Minister of Family and Social Services Derya Yanık participated in the 13^th session of the United Nations (UN) Open-ended Working Group on Ageing via video message and presented the country’s statement on ageing

The 13^th Session of the Open-ended Working Group on Ageing, established by the UN General Assembly to assess the existing international human rights framework for older persons, identify potential gaps, and consider appropriate tools and measures to address them, took place between April 3-6, 2023.

The Session, organized every year at the United Nations Headquarters in New York under the main theme of "Strengthening the Protection of the Human Rights of Older Persons" with different sub-topics, focused on the "Right to Health and Access to Health Services" and "Social Inclusion" this year.

Derya Yanık, Minister of Family and Social Services, attended the 13^th Session of the Open-ended Working Group on Ageing via video message and presented a country statement on ageing.

“Ageing Vision Document and Action Plan" to be published

Minister Yanık stated that the population of older persons in Türkiye increased by 22.6 percent in the last 5 years and in this context, policies and services related to older persons were developed in line with the requirements of this demographic transformation process.

Stating that the priority approach of Türkiye, including disasters and humanitarian emergencies, was to spend the ageing process within the framework of active and healthy ageing by older persons without leaving no one behind on the path of sustainable development, Minister Yanık noted that the "Ageing Vision Document and Action Plan" was prepared to guide policies and services in the field of ageing to strengthen the rights of older persons with the perspective of active and healthy ageing and that it was planned to be published at the end of the month.

Continuing with the statement, Yanık reminded that the “Yaşlıların Hayatın Çeşitli Alanlarında Yaşadıkları Sorunların Araştırılarak Alınması Gereken Tedbirlerin Belirlenmesi Amacıyla Kurulan Meclis Araştırması Komisyonu Raporu (Report of the Parliamentary Investigation Commission Established to Investigate the Issues Experienced by Older Persons in Various Areas of Life and to Determine the Measures Necessary)” was published in February, and reported that the “ Survey on the Profile of Older Persons Türkiye” studies, the first research in the field of ageing, were conducted to develop evidence-based policies.

“We attach great importance to international experience sharing and cooperation in the field of ageing”

Emphasizing that all older persons in Türkiye had access to affordable and quality health care and care services without any discrimination, Minister Yanık stated that various policies and services such as digital and financial literacy training, support technologies to strengthen independent living, age-friendly and accessible environments, discounts or exemptions in social, cultural and sports activities and free travel rights were being offered to support the participation of older persons in social life.

"As one of the 8 member states represented in the Bureau of the UN Permanent Working Group on Ageing, we attach great importance to international experience sharing and cooperation in the field of ageing," stated Minister Yanık and added: "We would like to express our willingness to exchange experiences and views on the "Convention on the Rights of Older Persons", which will be a legally binding document that will contribute to progress in the realization of the human rights of older persons."