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PRIORITYMEASURE30
“Promote the development of allowances and services relating to social security, healthand education in the social protection systems targeting
older persons to improve their quality of life, economic security and social justice.”
Possible lines of action
1. Create continuing education programmes (training and retraining) for older persons; 2. Reinforce programmes to combat illiteracy
among older men and women; 3. Facilitate access and active participation for older persons in recreational, cultural and sporting
activities sponsored by public and private organizations, associations and institutions; 4. Promote training for older persons in the use of
information and communication technologies; 5. Achieve universal social security coverage, with at least minimum levels of protection,
guaranteeing progressively higher levels in line with the updated ILO social security standards; 6. Promote the production and
dissemination of information on pensions so that all persons can understand it readily; 7. Train the organizations representing pensioners
and older persons in the financing and management of pensions, so that they can establish effective relationships with policymakers;
8. Promulgate legislation protecting the rights of workers vis-à-vis private pension funds; 9. Gradually expand the scope of social
security coverage for independent workers, domestic workers and workers in rural areas, adapting the scope of benefits, contributions
and administrative procedures accordingly.
Targets
1. All older persons have access to social security; 2. All older persons have access to the health system; 3. Illiteracy among older men
andwomen is eradicated.
Tentative indicators
1. Percentage of older persons receiving benefits under social security programmes and the average amount of the benefit; 2. Percentage
of older persons with access to the health system; 3. Percentage of illiterate older persons; 4. Percentage of older persons receiving non-
contributory pensions and the average amount of the benefit.
Related instruments,
forums andmechanisms
The International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights declares (article 9) that “The States Parties to the present Covenant
recognize the right of everyone to social security, including social insurance”, a provision that implicitly includes recognition of the right to
old-age benefits. The Committee on Economic, Social andCultural Rights has declared (General Comment 6) that “in so far as respect for
the rights of older persons requires specialmeasures tobe taken, States parties are requiredby theCovenant todo so to themaximumof their
available resources.”
The International Labour Organization has general standards relating to social security: Convention C102 on Social Security (minimum
standards), 1952; R067, IncomeSecurityRecommendation, 1944; R202, Social ProtectionFloors, 2012.
The Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing include social security under Issue 7, Income security, social protection/social
security and poverty prevention, as part of Priority Direction I, Older Persons and Development. Education is included under issue 4,
Access toknowledge, education and training, of the same PriorityDirection.
The measure is also related to the Open Working Group proposal on sustainable development goals, in particular SDG target 1.3:
“Implement nationally appropriate social protection systems and measures for all, including floors, and by 2030 achieve substantial
coverage of the poor and the vulnerable.”
SDG 3.4 “By 2030 reduce by one-third pre-mature mortality from non-communicable diseases (NCDs) through prevention and
treatment, andpromotemental health andwell-being”.
SDG 10.4 “Adopt policies especially fiscal, wage, and social protection policies and progressively achieve greater equality”.
