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Situation of human rights in the People's Democratic Republic of Korea, para. 13
- Paragraph text
- Recognizing that particular risk factors affect women, children, persons with disabilities and the elderly, and the need to ensure the full enjoyment of all their human rights and fundamental freedoms by them against neglect, abuse, exploitation and violence, and taking note in this regard of the concluding observations of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women on the combined second to fourth periodic reports of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea2 and the concluding observations of
- Body
- United Nations Human Rights Council
- Document type
- Resolution
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Violence
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Older persons
- Persons with disabilities
- Women
- Year
- 2018
Paragraph
Mandate of the Independent Expert on the enjoyment of human rights by persons with albinism, para. 10
- Paragraph text
- Expressing grave concern at the fact that attacks and widespread violence perpetuated against persons with albinism, including women and children, persons with disabilities and the elderly continue,
- Body
- United Nations Human Rights Council
- Document type
- Resolution
- Topic(s)
- Violence
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Older persons
- Persons with disabilities
- Women
- Year
- 2018
Paragraph
Women’s economic empowerment in the changing world of work 2017, para. 30
- Paragraph text
- The Commission recognizes that women and girls undertake a disproportionate share of unpaid care and domestic work, including caring for children, older persons, persons with disabilities and persons living with HIV and AIDS, and that such uneven distribution of responsibilities is a significant constraint on women's and girls' completion of or progress in education, on women's entry and re-entry and advancement in the paid labour market and on their economic opportunities and entrepreneurial activities, and can result in gaps in both social protection and pensions. The Commission stresses the need to recognize, reduce and redistribute the disproportionate share of unpaid care and domestic work by promoting the equal sharing of responsibilities between women and men and by prioritizing, inter alia, social protection policies and infrastructure development.
- Body
- Commission on the Status of Women
- Document type
- CSW Agreed Conclusions / Declaration
- Topic(s)
- Gender
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Girls
- Older persons
- Persons with disabilities
- Women
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Access to rights-based support for persons with disabilities 2017, para. 45
- Paragraph text
- Older persons with disabilities also have difficulties in accessing support arrangements for daily life, such as personal assistance, assisted living arrangements and palliative care. While families are the most common source of support for older persons with disabilities in most countries, there is an increasing demand for institutional care, especially from family members and other informal supporters of persons with dementia, which is increasing the risk of institutionalization among older persons with disabilities. Importantly, older women with disabilities are more likely to be institutionalized owing to the different life expectancies of men and women. The provision of in-home support services, including personal assistance and help with household chores, can avoid institutionalization and improve the quality of life of older persons by enabling them to stay at home (see A/HRC/30/43, para. 72).
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Older persons
- Persons with disabilities
- Women
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Access to rights-based support for persons with disabilities 2017, para. 17
- Paragraph text
- Persons with disabilities constitute 15 per cent of the world population, approximately one billion people. Many of them require different forms of support, including for basic day-to-day activities such as getting up, bathing, dressing and eating. The sustained ageing of the global population, particularly in high-income countries, has also had a substantial impact on the demand for disability-related support, as older persons tend to be overrepresented in the disability community. Other sociopolitical factors such as conflict and migration increase the demand for support, as support networks tend to fall apart in such situations.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Gender
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Older persons
- Persons with disabilities
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Women’s economic empowerment in the changing world of work 2017, para. 40 (t)
- Paragraph text
- Optimize fiscal expenditures for gender-responsive social protection and care infrastructure, such as equitable, quality, accessible and affordable early childhood education, childcare, elder care, health-care, and care and social services for persons with disabilities and persons living with HIV and AIDS, which meet the needs of both caregivers and those in need of care, bearing in mind that social protection policies also play a critical role in reducing poverty and inequality and supporting inclusive growth and gender equality;
- Body
- Commission on the Status of Women
- Document type
- CSW Agreed Conclusions / Declaration
- Topic(s)
- Economic Rights
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Older persons
- Persons with disabilities
- Women
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Extreme poverty and human rights on universal basic income 2017, para. 50
- Paragraph text
- In Canada, two basic income approaches have been the subject of macroeconomic modelling: a full basic income for all Canadians, and a negative income tax under which the richest receive nothing and the poorest receive the maximum income supplement. Neither payment is adjusted for age. In terms of poverty, the conclusion was that: Cancelling existing income transfer programmes in favour of a single basic income results either in dramatically higher levels of poverty, or ethically and politically unsupportable compromises where seniors are pushed into poverty to lift up adults and children. The more acceptable and feasible approach would be to set up a new basic income on top of the 33 transfers that already exist, thus creating only winners, though the main beneficiaries would be middle-aged Canadians.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Economic Rights
- Poverty
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Older persons
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Protection of the family: role of the family in supporting the protection and promotion of human rights of older persons 2017, para. 6
- Paragraph text
- Acknowledging the work of the Independent Expert on the enjoyment of all human rights by older persons,
- Body
- United Nations Human Rights Council
- Document type
- Resolution
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Older persons
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
The right to adequate housing of persons with disabilities 2017, para. 23
- Original document
- Paragraph text
- Persons with disabilities living in poverty in cities commonly live in informal settlements or homeless encampments. The Special Rapporteur has been shocked by the deplorable conditions endured by persons with disabilities in those contexts. Many, including young children and older persons, are left to languish in isolation, sometimes in dark rooms without electricity, hidden from view at the back of the home, without access to community centres, social opportunities or health clinics.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on adequate housing as a component of the right to an adequate standard of living
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Poverty
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Older persons
- Persons with disabilities
- Youth
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Extreme poverty and human rights on universal basic income 2017, para. 56
- Paragraph text
- Cost calculations for Canada are also revealing. If existing Canadian “de facto” basic income programmes (such as Canada Child Benefit for children, the Guaranteed Income Supplement for the elderly and sales tax credits for working adults), quasi-basic income programmes, earned income tax credits, social assistance and employment insurance were all cancelled, the savings could support a basic income for all Canadians (depending on which programmes were scrapped) of between Can$ 2,655 and Can$ 3,565 per year, with between roughly 1.7 and 1.9 million Canadians falling below the poverty line. Under a scenario in which all existing programmes were kept in place and a supplemental universal basic income was paid to all Canadians of Can$ 1,000 per year, 719,000 Canadians would be taken out of poverty, but at a net cost of Can$ 29.2 billion (equalling Can$ 40,886 per person). To pay for this, the Canadian rate of value added tax would have to be increased from 5 per cent to 9 per cent or income taxes would have to be increased by 20 per cent.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Poverty
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Older persons
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Service regulation and human rights to water and sanitation 2017, para. 46
- Paragraph text
- A regulatory interpretation of physical accessibility of water and sanitation facilities should provide as minimum standards that these facilities are within safe physical reach or in the immediate vicinity of each household at all times of day and night. In its proposed indicators for monitoring Sustainable Development Goal 6, the WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme for Water Supply and Sanitation suggests that a round trip to access an improved drinking water source should not take longer than 30 minutes, including queuing (basic level), and that a basic level of sanitation should provide access to an improved sanitation facility not shared with other households. Furthermore, regulation should specifically address the situation of those with special needs in terms of accessibility, such as children, persons with disabilities, older persons, pregnant women, and people with special health conditions, and advise that the design of sanitation facilities accommodates their specific needs, while being technically safe to use. Places such as schools, preschools, care homes and detention centres require specific regulations to ensure physical accessibility.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the human rights to safe drinking water and sanitation
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Water & Sanitation
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Older persons
- Persons with disabilities
- Women
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Protection of the family: role of the family in supporting the protection and promotion of human rights of older persons 2017, para. 30
- Paragraph text
- Decides to convene, with the support of the High Commissioner, before the thirty-eighth session of the Human Rights Council, a one-day intersessional seminar on the impact of the implementation by States of their obligations under relevant provisions of international human rights law with regard to the protection of the family on the role of the family in supporting the protection and promotion of the human rights of older persons, and to discuss challenges and best practices in this regard, with the participation of Member States and other relevant stakeholders, including national human rights institutions, academic experts and civil society organizations;
- Body
- United Nations Human Rights Council
- Document type
- Resolution
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Person(s) affected
- Families
- Older persons
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Protection of and assistance to internally displaced persons 2017, para. 17
- Paragraph text
- Also expresses particular concern about the full range of threats, violations and abuses of human rights and violations of international humanitarian law experienced by many internally displaced persons, including women and children, who are particularly vulnerable or specifically targeted especially for sexual and gender-based violence and sexual exploitation and abuse, trafficking in persons, forced recruitment and abduction, encourages the continued commitment of the Special Rapporteur to promote action to address their particular assistance and protection needs, and calls upon States, in cooperation with international agencies and other stakeholders, to provide protection and assistance to internally displaced persons who are victims of the above-mentioned threats, violations and abuses, as well as other groups of internally displaced persons with special needs, such as severely traumatized individuals, older persons and persons with disabilities, taking into account all relevant resolutions of the General Assembly and the Security Council;
