AGE provided input to the Fundamental Rights Agency (FRA) consultation on its Multi-Annual Framework 2013-2017 in which we provided some suggestions on where FRA could create most added value in the period 2013-2017. In our response we focused on the areas of age discrimination, multiple discrimination and social rights and social security, including the protection of older employees and consumers. We also suggested that FRA could consider working on the intergenerational dimension of fundamental rights as older people and younger generations are the two groups most subject to age discrimination. For instance, through a specific project or activity that assesses the outcome of the 2012 European Year for Active Ageing and Intergenerational Solidarity with regard to raising awareness of older people’s rights and the impact this has on promoting active ageing.
We also suggested that FRA could build on the proposal for 2013 to be the European Year of Citizens by developing and carrying out an initiative that would seek to raise awareness of fundamental rights among citizens as a contribution to that European Year and involve citizens groups and NGOs representing key stakeholder groups. AGE also suggested that FRA could look at the impact of the crisis on fundamental rights since this has put additional pressure on many already vulnerable groups of people and, in particular, is depriving many older people of their fundamental rights. It is important to examine and address routes not only to moving towards economic recovery but also to achieving social recovery. This necessitates an assessment of how fundamental rights have been affected by economic upheaval and its social consequences and how these rights can be better upheld.
For more details, please contact Rachel Buchanan, Policy Officer for Employment and Non-Discrimination, at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
