Vietnam will protect and promote rights of the elderly at regional and global level, Ambassador and deputy permanent representative of the Vietnam mission to the United Nations (UN) Pham Thi Kim Anh has affirmed.

A United Nations meeting

Addressing the eighth session of the Open-Ended Working Group on Aging that took place at the UN headquarters in New York on July 5-7, Anh highlighted Vietnam’s achievements in providing care for the elderly and increasing their role, including designating June 6 as Vietnam Elderly Day and October as an action month for the elderly with free health check-ups and medicine, gift-giving and house construction. 

Vietnam has 1.2 million old people in the political system, many of whom were elected to the National Assembly and People’s Councils, and 2.5 million others engaging in production, trade and services. 

Participants discussed rapid aging worldwide and challenges facing senior citizens such as inequality, violence, abuse, limited access to health insurance and social welfare.

They detailed their countries’ efforts to ensure rights of old persons via laws, policies and action programmes. 

Several delegates underscored the need for an international document on promoting and protecting rights of the elderly. They welcomed Latin American countries’ adoption of the Inter-American Convention on Protecting the Human Rights of Older Persons - the first document of regional level on the issue.

VNA