- Body
- United Nations General Assembly
- Document type
- Resolution
- Topic(s)
- Humanitarian
- Movement
- Violence
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Older persons
- Persons on the move
- Persons with disabilities
- Women
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Extreme poverty and human rights on universal basic income 2017, para. 46
- Paragraph text
- Under the Social Protection Floors Recommendation, 2012 (No. 202), States should establish and maintain social protection floors ensuring that, at a minimum, “over the life cycle, all in need have access to essential health care and to basic income security which together secure effective access to goods and services defined as necessary at the national level”. This comprises essential health care, including maternity care, and basic income security for children, for active-age adults in cases of sickness, unemployment, maternity and disability, and for older persons. These goals may be achieved through any of the following schemes: universal benefit, social insurance, social assistance, negative income tax, public employment and employment support.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Economic Rights
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Older persons
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Protection of the family: role of the family in supporting the protection and promotion of human rights of older persons 2017, para. 3
- Paragraph text
- Stresses the primary responsibility of States in promoting, providing and ensuring access to basic social services for older persons, bearing in mind their specific needs, and to this end underlines the need to work together with local authorities, civil society, including non-governmental organizations, the private sector, volunteers and voluntary organizations, older persons themselves and associations for and of older persons, as well as families and communities;
- Body
- United Nations Human Rights Council
- Document type
- Resolution
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Person(s) affected
- Families
- Older persons
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Protection of the family: role of the family in supporting the protection and promotion of human rights of older persons 2017, para. 4
- Paragraph text
- Recognizes the challenges related to the enjoyment of all human rights that older persons face in areas such as prevention of and protection against violence and abuse, social protection, food and nutrition, housing, employment, legal capacity, access to justice, health services, including physical and mental health support, and long-term and palliative care services, and that those challenges require in-depth analysis and action to better address them;
- Body
- United Nations Human Rights Council
- Document type
- Resolution
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Person(s) affected
- Older persons
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Protection of the family: role of the family in supporting the protection and promotion of human rights of older persons 2017, para. 21
- Paragraph text
- Also encourages States to continue their efforts to implement the Madrid Plan of Action and to mainstream the concerns of older persons into their policy agendas, bearing in mind the crucial importance of intergenerational family interdependence, solidarity and reciprocity for social development and the realization of all human rights of older persons, and to prevent discrimination against older persons and provide social integration;
- Body
- United Nations Human Rights Council
- Document type
- Resolution
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Person(s) affected
- Families
- Older persons
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Protection of the family: role of the family in supporting the protection and promotion of human rights of older persons 2017, para. 7
- Paragraph text
- Reaffirms the Addis Ababa Action Agenda of the Third International Conference on Financing for Development, an integral part of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, in which it is recognized that investing in older persons is critical to achieving inclusive, equitable and sustainable development for present and future generations, and the vital importance of promoting and protecting the rights of all and ensuring that no one is left behind;
- Body
- United Nations Human Rights Council
- Document type
- Resolution
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Person(s) affected
- Older persons
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Extreme poverty and human rights on universal basic income 2017, para. 43
- Paragraph text
- Unconditional cash transfers, although without strings attached, differ from basic income schemes in several respects. First, they are generally paid to households and may vary accordingly. Second, unconditional cash transfers often target the poor or other categories such as children or the elderly. Third, the amount of the unconditional cash transfers often differs, depending on the recipient’s situation.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Poverty
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Older persons
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Protection of the family: role of the family in supporting the protection and promotion of human rights of older persons 2017, para. 23
- Paragraph text
- Encourages States and non-governmental bodies to establish social and care services to support the whole family and individual carers when there are older people at home and to implement such measures, especially for low-income families, to be able to care for the older people at home;
- Body
- United Nations Human Rights Council
- Document type
- Resolution
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Person(s) affected
- Families
- Older persons
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Protection of the family: role of the family in supporting the protection and promotion of human rights of older persons 2017, para. 25
- Paragraph text
- Stresses the need for States to adopt immediate, effective and appropriate measures aimed at raising awareness throughout society, including at the family level, regarding older persons, with a view to fostering respect for their rights and dignity;
- Body
- United Nations Human Rights Council
- Document type
- Resolution
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Person(s) affected
- Older persons
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
The right to education: follow-up to Human Rights Council resolution 8/4 2017, para. 13
- Paragraph text
- Calls upon States to take all necessary measures, including sufficient budgetary allocations, to ensure inclusive, equitable and non-discriminatory quality education, and to promote learning opportunities for all, paying particular attention to girls, marginalized children, older persons, persons with disabilities and persons with low qualifications;
- Body
- United Nations Human Rights Council
- Document type
- Resolution
- Topic(s)
- Education
- Equality & Inclusion
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Girls
- Older persons
- Persons with disabilities
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Protection of the family: role of the family in supporting the protection and promotion of human rights of older persons 2017, para. 20
- Paragraph text
- Encourages States to increase efforts to raise awareness of the Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing, 2002, including by promoting and supporting initiatives to advance a positive public image of older persons and their multiple contributions to their families, communities and societies and by working with the respective international, regional and national bodies and mechanisms, as appropriate;
- Body
- United Nations Human Rights Council
- Document type
- Resolution
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Gender
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Older persons
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Protection of and assistance to internally displaced persons 2017, para. 3
- Paragraph text
- Encourages the Special Rapporteur, through continuous dialogue with Governments and all intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations concerned, to continue her analysis of the reasons for internal displacement and to remain apprised of the needs and human rights of those who are displaced, including the needs of those who may be in particularly vulnerable situations, including women, children, older persons and persons with disabilities, the level of emergency preparedness and ways to strengthen protection and assistance, including by enhancing the role of national human rights institutions, where appropriate, and the protection of internally displaced persons, as well as durable solutions for internally displaced persons, including by addressing possible obstacles to the exercise of housing, land and property rights for internally displaced persons, also encourages the Special Rapporteur, with regard to the latter, to use, in her activities, the Framework on Durable Solutions for Internally Displaced Persons of the Inter?Agency Standing Committee, and further encourages the Special Rapporteur to continue to advocate the needs of host communities and promote comprehensive strategies, taking into account the primary responsibility of States for the protection of and assistance to internally displaced persons within their jurisdiction;
- Body
- United Nations General Assembly
- Document type
- Resolution
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Humanitarian
- Movement
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Older persons
- Persons on the move
- Persons with disabilities
- Women
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Protection of the family: role of the family in supporting the protection and promotion of human rights of older persons 2017, para. 27
- Paragraph text
- Recognizes the important role of civil society, including organizations of older persons and their families, national human rights institutions, research institutes and academia, in advocacy, promotion, research and policymaking and, as appropriate, the evaluation of family policy development and capacity-building;
- Body
- United Nations Human Rights Council
- Document type
- Resolution
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Families
- Older persons
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Protection of the family: role of the family in supporting the protection and promotion of human rights of older persons 2017, para. 2
- Paragraph text
- Also reaffirms that States have the primary responsibility to promote and protect the human rights and fundamental freedoms of all individuals, including older persons, and stresses the fundamental importance of full respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms of all the members of the family, including older persons;
- Body
- United Nations Human Rights Council
- Document type
- Resolution
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Person(s) affected
- Families
- Older persons
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Policies and programmes involving youth 2017, para. 20
- Paragraph text
- Further recognizes the importance of strengthening intergenerational partnerships and solidarity among generations, and in this regard recognizes the importance of opportunities for voluntary, constructive and regular interaction between young people and older generations in the family, the workplace and society at large;
- Body
- United Nations General Assembly
- Document type
- Resolution
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Person(s) affected
- Older persons
- Youth
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Protection of the family: role of the family in supporting the protection and promotion of human rights of older persons 2017, para. 5
- Paragraph text
- Recalling further the General Assembly and Human Rights Council resolutions on the issue of the human rights of older persons,
- Body
- United Nations Human Rights Council
- Document type
- Resolution
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Older persons
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Protection of the family: role of the family in supporting the protection and promotion of human rights of older persons 2017, para. 15
- Paragraph text
