3 Article 1 Definitions For purposes of this Protocol: “African Charter" means the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights; "African Commission” means the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights; “Ageing” means the process of getting old from birth to death and Protocol, it shall also refer to issues concerned with Older Persons; “Assembly” African Union; in this means the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the “AU” means the African Union; “Commission” means the African Union Commission; “Constitutive Act” means the Constitutive Act of the African Union; “Harmful traditional practices” means traditional beliefs, attitudes and practices which violate the fundamental rights of Older persons such as their rignt to life, dignity and physical integrity; “ICT” means Information Communication and Technology; “Member States” means the Member States of the African Union; “Older Persons” means those persons aged sixty (60) years and-above, as defined by the United Nations (1982) and the AU Policy Framework and Plan of Action on Ageing (2002); “Residential care” Residential care means long-term care, including geriatric care, given to Older Persons in a residential setting rather than their home. “States Parties” means Member States of the African Union that have ratified or acceded to this Protocol and deposited the instruments of ratification accession with the Chairperson of the African Union Commission; or “The Advisory Council on Ageing” means a Council established in accordance with the AU Policy Framework and Pian of Action on Ageing (2002); The words “the aged”, “Older Persons”, “Seniors”, “Senior Citizens” and “the elderly” shall be construed to have the same meaning as “Older Persons”.