A portrait of social participation in defending the right to healthy aging at the National Conference on the Rights of Older Persons.
1
National Secretariat for the Rights of Older Persons, Ministry of Human Rights and Citizenship of Brazil, Brasília - Distrito Federal, Brazil
2
Oswaldo Cruz Fundation, Brasília, Brazil
Popul. Med. 2026;8(Supplement Supplement 1):A103
ABSTRACT
ABSTRACT:
Social participation in Brazil is ensured by normative frameworks such as the Statute of Older Persons, with the aim of strengthening democracy, addressing social inequalities, and promoting the rights and citizenship of people aged 60 years and over. Within the Brazilian Unified Health System (SUS), participatory governance has historically guided the development of health conferences as dialogical spaces for defining public policy priorities. This experience has served as an international reference, contributing to the inclusion of social participation on the global health agenda, as recognized by the 77th World Health Assembly. In Brazil, conferences function as national mechanisms to broaden popular representation. Within this context, the 6th National Conference on the Rights of Older Persons was held under the theme Multicultural Aging and Democracy: the Urgency of Equity, Rights, and Participation. Drawing from more than 2,900 municipalities and 22 national free conferences focused on groups in situations of vulnerability, 1,158 delegates were elected. These delegates formed 15 working groups with representation from all Brazilian states. The conference addressed key issues related to health, comprehensive care, violence and rights violations, financing, and the structure of councils to strengthen social participation. A total of 90 proposals were approved, including 15 priority proposals, aimed at promoting social protection, active and healthy aging, long-term care, and respect for the plurality of aging experiences. The outcomes highlight the importance of qualified listening, particularly to older adults, and the value of collective deliberation in shaping public policy agendas. The proposals underscored the need to improve financing strategies for policies targeting older populations, strengthen intersectoral coordination, and establish reference structures for comprehensive care. Overall, conference outcomes reaffirm that significant challenges remain in addressing inequalities and discrimination, and in ensuring the right to active, dignified, and healthy aging in a country with more than 16 million older adults.
Social participation in Brazil is ensured by normative frameworks such as the Statute of Older Persons, with the aim of strengthening democracy, addressing social inequalities, and promoting the rights and citizenship of people aged 60 years and over. Within the Brazilian Unified Health System (SUS), participatory governance has historically guided the development of health conferences as dialogical spaces for defining public policy priorities. This experience has served as an international reference, contributing to the inclusion of social participation on the global health agenda, as recognized by the 77th World Health Assembly. In Brazil, conferences function as national mechanisms to broaden popular representation. Within this context, the 6th National Conference on the Rights of Older Persons was held under the theme Multicultural Aging and Democracy: the Urgency of Equity, Rights, and Participation. Drawing from more than 2,900 municipalities and 22 national free conferences focused on groups in situations of vulnerability, 1,158 delegates were elected. These delegates formed 15 working groups with representation from all Brazilian states. The conference addressed key issues related to health, comprehensive care, violence and rights violations, financing, and the structure of councils to strengthen social participation. A total of 90 proposals were approved, including 15 priority proposals, aimed at promoting social protection, active and healthy aging, long-term care, and respect for the plurality of aging experiences. The outcomes highlight the importance of qualified listening, particularly to older adults, and the value of collective deliberation in shaping public policy agendas. The proposals underscored the need to improve financing strategies for policies targeting older populations, strengthen intersectoral coordination, and establish reference structures for comprehensive care. Overall, conference outcomes reaffirm that significant challenges remain in addressing inequalities and discrimination, and in ensuring the right to active, dignified, and healthy aging in a country with more than 16 million older adults.
| eISSN: | 2654-1459 |
We process personal data collected when visiting the website. The function of obtaining information about users and their behavior is carried out by voluntarily entered information in forms and saving cookies in end devices. Data, including cookies, are used to provide services, improve the user experience and to analyze the traffic in accordance with the Privacy policy. Data are also collected and processed by Google Analytics tool (more).
You can change cookies settings in your browser. Restricted use of cookies in the browser configuration may affect some functionalities of the website.
You can change cookies settings in your browser. Restricted use of cookies in the browser configuration may affect some functionalities of the website.