- Remains convinced that older persons, including those with disabilities, and their family members should receive the protection and assistance necessary to achieve the full and equal enjoyment of human rights by every person;
- Body
- United Nations Human Rights Council
- Document type
- Resolution
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Person(s) affected
- Older persons
- Persons with disabilities
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Protection of and assistance to internally displaced persons 2017, para. 11
- Paragraph text
- Conscious also of the specific needs of those who may be particularly vulnerable, including women, children, older persons and persons with disabilities, and the need to ensure that their specific needs are met through the provision of adequate protection and access to assistance,
- Body
- United Nations General Assembly
- Document type
- Resolution
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Humanitarian
- Movement
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Older persons
- Persons on the move
- Persons with disabilities
- Women
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Protection of the family: role of the family in supporting the protection and promotion of human rights of older persons 2017, para. 24
- Paragraph text
- Recognizes the potential of older persons as leaders in the family and community for education, communication and conflict resolution;
- Body
- United Nations Human Rights Council
- Document type
- Resolution
- Topic(s)
- Education
- Equality & Inclusion
- Person(s) affected
- Older persons
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Protection of the family: role of the family in supporting the protection and promotion of human rights of older persons 2017, para. 11
- Paragraph text
- Recalling that the pledge made by all States with the adoption of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development to leave no one behind involves addressing inequality and discrimination, and provides an opportunity to tackle inequities faced, inter alia, by older persons, especially those who are marginalized or in vulnerable situations, and their families,
- Body
- United Nations Human Rights Council
- Document type
- Resolution
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Person(s) affected
- Families
- Older persons
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Protection of the family: role of the family in supporting the protection and promotion of human rights of older persons 2017, para. 12
- Paragraph text
- Recognizing the essential contribution that older persons can continue to make to the functioning of societies and towards the implementation of the 2030 Agenda if adequate guarantees are in place,
- Body
- United Nations Human Rights Council
- Document type
- Resolution
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Older persons
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Protection of the family: role of the family in supporting the protection and promotion of human rights of older persons 2017, para. 5
- Paragraph text
- Reiterates the call for all States to empower older persons to fully and effectively participate in the economic, political and social lives of their societies;
- Body
- United Nations Human Rights Council
- Document type
- Resolution
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Person(s) affected
- Older persons
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Access to rights-based support for persons with disabilities 2017, para. 41
- Paragraph text
- The Convention challenges traditional approaches to care and has the potential to redress the legacy of disempowerment and paternalism. Furthermore, the notion of support in the Convention also has the potential to override traditional understandings of care and assistance for other groups, such as older persons and children. The Convention restores the importance of the "human being" in the human rights discourse by emphasizing the individual and social aspects of the human experience. These innovations can and should be incorporated into the implementation of all existing human rights instruments.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Older persons
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Women’s economic empowerment in the changing world of work 2017, para. 40 (cc)
- Paragraph text
- Promote the entry and re-entry into, and advancement in, labour markets of all women, including through policies and programmes aimed at the elimination of structural barriers and stereotypes that young women face in the transition from school to work and also to address the challenges faced by women returning from care-related career breaks and by older women, by providing access to technical and vocational skills training, entrepreneurship development, job-matching and career guidance, including towards high-wage and high-growth occupations;
- Body
- Commission on the Status of Women
- Document type
- CSW Agreed Conclusions / Declaration
- Topic(s)
- Gender
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Person(s) affected
- Older persons
- Women
- Youth
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Roadmap for the next three years: thematic priorities of the new mandate-holder 2017, para. 60
- Paragraph text
- Under paragraph 16 (d) of Human Rights Council resolution 32/11, the mandate holder is tasked with giving special consideration to the human rights of internally displaced women and children, and of other groups with special needs, such as older persons, persons with disabilities and severely traumatized individuals, and to their particular assistance, protection and development needs. The Special Rapporteur will therefore dedicate a thematic report to the needs and protection issues facing internally displaced children, with a view to bringing renewed attention to their plight and in order to seek innovative approaches, concrete actions, and new commitments to their protection in displacement-affected countries.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the human rights of internally displaced persons
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Humanitarian
- Movement
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Older persons
- Persons on the move
- Persons with disabilities
- Women
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Protection of the family: role of the family in supporting the protection and promotion of human rights of older persons 2017, para. 7
- Paragraph text
- Recognizing that the objectives of the International Year and its follow-up processes, especially those relating to family policies in the areas of poverty, work–family balance and intergenerational issues, with attention given to the rights and responsibilities of all family members, can contribute to ending poverty, ending hunger, ensuring a healthy life and promoting the well-being of all at all ages, promoting lifelong learning opportunities for all, and ensuring better education outcomes for children, to gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls, and to the full enjoyment by older persons of all human rights and fundamental freedoms, as part of an integrated and comprehensive approach to development,
- Body
- United Nations Human Rights Council
- Document type
- Resolution
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Poverty
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Families
- Girls
- Older persons
- Women
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Follow-up to the twentieth anniversary of the International Year of the Family and beyond 2017, para. 7
- Paragraph text
- Acknowledging also that strengthening intergenerational relations, through such measures as promoting intergenerational living arrangements and encouraging extended family members to live in close proximity to each other, has been found to promote the autonomy, security and well-being of children and older persons, and that initiatives to promote involved and positive parenting and to support the role of grandparents have been found to be beneficial in advancing social integration and solidarity between generations, as well as in promoting and protecting the human rights of all family members,
- Body
- United Nations General Assembly
- Document type
- Resolution
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Families
- Older persons
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Reflections on the six-year tenure of the Special Rapporteur 2017, para. 67
- Paragraph text
- The Special Rapporteur has observed that certain groups within minority communities, such as minority women, children, older persons, persons with disabilities, and lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender persons, experience unique challenges and multiple and intersectional forms of discrimination emanating from their status as members of minorities and their specific condition or situation. The Special Rapporteur encourages further research to fully understand their situation and calls for targeted actions to address their particular challenges.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- LGBTQI+
- Older persons
- Persons with disabilities
- Women
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Study on illegal adoptions 2017, para. 59
- Paragraph text
- A major enabling factor for illegal adoptions is the significant discrepancy between the number of prospective parents seeking to adopt and the number of children who are truly adoptable. The discrepancy is greatest in respect of the most sought-after children (generally, those who are young and healthy), while the children most often found in care are older and have a variety of specific requirements. The unrealistic number of prospective parents fuels frustration and sometimes leads to the commission of illegal acts to obtain the much lower number of adoptable children.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the sale and sexual exploitation of children, including child prostitution, child pornography and other child sexual abuse material
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Movement
- Violence
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Families
- Older persons
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Protection of the family: role of the family in supporting the protection and promotion of human rights of older persons 2017, para. 9
- Paragraph text
- Also recognizes that neglect, abuse and violence against older persons takes many forms – physical, psychological, emotional, financial – and occurs in every social, economic, ethnic and geographic sphere, including within the family, and calls upon States to, inter alia, enact legislation and strengthen legal efforts to eliminate elder abuse; and educate and sensitize professionals and the general public on violence and abuse of older persons, its various characteristics and causes, and protection of and respect for their human rights and needs;
- Body
- United Nations Human Rights Council
- Document type
- Resolution
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Violence
- Person(s) affected
- Families
- Older persons
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Extreme poverty and human rights on universal basic income 2017, para. 51
- Paragraph text
- However, the negative income tax option would be problematic for 18- to 29-year-olds and for senior women. The Canadian examples demonstrate the potentially positive effects of negative income tax, but warn that a basic income model that replaces existing social support mechanisms could have seriously negative effects on the poor.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Economic Rights
- Poverty
- Person(s) affected
- Older persons
- Women
- Youth
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Protection of the family: role of the family in supporting the protection and promotion of human rights of older persons 2017, para. 16
- Paragraph text
- Highlights the role of families in supporting their members, including older persons, and recognizes their potential in contributing to the protection and promotion of older persons among their members;
- Body
- United Nations Human Rights Council
- Document type
- Resolution
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Person(s) affected
- Families
- Older persons
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Protection of the family: role of the family in supporting the protection and promotion of human rights of older persons 2017, para. 17
- Paragraph text
- Stresses that families remain the first and most immediate environment where older persons can develop their potential and enjoy a fulfilling life, and that the realization of the human rights of older persons can be deeply affected by the quality of life and the support and assistance provided to them, including through access to a range of support services that are responsive to individual choices, wishes and needs;
