The UN General Assembly declared 1 October the International Day of Older Persons in 1990, which has given us the opportunity to call attention to the importance of a dignified and active old age, the role that elderly people play in the community and families, as well as their return to work, ever since 1991. The UN guidelines for older people were adopted by the UN General Assembly in 1991, in which their autonomy, participation, care that is key from the aspect of both personal living conditions and social policy, self-fulfilment and last but not least, human dignity are key ideas.

Based on the current demographic processes, the global population over the age of 65 is expected to grow from 10 to 17 percent in the period between 2021 and 2050. There are more and more elderly people in Europe, and also, in Hungary, who play an important role through their involvement in family, community and voluntary activities. The increase in the number of persons reaching senior age draws attention to the lifelong importance of health preservation, as well as the prevention and treatment of diseases. A supporting environment is key to assisting older persons in preserving their agility and autonomy as age progresses.

Demographic changes warn us that ensuring the conditions for a dignified life, in the spirit of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, is a common responsibility, which at the same time strengthens and protects the human rights of the present and future generations of the elderly.

Based on the specific statutory authorisation for protecting the rights of vulnerable social groups, the Commissioner for Fundamental Rights treats the cases, special problems and questions of the senior citizens who turn to him as a high priority, both in the proceedings launched on the basis of individual complaints and those initiated ex officio, irrespective of the area that these complaints concern.