Global population ageing constitutes one of the most significant demographic transformations of the twenty-first century. The rapid growth of the older population is projected to pose a significant risk to global prosperity due to its potential effects on society politically, socially and economically. Ageing has therefore since long been approached from an international development perspective. In recent years, however, an international rights based approach to ageing is emerging as well. Since the adoption of the 2002 Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing, it is increasingly recognized that the well-being and inclusion of older persons in society depends on the promotion and protection of their fundamental rights. While great efforts have been made towards a new UN Convention on the Rights of Older Persons, many remain critical when it comes to the adoption of category-specific rights for older persons, especially in the form of legally binding instruments. This presentation thus aims to clarify why a rights-based approach to ageing remains crucial and why it is important to clarify how fundamental rights apply to older persons specifically in a new UN human rights treaty.

About the Speaker:
Marijke de Pauw is an associate postdoctoral researcher at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB). She holds a Masters’ degree in international and European law and a doctoral degree in law from the VUB and Université Saint-Louis – Bruxelles. In 2015, she was granted visiting research fellowships at the Europainstitut of the University of Basel, Switzerland and UC Berkeley School of Law, USA. Her main areas of expertise include the rights of older persons, age discrimination, the rights of persons with disabilities, and the interpretive practice of regional and international human rights bodies. Dr. De Pauw has previously worked as a legal counsel on migration and a National Focal Point expert on Belgium for the EU Fundamental Rights Agency. She currently continues to be a member of the editorial board of the Flemish human rights journal Tijdschrift voor Mensenrechten and is an active member of the EU Cost Action on Ageism (IS 1402).