- Body
- United Nations Human Rights Council
- Document type
- Resolution
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Person(s) affected
- Families
- Older persons
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Protection of the family: role of the family in supporting the protection and promotion of human rights of older persons 2017, para. 18
- Paragraph text
- Affirms that older persons have equal rights with respect to family life, and that States should realize these rights and prevent the concealment, abandonment, neglect and segregation of older persons and undertake to provide early and comprehensive information, services and support to older persons and their families;
- Body
- United Nations Human Rights Council
- Document type
- Resolution
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Person(s) affected
- Families
- Older persons
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Protection of the family: role of the family in supporting the protection and promotion of human rights of older persons 2017, para. 19
- Paragraph text
- Emphasizes that consultation with older persons is essential in the formulation and adoption of legislation and policies relating to their specific needs and concerns;
- Body
- United Nations Human Rights Council
- Document type
- Resolution
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Person(s) affected
- Older persons
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Protection of the family: role of the family in supporting the protection and promotion of human rights of older persons 2017, para. 6
- Paragraph text
- Emphasizes the importance of protecting and promoting the human rights of older persons, and urges States to integrate the promotion of and respect for the human rights of older persons into their respective national development frameworks, taking into account those marginalized and in the most vulnerable situations, to ensure that no one is left behind and that those furthest behind are reached first;
- Body
- United Nations Human Rights Council
- Document type
- Resolution
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Person(s) affected
- Older persons
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Protection of the family: role of the family in supporting the protection and promotion of human rights of older persons 2017, para. 10
- Paragraph text
- Further recognizes that older women face a greater risk of physical and psychological abuse due to discriminatory societal attitudes and the non-realization of their human rights, and that some harmful traditional and customary practices result in abuse and violence directed at older women, often exacerbated by poverty and lack of access to legal protection;
- Body
- United Nations Human Rights Council
- Document type
- Resolution
- Topic(s)
- Harmful Practices
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Violence
- Person(s) affected
- Older persons
- Women
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Violence against women migrant workers 2017, para. 25
- Paragraph text
- Urges Governments to support enhanced reception and reintegration assistance for those who return, with particular attention to the needs of victims of trafficking in persons and of migrants in vulnerable situations, inter alia, children, older women and women with disabilities;
- Body
- United Nations General Assembly
- Document type
- Resolution
- Topic(s)
- Movement
- Violence
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Older persons
- Persons on the move
- Persons with disabilities
- Women
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Mandate of the Special Rapporteur on the human rights of internally displaced persons 2016, para. 8
- Paragraph text
- Expresses particular concern about the full range of threats, violations and abuses of human rights and violations of international humanitarian law experienced by many internally displaced persons, including women and children, who are particularly vulnerable or specifically targeted, especially for sexual and gender-based violence and sexual exploitation and abuse, trafficking in persons, forced recruitment and abduction, encourages the continued commitment of the Special Rapporteur to promote action to address their particular assistance and protection needs, and calls upon States, in cooperation with international agencies and other stakeholders, to provide protection and assistance to internally displaced persons who are victims of the above-mentioned violations and abuses, as well as other groups of internally displaced persons with special needs, such as severely traumatized individuals, older persons and persons with disabilities, taking into account all relevant resolutions of the General Assembly and the Security Council;
- Body
- United Nations Human Rights Council
- Document type
- Resolution
- Topic(s)
- Humanitarian
- Movement
- Violence
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Older persons
- Persons on the move
- Persons with disabilities
- Women
- Year
- 2016
Paragraph
Women and girls with disabilities 2016, para. 55
- Paragraph text
- The right of women with disabilities to choose their place of residence may be adversely affected by cultural norms and patriarchal family values that limit autonomy and oblige them to live in a particular living arrangement. Thus, multiple discrimination can prevent the full and equal enjoyment of the right to live independently in the community. In the case of older persons with disabilities, age and impairment, separately or jointly, can increase their risk of institutionalization . In addition, it has been widely documented that institutionalization may expose persons with disabilities to violence and abuse, with women with disabilities particularly exposed .
- Body
- Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Person(s) affected
- Girls
- Older persons
- Persons with disabilities
- Women
- Year
- 2016
Paragraph
Integrating a gender perspective in the right to food 2016, para. 12
- Paragraph text
- Girls and women suffer from discrimination in relation to their right to food at all stages in life. In many countries, females receive less food than their male partners, due to a lower social status. In extreme cases, a preference for male children may lead to female infanticide, including by deprivation of food. Some mothers stop breastfeeding girls prematurely in order to try and get pregnant with a male, which could increase risks of infection and other risks if impure water is used with formula. Similar discrimination applies to older women who tend to be less literate than older men, in many parts of the world; this limits women's employability, participation and voice in community development activities and makes them less likely to be able to provide for themselves.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right to food
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Food & Nutrition
- Gender
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Girls
- Older persons
- Women
- Year
- 2016
Paragraph
Modalities for the establishment of femicides/gender-related killings watch 2016, para. 44
- Paragraph text
- Goal 11, to make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable, and target 11.2, to provide access to safe, affordable, accessible and sustainable transport systems for all, improving road safety, notably by expanding public transport, with special attention to the needs of those in vulnerable situations, women, children, persons with disabilities and older persons, and target 11.7, to provide universal access to safe, inclusive and accessible, green and public spaces, in particular for women and children, older persons and persons with disabilities, are also directly relevant.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on violence against women, its causes and consequences
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Older persons
- Persons with disabilities
- Women
- Year
- 2016
Paragraph
Human rights and extreme poverty 2016, para. 10
- Paragraph text
- Concerned that, during the Second United Nations Decade for the Eradication of Poverty (2008-2017), while there has been progress in reducing poverty, especially in some middle-income countries, such progress has been uneven and the number of people living in poverty in some countries continues to increase, with women, children and older persons constituting the majority of those most affected, especially in the least developed countries and particularly in sub-Saharan Africa,
- Body
- United Nations General Assembly
- Document type
- Resolution
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Poverty
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Older persons
- Women
- Year
- 2016
Paragraph
Eliminating discrimination against women in the area of health and safety, with a focus on the instrumentalization of women's bodies 2016, para. 105d (viii)
- Paragraph text
- [The Working Group recommends that States:] Adopt a holistic approach towards women's health and safety by looking at their full life cycle from childhood to old age as interconnected phases with distinct considerations and needs, and in this regard: Provide gender- and age-sensitive health-care services for older women, taking cognizance of their heightened health and safety vulnerability;
- Body
- Working Group on the issue of discrimination against women in law and practice
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Older persons
- Women
- Year
- 2016
Paragraph
Developing the Global Compact on Migration 2016, para. 9
- Paragraph text
- Ageing populations have caused a shift in demographics that has led to labour shortages. In 2010, for the first time, more workers were retiring from the European labour market than joining it. By 2030, if trends continue, the labour shortage in Europe is likely to rise to 8.3 million workers. At the same time, many member States of the European Union have fertility rates below the rate of replacement. Similarly, by 2020, large economies such as Canada, China, the Republic of Korea and the Russian Federation will also face labour shortages.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the human rights of migrants
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Older persons
- Year
- 2016
Paragraph
Mandate of the Special Rapporteur on the human rights of internally displaced persons 2016, para. 11
- Paragraph text
- Urges States and other relevant actors to take into account the specific needs of persons with disabilities and of older persons when promoting and ensuring the protection of the human rights of internally displaced persons, in particular by ensuring that persons with disabilities and older persons have timely, appropriate and equal access to assistance, protection and rehabilitation services, including health care, sexual and reproductive health-care services, psychosocial support and educational programmes;
- Body
- United Nations Human Rights Council
- Document type
- Resolution
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Older persons
- Persons on the move
- Persons with disabilities
- Year
- 2016
Paragraph
The right of persons with disabilities to participate in decision-making 2016, para. 13
- Paragraph text
- Participation is a core human rights principle, as well as a basic condition of democratic societies. Participation allows individuals to play a central role in their own development, as well as in the development of their communities. People have a right to participate in decisions that affect their lives, including those concerning their rights. The active and informed participation of different groups, including women, children, older persons, indigenous peoples and persons with disabilities, is not only consistent with but is also a requisite of a human rights-based approach. It ensures active citizenship, good governance and social accountability.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Ethnic minorities
- Older persons
- Persons with disabilities
- Women
- Year
- 2016
Paragraph
Eliminating discrimination against women in the area of health and safety, with a focus on the instrumentalization of women's bodies 2016, para. 40
- Paragraph text
- Women have a longer life expectancy and are particularly exposed to neglect and abuse in older age, including in health-care settings, and higher risks of diseases such as Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia. A gender- and age-sensitive approach needs to take into account the specific needs for care and protection of older women, including those widowed, living alone or displaced, those with dementia or other disability, those in need of palliative and geriatric care and those in emergency situations; these women are most at risk of multiple forms of discrimination, violence and poverty.
