanity as a whole. On this day, UN Member States committed to implement the recommendations according to which the independence, health care, development and dignity of older people must be taken into account in the definition of public policies.

In Haiti, the situation worrying see critical, as the elderly in large numbers live in difficult conditions and high vulnerability. The OPC takes this opportunity to underline and reaffirm that the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms, including the right to development, are indispensable for the creation of a society for all ages, in which people older people participate on the same footing.

The OPC recommends that the Government, through the Ministries concerned, take all the necessary measures to strengthen the structures responsible for the protection of the elderly so that they can have access to basic social services under conditions respecting their dignity in accordance with the legal provisions relating to the protection of this very vulnerable social category.

IH/ iciHaiti