On September 26, 2016, the Human Rights Council, decided to extend the mandate of the Independent Expert on the enjoyment of all
human rights by older persons for a period of three years:
This is an important decision as it allow the IE (Independent Expert) to continue its role in advancing new policies and instruments to promote the human rights of older persons across the globe.
Here is the full text of the decision:
33/… The human rights of older persons
The Human Rights Council,
Guided
by the purposes and
principles of the Charter of the United Nations,
Guided
also by the Universal
Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenant on Economic, Social and
Cultural Rights, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the
Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, the
Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and other relevant human
rights instruments,
Reaffirming
the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action,
Bearing
in mind the Political Declaration and the Madrid International Plan of
Action on Ageing of 2002, and all other relevant General Assembly resolutions,
Recalling
Human Rights Council resolutions 21/23 of 28 September 2012 and 24/20 of 27
September 2013 on the human rights of older persons,
Recalling
also its resolutions 5/1, on institution-building of the Human Rights
Council, and 5/2, on the Code of Conduct for special procedures mandate holders
of the Council, of 18 June 2007, and stressing that the mandate holder shall
discharge his or her duties in accordance with those resolutions and the
annexes thereto,
Welcoming
the work and taking note with appreciation of the reports of the Independent
Expert on the enjoyment of all human rights by older persons and of the
Open-ended Working Group on Ageing, which is open to all States Members of the
United Nations, for the purpose of strengthening the protection of the human
rights of older persons,
Acknowledging
the efforts of States to determine the best way to strengthen the protection of
the human rights of older persons, considering the various proposals that have
been made within the Open-ended Working Group on Ageing, including the possible
elaboration of a multilateral legal instrument on the rights of older persons,
Acknowledging
also the adoption of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development,[1] and stressing the need to ensure that no one
is left behind, including older persons,
Recognizing
the essential contribution that older men and women can make to the functioning
of societies and to the achievement of the 2030 Agenda,
Noting
with appreciation the developments at the regional level towards the
protection and promotion of the human rights of older persons, such as the
Inter-American Convention on the Protection of Human Rights of Older Persons
and the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the
Rights of Older Persons in Africa, as adopted by their State parties,
Noting
that, between 2015 and 2030, the number of persons aged 60 years or over is
projected to grow by 56 per cent, from 901 million to 1.4 billion, and that this
increase will be the greatest and the most rapid in the developing world, and
recognizing that greater attention is needed to the specific challenges
affecting older persons, including in the field of human rights,
Concerned
at the multiple forms of discrimination that may affect older persons and at
the high incidence of poverty and isolation among this particularly vulnerable
group, especially older women, persons with disabilities, persons of African
descent, individuals belonging to indigenous peoples, persons belonging to
national or ethnic, religious and linguistic minorities, rural persons, persons
living on the streets, migrants and refugees, among other groups,
1. Recognizes that older persons face a
number of particular challenges in the enjoyment of their human rights that
need to be addressed urgently, including in the areas of prevention of and
protection against violence and abuse, social protection, food and housing,
right to work, equality and non-discrimination, access to justice, education,
training, health support, long-term and palliative care, lifelong learning,
participation and accessibility;
2. Emphasizes the need for a comprehensive,
all-encompassing approach to the care of older persons, which should be
sustainable and based on human rights, and the need for coordination among
sectors, policies, institutions, regional and local governments throughout the
continuum of care, from prevention, promotion, rehabilitation to long-term and
palliative care, including social care and other community services;
3. Recalls the need to combat the various
forms of violence against older persons, a widespread phenomenon that includes
discrimination in the public sphere, linguistic and employment discrimination,
lack of access, isolation, neglect, financial exploitation, physical and
psychological violence and the withholding of basic needs, as well as physical
attacks;
4. Reiterates that poverty and lack of
income security constitute major concerns for many older persons and that
information and advisory services on social security payments, pensions and
retirement planning contribute to preventing old-age poverty, reducing the
risk-of-poverty rate, vulnerability and social exclusion;
5. Emphasizes that consultation with older
persons is essential in the formulation and adoption of legislation and
policies relating to their specific needs and concerns;
6. Decides to extend the mandate of the
Independent Expert on the enjoyment of all human rights by older persons for a
period of three years:
(a) To continue to assess the
implementation of national, regional and international standards relevant to the rights of older persons and
to identify, exchange and promote best practices related to the promotion and
protection of these rights;
(b) To report on developments, challenges
and protection gaps in the realization of the rights of older persons,
including as input to the work of the Open-ended Working Group on Ageing, and
to make recommendations to the Human Rights Council in this regard;
(c) To gather, request, receive and
exchange information and communications from and with States and other relevant
sources, including older persons, their representative organizations and other
civil society organizations, on violations of the rights of older persons;
(d) To conduct, facilitate and support
the provision of advisory services, technical assistance, capacity-building and
international cooperation in support of national efforts for the effective
realization of the rights of older persons;
(e) To raise awareness of the challenges
faced in the realization of the human rights of older persons and of the
positive contribution of older persons to society, and to provide them with
information about their rights;
(f) To engage in dialogue and to consult
with States and other relevant stakeholders, including United Nations agencies,
funds and programmes, regional human rights mechanisms, national human rights
institutions, older persons, civil society organizations and academic
institutions;
(g) To work in cooperation with States,
assisting them when requested, in order to foster the implementation of
measures that contribute to the promotion and protection of the rights of older
persons;
(h) To integrate a gender and disability
perspective throughout the work of the mandate, and to address multiple,
intersecting and aggravated forms of discrimination faced by older persons;
(i) To work in close coordination, while
avoiding unnecessary duplication, with the Open-ended Working Group on Ageing,
other special procedures and subsidiary organs of the Human Rights Council,
relevant United Nations bodies and the treaty bodies;
7. Requests all Governments to cooperate
with the Independent Expert, and invites them to provide the mandate holder
with all the necessary information related to the mandate;
8. Encourages all relevant stakeholders,
including United Nations agencies, funds and programmes,
human rights mechanisms, national
human rights institutions and civil society, and invites the private sector,
donors and development agencies, to cooperate fully with the Independent Expert
to enable the mandate holder to fulfil the mandate;
9. Requests the Secretary-General to ensure
that the reports of the Independent Expert are brought to the attention of the
Open-ended Working Group on Ageing, in accordance with paragraphs 1 and 3 of
General Assembly resolution 67/139 of 20 December 2012;
10. Requests the Secretary-General and the
United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to provide the Independent
Expert with all the human, technical and financial resources necessary for the
effective fulfilment of the mandate;
11. Decides to remain seized of the matter.