- Body
- Working Group on the issue of discrimination against women in law and practice
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Gender
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Older persons
- Women
- Year
- 2016
Paragraph
Eliminating discrimination against women in the area of health and safety, with a focus on the instrumentalization of women's bodies 2016, para. 41
- Paragraph text
- In addition, problems associated with ageing affect women disproportionally as a result of the cumulative effect of discriminatory practices women face over the course of their lives, as the Working Group described in its report on discrimination against women in economic and social life (A/HRC/26/39). Women are more likely to take care of men and to be left without spousal support. At the same time, they are more likely to suffer economic disadvantages, exacerbated by discriminatory pension systems that fail to produce equal outcomes for women, and to be excluded from social security and health insurance schemes. They are thus at greater risk of living in poverty. The mere recognition of equal rights for all, without distinction, is thus insufficient to ensure in practice the enjoyment by older women of all human rights, including the right to health.
- Body
- Working Group on the issue of discrimination against women in law and practice
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Poverty
- Person(s) affected
- Older persons
- Women
- Year
- 2016
Paragraph
Outcomes and commitments on internal displacement of the World Humanitarian Summit 2016, para. 43
- Paragraph text
- Particular challenges face some people within internally displaced populations, including older persons, persons with disabilities, unaccompanied minors, or members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender community. Women are made particularly vulnerable by displacement, including to sexual or gender-based violence and other human rights violations, and consequently require specific protection measures. A key protection element is disaggregated data to provide an evidence base to build a profile of internally displaced persons and assess their needs according to their circumstances. Such data is often lacking and this gap reinforces the significance of the work carried out by bodies such as the Joint Internally Displaced Person Profiling Service (JIPS; see www.jips.org/en/home).
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the human rights of internally displaced persons
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Humanitarian
- Movement
- Person(s) affected
- LGBTQI+
- Older persons
- Persons on the move
- Persons with disabilities
- Women
- Year
- 2016
Paragraph
Gender equality in the realization of the human rights to water and sanitation 2016, para. 37
- Paragraph text
- Affordability is of special concern to women and girls, who often have less access to financial resources than men. Women and girls need toilets for urination, defecation and menstrual hygiene management as well as for assisting younger children. Combined with women's lower access to financial resources, pay-per-use toilets with the same user fee for men and women are in practice often more expensive for women. Besides, public urinals are often free for men but not for women. To tackle this, the municipal government of Mumbai is currently constructing several toilet blocks the maintenance of which is financed through family passes instead of by charging a fee for each use. Some public toilets can be used free of charge by women and other groups that often lack access to economic resources, such as children and older people.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the human rights to safe drinking water and sanitation
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Economic Rights
- Equality & Inclusion
- Gender
- Health
- Water & Sanitation
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Girls
- Men
- Older persons
- Women
- Year
- 2016
Paragraph
New York Declaration For Refugees and Migrants 2016, para. 5e
- Paragraph text
- [At the outset of a large movement of refugees, receiving States, bearing in mind their national capacities and international legal obligations, in cooperation, as appropriate, with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, international organizations and other partners and with the support of other States as requested, in conformity with international obligations, would:] Use the registration process to identify specific assistance needs and protection arrangements, where possible, including but not exclusively for refugees with special protection concerns, such as women at risk, children, especially unaccompanied children and children separated from their families, child-headed and single-parent households, victims of trafficking, victims of trauma and survivors of sexual violence, as well as refugees with disabilities and older persons;
- Body
- United Nations General Assembly
- Document type
- Declaration / Confererence outcome document
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Movement
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Families
- Older persons
- Persons on the move
- Persons with disabilities
- Women
- Year
- 2016
Paragraph
Mandate of the Special Rapporteur on the human rights of internally displaced persons 2016, para. 5
- Paragraph text
- Conscious of the human rights, humanitarian, development and possible peacebuilding dimensions of internal displacement, including in long-term displacement situations, the often heightened vulnerability of women and children, as well as of older persons and persons with disabilities, and the responsibilities of States and the international community to further strengthen their protection and assistance, including by respecting and protecting the human rights and fundamental freedoms of all internally displaced persons, with a view to finding durable solutions,
- Body
- United Nations Human Rights Council
- Document type
- Resolution
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Humanitarian
- Movement
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Older persons
- Persons on the move
- Persons with disabilities
- Women
- Year
- 2016
Paragraph
Lifelong learning and the right to education 2016, para. 92
- Paragraph text
- The Special Rapporteur commends the SkillsFuture credit, launched in Singapore to promote lifelong learning. Given to every Singaporean aged 25 years and older, it covers nearly 2.5 million citizens in the country. The first credit amounts to $500, with the proviso that the Government will top it up at regular intervals in future. The credit can be used for a wide range of courses. Already, there are 10,000 courses, in areas ranging from basic computing to web design, digital animation, human resources management, finance, health care and languages. The courses are provided at publicly funded tertiary institutions, as well as by private providers. The Government will provide employers with subsidies of 70 to 90 per cent when they train their employees. The credit is provided on top of SkillsFuture study awards in various fields. For example, for all Singaporeans aged 40 years and older, 90 per cent of the costs of their courses will be funded.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right to education
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Education
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Older persons
- Year
- 2016
Paragraph
Lifelong learning and the right to education 2016, para. 41
- Paragraph text
- The Special Rapporteur recalls that the normative bases of lifelong learning exist in international human rights treaties. The Convention against Discrimination in Education (1960) lays down the obligation of States with regard to continuing education. The International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, adopted in 1966, includes similar provisions. According to article 13 (2) (d) of the Covenant, individuals "who have not received or completed the whole period of their primary education" have a right to fundamental education, or basic education as defined in the World Declaration on Education for All (1990). The enjoyment of the right to fundamental education is not limited by age or gender; it extends to children, young people and adults, including older persons. Fundamental education, therefore, is an integral component of adult education and lifelong learning. Because fundamental education is a right of all age groups, curricula and delivery systems suitable for students of all ages must be devised.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right to education
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Education
- Equality & Inclusion
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Older persons
- Youth
- Year
- 2016
Paragraph
Progress and challenges relating to the human rights of IDPs 2016, para. 84
- Paragraph text
- Consultation, participation and information provision activities must engage widely with internally displaced persons, including women and female heads of households, young people, older persons and persons with disabilities. In-depth assessments, profiling and consultations help to reveal vulnerabilities, capacities and obstacles, essential to providing appropriate responses and durable solutions. Gathering data on those outside of camps has also proven extremely difficult, and there is a need to find creative solutions to ensure that they do not fall through protection and support nets. The Special Rapporteur's report on the issue to the Human Rights Council in 2012 notably focuses on addressing the causes of neglect of internally displaced persons outside camps through data collection.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the human rights of internally displaced persons
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Humanitarian
- Person(s) affected
- Older persons
- Persons on the move
- Persons with disabilities
- Women
- Youth
- Year
- 2016
Paragraph
Progress and challenges relating to the human rights of IDPs 2016, para. 85
- Paragraph text
- Recognition of internally displaced persons as holders of civil and political rights and economic, social and cultural rights is crucial. A human rights-based approach to internal displacement and humanitarian and development assistance to such persons requires assessments of their human rights on the basis of information that goes beyond basic displacement statistics and recognizes the unique circumstances, challenges and requirements of each individual, including women, older persons, persons with disabilities, minorities and others. It also requires a deeper level of engagement and consultation with internally displaced persons, allowing a more detailed understanding of needs, concerns and intentions and demonstrating respect for the human agency of those persons, as partners in a process of achieving solutions, rather than passive beneficiaries.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the human rights of internally displaced persons
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Humanitarian
- Movement
- Person(s) affected
- Older persons
- Persons on the move
- Persons with disabilities
- Women
- Year
- 2016
Paragraph
Women and girls with disabilities 2016, para. 59
- Paragraph text
- Women represent a disproportionate percentage of the world's poor as a consequence of discrimination, leading to a lack of choice and opportunities, especially formal employment income. Poverty is both a compounding factor and the result of multiple discrimination. Older women with disabilities, especially, face many difficulties in accessing adequate housing, they are more likely to be institutionalized and do not have equal access to social protection and poverty reduction programs .
