Universal human rights instruments and digital literacy of older persons

Abstract

ABSTRACT The clash of global ageing with the ICT development appears a new challenge to the international community. Transferring many life activities to the global network during the 2020 pandemic has clearly proved that low digital literacy may result in social exclusion and limit enjoying various human rights. Therefore, the author of this study examines the universal human rights instruments’ capability to compel States to take steps towards the inclusion of older generations into the information society, mainly through improving their digital skills. Since a worldwide convention protecting older persons’ rights is still in pre – negotiations on the UN forum, she picks out provisions scattered among human rights treaties, potentially referring to digital literacy in older adults, and tries to establish their contemporary interpretation and effectiveness. The author takes the view that international human rights law and its mechanisms have the potential to affect the so-called grey digital divide. However, the provisions adopted in previous decades require a modern and inclusive interpretation corresponding to the contemporary demographic situation and the ‘digital reality’. The States’ obligations to respect, protect and fulfil the rights to education, information, access to scientific achievements, and an adequate standard of living need to be overhauled and updated.