UN Advocacy Brief.pdf

Older women face inequality at the intersection of age and gender, with ageism and sexism having a unique and aggravating effect on discrimination and inequality. Gender stereotypes and sexist attitudes are compounded with assumptions about later life, such as frailty and dependence. The COVID-19 pandemic has increased the disproportionate effect of discrimination on older persons, especially older women, with the gender wealth gap increasing by a generation. Older women are denied their fundamental rights and freedoms, and the absence of a specific convention on the rights of older persons results in gaps in their protection. The pandemic has highlighted the need to adapt social and economic policies to ensure the protection of older persons' rights, but the gender dimension of aging has remained unevenly reflected in policy discussions. Older women are more likely to be living alone, receive long-term care, and face higher risks from contracting COVID-19. They are also exposed to social isolation, financial and economic insecurity, and violence and abuse. The economic downturn has disproportionately affected older women, with limited access to income, land, and property.