- Body
- Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Poverty
- Person(s) affected
- Girls
- Older persons
- Persons with disabilities
- Women
- Year
- 2016
Paragraph
Eliminating discrimination against women in the area of health and safety, with a focus on the instrumentalization of women's bodies 2016, para. 105d (vii)
- Paragraph text
- [The Working Group recommends that States:] Adopt a holistic approach towards women's health and safety by looking at their full life cycle from childhood to old age as interconnected phases with distinct considerations and needs, and in this regard: Ensure that laws, policies and practices mandate respect for women's autonomy in their decision-making, especially regarding pregnancy, birthing and postnatal care;
- Body
- Working Group on the issue of discrimination against women in law and practice
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Older persons
- Women
- Year
- 2016
Paragraph
Mandate of the Special Rapporteur on the human rights of internally displaced persons 2016, para. 16d
- Paragraph text
- [Requests the Special Rapporteur on the human rights of internally displaced persons, in carrying out the mandate:] To integrate a gender perspective throughout the work of the mandate, and to give special consideration to the human rights of internally displaced women and children, and of other groups with special needs, such as older persons, persons with disabilities and severely traumatized individuals affected by internal displacement, and their particular assistance, protection and development needs;
- Body
- United Nations Human Rights Council
- Document type
- Resolution
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Gender
- Humanitarian
- Movement
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Older persons
- Persons on the move
- Persons with disabilities
- Women
- Year
- 2016
Paragraph
Sports and healthy lifestyles as contributing factors to the right to health 2016, para. 77
- Paragraph text
- States should respect the right to health of elderly people by refraining from discriminating in the form of denying access to conditions enabling them to live healthy lifestyles, which includes their access to sporting goods and facilities. States should also protect the right to health of the elderly by creating complaint and recourse mechanisms for those whose rights have been violated and by sensitizing third parties to the needs and abilities of the elderly in the sporting context. Finally, States should fulfil the right to health of the elderly by facilitating or providing goods, services, facilities and information, in the area of sport and exercise, that are available, acceptable, accessible and of high quality.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Older persons
- Year
- 2016
Paragraph
Outcomes and commitments on internal displacement of the World Humanitarian Summit 2016, para. 70
- Paragraph text
- Internally displaced persons must have a greater say and role in shaping the nature of assistance and support that they receive and the solutions targeted at them. The Special Rapporteur has found that the common message from internally displaced persons is that they are deprived of their dignity, have little hope and feel that nobody is listening to them, let alone consulting them. Meaningful consultation and participation of internally displaced persons guarantee the durability and legitimacy of solutions and help to re-establish dignity and hope. The voices and views of displaced women, older persons, youth and those with disabilities for example, must be given equal weight to ensure that solutions are appropriate and meet the needs of all.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the human rights of internally displaced persons
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Humanitarian
- Movement
- Person(s) affected
- Older persons
- Persons on the move
- Persons with disabilities
- Women
- Year
- 2016
Paragraph
Developing the Global Compact on Migration 2016, para. 59
- Paragraph text
- Although some migrants, such as children, older persons, women travelling alone and migrants with disabilities, are vulnerable, the majority are not intrinsically vulnerable. On the contrary, they are most often incredibly resilient and courageous, making life-altering decisions on a regular basis. However, through policy and practice decisions that result in a lack of effective access to justice, States may create precarious conditions of legal status or regulatory frameworks that allow many to abuse and exploit migrants with impunity. For example, there are cases in which temporary migrant worker schemes do not provide for adequate oversight mechanisms; countries that rarely enforce the prohibition of recruitment fees, leading to situations of debt bondage, and rarely streamline their labour recruitment industry to ensure it effectively protects the rights of migrants; and labour inspection mechanisms that collaborate with immigration enforcement to expel undocumented migrants rather than try to enforce labour standards against the exploitative employers of such migrants.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the human rights of migrants
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Economic Rights
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Movement
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Older persons
- Persons on the move
- Persons with disabilities
- Women
- Year
- 2016
Paragraph
New York Declaration For Refugees and Migrants 2016, para. 58
- Paragraph text
- We strongly encourage cooperation among countries of origin or nationality, countries of transit, countries of destination and other relevant countries in ensuring that migrants who do not have permission to stay in the country of destination can return, in accordance with international obligations of all States, to their country of origin or nationality in a safe, orderly and dignified manner, preferably on a voluntary basis, taking into account national legislation in line with international law. We note that cooperation on return and readmission forms an important element of international cooperation on migration. Such cooperation would include ensuring proper identification and the provision of relevant travel documents. Any type of return, whether voluntary or otherwise, must be consistent with our obligations under international human rights law and in compliance with the principle of non refoulement. It should also respect the rules of international law and must in addition be conducted in keeping with the best interests of children and with due process. While recognizing that they apply only to States that have entered into them, we acknowledge that existing readmission agreements should be fully implemented. We support enhanced reception and reintegration assistance for those who are returned. Particular attention should be paid to the needs of migrants in vulnerable situations who return, such as children, older persons, persons with disabilities and victims of trafficking.
- Body
- United Nations General Assembly
- Document type
- Declaration / Confererence outcome document
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Movement
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Older persons
- Persons on the move
- Persons with disabilities
- Year
- 2016
Paragraph
Women's empowerment and the link to sustainable development 2016, para. 23g
- Paragraph text
- [The Commission [...] urges Governments, at all levels [...] to take the following actions:] [Strengthening normative, legal and policy frameworks]: Undertake all appropriate measures to recognize, reduce and redistribute unpaid care work by prioritizing social protection policies, including accessible and affordable quality social services, and care services for children, persons with disabilities, older persons, persons living with HIV and AIDS and all others in need of care, and promote the equal sharing of responsibilities between women and men;
- Body
- Commission on the Status of Women
- Document type
- CSW Agreed Conclusions / Declaration
- Topic(s)
- Economic Rights
- Equality & Inclusion
- Gender
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Men
- Older persons
- Persons with disabilities
- Women
- Year
- 2016
Paragraph
Sports and healthy lifestyles as contributing factors to the right to health 2016, para. 74
- Paragraph text
- In its general comment No. 14 (2000) on the right to the highest attainable standard of health, the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights recognized the importance of an integrated approach to the health of older persons, including preventive, curative and rehabilitative health treatment. Promotion of participation in sport and physical activity is among the most cost-effective interventions that States can undertake in order to prevent morbidity and mortality among older persons and to ensure that they achieve the highest possible standards of physical and mental health.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Older persons
- Year
- 2016
Paragraph
Sports and healthy lifestyles as contributing factors to the right to health 2016, para. 76
- Paragraph text
- In addition to the above-mentioned biomedical benefits, participation in organized sport may have significant benefits for older adults as regards increased social interaction and connectedness. Moreover, sport can be used as a tool to promote "active ageing" - elderly people being active and engaged in society - to combat negative and inaccurate images of the elderly that portray ageing as an inevitable and irreversible decline in function.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Gender
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Older persons
- Year
- 2016
Paragraph
Marginality of economic and social rights 2016, para. 56
- Paragraph text
- One of the most encouraging developments in recent years in relation to economic and social rights has been the growth of specialist NGOs at the international, national and, especially, local levels working to promote either economic and social rights in general or specific rights such as those relating to health, housing, education, water, gender equality, disability and ageing.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Gender
- Health
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Person(s) affected
- Older persons
- Year
- 2016
Paragraph
Developing the Global Compact on Migration 2016, para. 46f
- Paragraph text
- [Human rights must be a cross-cutting issue that informs all discussions at the High-level Dialogue, and, as outlined in the 2013 report of the Special Rapporteur (see A/68/283), States should consider raising issues such as:] Effective protection of the human rights of vulnerable groups, such as unaccompanied children, families with children, persons with disabilities and elderly migrants;
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the human rights of migrants
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Families
- Older persons
- Persons on the move
- Persons with disabilities
- Year
- 2016
Paragraph
Women, the girl child and HIV/AIDS 2016, para. 16
- Paragraph text
- Urges governments and stakeholders to address the increased vulnerability to HIV faced by older women and women and girls with disabilities, ensuring their equal access to prevention, treatment, care and support, as an integral part of their HIV and AIDS response;
- Body
- Commission on the Status of Women
- Document type
- Resolution
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Girls
- Older persons
- Persons with disabilities
- Women
- Year
- 2016
Paragraph
Modalities for the establishment of femicides/gender-related killings watch 2016, para. 56
- Paragraph text
