A/HRC/RES/21/23
Concerned at the multiple forms of discrimination that may affect older persons and
at the high incidence of poverty 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 and refugees, among other
groups,
1.
Recognizes the challenges related to the enjoyment of all human rights that
older persons face in areas such as prevention and protection against violence and abuse,
social protection, food and housing, employment, legal capacity, access to justice, health
support, long-term and palliative care, and that those challenges require in-depth analysis
and action to address protection gaps;
2.
Notes with appreciation multilateral, regional and subregional initiatives
aimed at the promotion and protection of rights of older persons, including discussions on
possible normative standards;
3.
Calls upon all States to ensure the full and equal enjoyment of all human
rights and fundamental freedoms for older persons, including by taking measures to combat
age discrimination, neglect, abuse and violence, and to address issues related to social
integration and adequate health care, bearing in mind the crucial importance of family
intergenerational interdependence, solidarity and reciprocity for social development;
4.
Encourages all States to conduct their age-related policies through inclusive
and participatory consultations with relevant stakeholders and social development partners
in the interest of developing effective policies creating national policy ownership and
consensus-building;
5.
Calls upon all States to enhance their existing mechanisms related to the
protection and promotion of human rights for older persons, including by adopting, as
appropriate, legal or other dedicated mechanisms;
6.
Encourages all States to raise awareness of the challenges facing the
enjoyment of all human rights by older persons, and to ensure that older persons receive
information about those rights;
7.
Invites existing special procedures and encourages treaty bodies, within their
existing mandates, to pay attention to the human rights of older persons;
8.
Encourages all States to consider including in their national reports, to be
submitted for the universal periodic review, information on the human rights of older
persons;
9.
Requests the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human
Rights to organize, in Geneva, an intersessional public consultation on the promotion and
protection of the human rights of older persons, with the participation of States Members of
the United Nations, relevant international organizations, United Nations agencies and
stakeholders, in order to receive information and share good practices on the matter;
10.
Also requests the Office of the High Commissioner to present a summary
report of the above-mentioned consultation to the Human Rights Council at its twentyfourth session;
11.
Decides to continue consideration of the question of human rights of older
persons at its twenty-fourth session.
38th meeting
28 September 2012
[Adopted without a vote.]
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