- Those data had been gathered from publicly available sources, in particular media articles, and also included details of the perpetrators and the incident, including the date, names, police force jurisdiction, information about children, the recorded motive and the weapon used. Some of the data are verified, emanating from official reports, while other data, from media reports, are unverified. The census records women killed by men under any circumstance, not just intimate partner violence. Data are disaggregated by age, nationality, ethnicity and occupation of both the victim and perpetrator. Information on the health condition of the victim, including whether she was pregnant, and the relationship status with her perpetrator are recorded. This includes whether they were separated and, if so, the time that had elapsed between the actual separation or end of the relationship and the victim's death (from the information analysed, it appears that 53 per cent of intimate partner violence took place within one month of separation), whether the femicide took place in a context of the victim having rejected the perpetrator's advances or was committed in the course of another crime (e.g., high level of killings of older women in the course of burglaries) and any other information that would shed light on the nature of the femicide.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on violence against women, its causes and consequences
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Violence
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Men
- Older persons
- Women
- Year
- 2016
Paragraph
Sports and healthy lifestyles as contributing factors to the right to health 2016, para. 75
- Paragraph text
- Physically active older people have lower rates of all-cause mortality than their sedentary counterparts, and experience many health benefits, including healthier body mass and improved bone health, and lowered risk of coronary heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes and cancer. Moreover, regular exercise plays an important role in preventing depression and cognitive decline.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Older persons
- Year
- 2016
Paragraph
Rights of rural women 2016, para. 39a
- Paragraph text
- [States parties should safeguard the right of rural women and girls to adequate health care, and ensure:] That high-quality health-care services and facilities are physically accessible to and affordable for rural women, including older women, heads of household and women with disabilities (provided free of charge when necessary), culturally acceptable to them and staffed with trained medical personnel. Services should provide: primary health care, including family planning; access to contraception, including emergency contraception, and to safe abortion and high-quality post-abortion care, regardless of whether abortion is legal; prenatal, perinatal, postnatal and obstetric services; HIV prevention and treatment services, including emergency intervention following rape; mental health services; counselling on nutrition, the feeding of infants and young children; mammography and other gynaecological examinations services; the prevention and treatment of non-communicable diseases, such as cancer; access to essential medicines, including pain relief; and palliative care;
- Body
- Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Girls
- Older persons
- Persons with disabilities
- Women
- Year
- 2016
Paragraph
Rights of rural women 2016, para. 37
- Paragraph text
- Access to health care, including sexual and reproductive health care, is often extremely limited for rural women, including older women and women with disabilities, owing to prevailing social norms and patriarchal attitudes, insufficient budget allocations to rural health services, the lack of infrastructure and trained personnel, the lack of information on modern methods of contraception, remoteness and the lack of transport. The lack of access to adequate food and nutrition, safe drinking water, sanitation and waste management facilities results in increased health risks. Some conditions, such as obstetric fistula, are also more prevalent among rural women and result directly from the lack of access to emergency health services capable of performing caesarean sections, and indirectly from early pregnancy and malnutrition.
- Body
- Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Health
- Water & Sanitation
- Person(s) affected
- Older persons
- Persons with disabilities
- Women
- Year
- 2016
Paragraph
Eliminating discrimination against women in the area of health and safety, with a focus on the instrumentalization of women's bodies 2016, para. 105d (vi)
- Paragraph text
- [The Working Group recommends that States:] Adopt a holistic approach towards women's health and safety by looking at their full life cycle from childhood to old age as interconnected phases with distinct considerations and needs, and in this regard: Provide adequate nutrition and free services for pregnant and lactating women, as required by the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women;
- Body
- Working Group on the issue of discrimination against women in law and practice
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Gender
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Older persons
- Women
- Year
- 2016
Paragraph
The right to just and favourable conditions of work (Art. 7) 2016, para. 47b
- Paragraph text
- [The right to just and favourable conditions of work relates to specific workers:] Young workers and older workers: All workers should be protected against age discrimination. Young workers should not suffer wage discrimination, for example, being forced to accept low wages that do not reflect their skills. An excessive use of unpaid internships and training programmes, as well as of short-term and fixed-term contracts that negatively affect job security, career prospects and social security benefits, is not in line with the right to just and favourable conditions of work. Laws and regulations should include specific measures to protect the health and safety of young workers, including through raising the minimum age for certain types of work. Older workers should receive fair wages and equal remuneration for work of equal value, and have equal opportunity for promotion based on their experience and know-how. Specific health and safety measures might be necessary, and older workers should benefit from pre-retirement programmes, if they so wish. The cumulative effects of discrimination against female workers through the life cycle might require targeted measures to achieve equality and guarantee fair wages, equal opportunities for promotion and equal pension rights;
- Body
- Committee on Social, Economic and Cultural Rights
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Older persons
- Youth
- Year
- 2016
Paragraph
Right to food and nutrition 2016, para. 83
- Paragraph text
- Much remains to be done to end the inappropriate marketing of breast milk substitutes, and countries are encouraged to adopt, amend and strengthen legal measures in line with the International Code and relevant World Health Assembly resolutions. In particular, it is necessary to ensure that national legislation adequately covers substitute products aimed at children older than 12 months.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right to food
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Food & Nutrition
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Older persons
- Year
- 2016
Paragraph
Protection of and assistance to internally displaced persons 2015, para. 7
- Paragraph text
- Conscious of the human rights, humanitarian and development dimensions, as well as the possible peacebuilding dimension, of internal displacement, including in long-term displacement situations, the often heightened vulnerability of women and children as well as older persons and persons with disabilities and the responsibilities of States and the international community to further strengthen their protection and assistance, including by respecting and protecting the human rights and fundamental freedoms of all internally displaced persons, with a view to finding durable solutions,
- Body
- United Nations General Assembly
- Document type
- Resolution
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Humanitarian
- Movement
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Older persons
- Persons on the move
- Persons with disabilities
- Women
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
The right of persons with disabilities to social protection 2015, para. 37
- Paragraph text
- Persons with disabilities who have not acquired entitlements to a contributory pension during their working lives face considerable difficulties in maintaining an adequate level of income security towards the end of their lives, when adequate non-contributory pensions are not available. Moreover, as they are often less likely to have a partner or to marry, intra-family support as an additional source of income security is often insufficient and unreliable. Therefore, social protection programmes are necessary to guarantee income security for older persons with disabilities and to provide support services. As disability rates are considerably higher among older persons, there is a growing demand for health and social care and support services to enable them to continue living independently and with dignity.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Person(s) affected
- Older persons
- Persons with disabilities
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Extreme inequality and human rights 2015, para. 30
- Paragraph text
- Studies have demonstrated the negative effect of income inequality upon the right to education. A 2014 study published by OECD showed that "increased income disparities depress skills development among individuals with poorer parental education background, both in terms of the quantity of education attained (e.g. years of schooling), and in terms of its quality (i.e. skill proficiency)" and that "higher inequality lowers the opportunities of education (and social mobility) of disadvantaged individuals in the society, an effect that dominates the potentially positive impacts through incentives". Another study showed that the youngest children in Ecuador, irrespective of wealth quintile or education of their parents, performed broadly as well as their comparators, but that, as they got older, only those children in the top half of the wealth distribution and with highly educated parents maintained their performance relative to their comparators.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Economic Rights
- Education
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Older persons
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Impact of climate change on the right to food 2015, para. 12
- Paragraph text
- Accessibility refers to both physical and economic access. Physical accessibility means that food should be accessible to all persons, including the physically vulnerable such as children, older persons and persons with a disability; economic accessibility means that food should be affordable without compromising other basic needs such as education, health care or housing.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right to food
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Older persons
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Different levels and types of services and the human rights to water and sanitation 2015, para. 53
- Paragraph text
- Sanitation shared between a few households, where all residents know each other and maintenance and cleaning is shared, is a common form of access in many countries, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa. This form of access can contribute to the realization of the human rights to water and sanitation, where the construction and maintenance of the toilet or latrine is adequate, and where everyone within the households has access to the toilet or latrine, regardless of their age, physical ability or status within the household. There may be particular concerns for persons with disabilities, children, older persons, people with a chronic illness (which may be stigmatized, such as HIV), renters or those who do not belong to the main household. In some cultures, menstruating women are not allowed to use a latrine shared by other people, and this problem may be compounded when the latrine is shared by several households (see A/67/270, para. 73).
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the human rights to safe drinking water and sanitation
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Water & Sanitation
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Older persons
- Persons with disabilities
- Women
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Mandate, working methods, work plan for the mandate 2015, para. 19b
- Paragraph text
- [The Special Rapporteur will be guided by the following overarching considerations in all aspects of her work:] Inclusiveness. The Special Rapporteur will work in an inclusive manner, aiming to ensure that the needs and concerns of persons with all different kinds of impairment are taken into equal consideration and that her work is age-sensitive, paying special attention to children, adolescents and older persons with disabilities. She will be attentive to the specific situation of persons with disabilities who may be subject to multiple or aggravated forms of discrimination on the basis of race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national, ethnic, indigenous or social origin, property, birth, age or other status, and the multiple layers of barriers that these intersections may create. She will also work across social and economic groups and layers and do her utmost to ensure that no one is left behind in her deliberations.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Person(s) affected
- Adolescents
- Children
- Older persons
- Persons with disabilities
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Banking on mobility over a generation: follow-up to the regional study on the management of the external borders of the European Union and its impact on the human rights of migrants 2015, para. 78
- Paragraph text
- In line with these demographic changes, the European work force is declining. In 2010, for the first time, more workers were retiring from the European labour market than were joining it. The European Union and OECD are predicting that, with a zero net increase in migration, the working age population will drop by 3.5 per cent by 2020. Over the next 50 years, the working-age population is expected to decline by nearly 42 million.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the human rights of migrants
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Movement
- Person(s) affected
- Older persons
- Persons on the move
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Mandate, working methods, work plan for the mandate 2015, para. 36
- Paragraph text
- The Special Rapporteur has also taken first steps towards collaborating with other special procedures mandate holders. Initial efforts of collaboration have included a joint statement made on Human Rights Day, on 10 December 2014, with other special procedures mandate holders on climate change and human rights, and joined efforts regarding issues of common concern with the mandate holders on the right to food, older persons and the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Environment
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Older persons
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Banking on mobility over a generation: follow-up to the regional study on the management of the external borders of the European Union and its impact on the human rights of migrants 2015, para. 77
- Paragraph text
- By 2025, more than 20 per cent of European Union citizens will be over 65 years of age, with a particular increase in those over 85. The population of elderly people will almost double, from 87.5 million in 2010 to 152.6 million in 2060. It is also expected that the share of those aged 80 and over will rise from 5 to 12 per cent. At the same time, many member States have fertility rates below the rate of replacement. An average fertility rate of 2.1 children per woman is estimated to be necessary to keep the population at a stable size between generations in developed countries. United Nations population data suggests that between 2010 and 2015 all European Union countries will have had average fertility rates below the 2.1 mark with the regional average being 1.6.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the human rights of migrants
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Older persons
- Women
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Different levels and types of services and the human rights to water and sanitation 2015, para. 22
- Paragraph text
- Hygiene facilities must be physically accessible for everyone within or in the immediate vicinity of each household, health or educational institution, public institutions and places, and the workplace. Ideally, they should be located adjacent to toilets. Women, persons with disabilities, children and others may have particular hygiene requirements. Access to hygiene facilities should be secure and convenient for all users, including children, elderly persons, persons with disabilities, women, including pregnant women, and chronically ill people. Moreover, hygiene facilities need to be accessible on a reliable and continuous basis, at home, work and school, and in public places, as to satisfy all needs throughout the day.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the human rights to safe drinking water and sanitation
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Water & Sanitation
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Older persons
- Persons with disabilities
- Women
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Protection of the family: contribution of the family to the realization of the right to an adequate standard of living for its members, particularly through its role in poverty eradication and achieving sustainable development 2015, para. 20d
- Paragraph text
- [Urges States, in accordance with their respective obligations under international human rights law, to provide the family, as the natural and fundamental group unit of society, with effective protection and assistance, and encourages States in this regard to take, as appropriate and to the maximum of their available resources, measures including:] Supporting research and developing comprehensive strategies to enhance the ability of families and communities to care for older family members and to reinforce the role of grandparents in raising grandchildren;
- Body
- United Nations Human Rights Council
- Document type
- Resolution
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Person(s) affected
- Families
- Older persons
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Work of the mandate and priorities of the SR 2015, para. 61
- Paragraph text
- In addition, the role of the health sector and that of other sectors in improving the health of individuals and populations must also be balanced. A modern understanding of the effective realization of right to health requires a "health in all policies" approach. To fully achieve goals, such as to reduce infant or under-5 mortality, improve mental health, reduce the burden of non-communicable diseases or promote the health of older persons, all sectors and all branches responsible for public policies need to be involved.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Older persons
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Information and communication technologies and the sale and sexual exploitation of children 2015, para. 24
- Paragraph text
- The growth in mobile technology has meant that more children have access to personal use of Internet, and that the average time that children are spending on the Internet continues to grow. The actual use made of the Internet seems to differ between children. Younger children are less likely to use the social aspect of the Internet and are more likely to use it to access information. Older children (aged 14-18) primarily use it as a communication tool and will regularly use social media.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the sale and sexual exploitation of children, including child prostitution, child pornography and other child sexual abuse material
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Economic Rights
- Equality & Inclusion
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Older persons
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Extreme inequality and human rights 2015, para. 46
- Paragraph text
- Mr. Bengoa also recommended the creation of a social forum to facilitate the participation of States, international organizations, non-governmental organizations and corporations in discussing how to take economic, social and cultural rights into account in their policies. The Social Forum was set up in 2002 and recent sessions have focused on the rights of older persons (2014) and on the rights of access to medicines in the context of the right to health (2015).
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Older persons
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Protection of the family: contribution of the family to the realization of the right to an adequate standard of living for its members, particularly through its role in poverty eradication and achieving sustainable development 2015, para. 18
- Paragraph text
- Underlines the importance of strengthening intergenerational partnerships and solidarity among generations, and calls upon States in this regard to promote opportunities for voluntary, constructive and regular interaction between young people and older generations in the family, in the workplace and in society at large;
- Body
- United Nations Human Rights Council
- Document type
- Resolution
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Person(s) affected
- Families
- Older persons
- Youth
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
The right of persons with disabilities to social protection 2015, para. 60
- Paragraph text
- Fifth, the eligibility criteria of social protection programmes should not include factors that could directly or indirectly exclude persons with disabilities. For instance, in many countries child nutrition programmes operate only at childcare centres and schools. Since children with disabilities have fewer opportunities to attend school, many of them lack access to nutrition programmes. Older persons with disabilities are also usually excluded from receiving disability benefits owing programmes are targeted towards the poor. Social protection programmes target persons with disabilities either as a separate group through disability-specific programmes; by explicitly incorporating them within the targeting criteria of mainstream programmes; or by including them within groups at risk of poverty. Programmes can also either target all persons with disabilities, only certain age groups, or focus on a particular level or type of impairment. to their age, yet pensions and other available benefits may not fully address disability-related needs. Therefore, States must take into account the situation of persons with disabilities when targeting specific age groups.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Poverty
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Older persons
- Persons with disabilities
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
The right of persons with disabilities to social protection 2015, para. 34
- Paragraph text
- Social protection systems and programmes can only be effective if they address the specific needs of persons with disabilities throughout their life cycle: childhood, adolescence, working age and old age. This approach is aimed at removing existing barriers to accessing age-based benefits and at creating uninterrupted interventions and a smooth transition from one age group to another with regard to the receipt of benefits.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Person(s) affected
- Older persons
- Persons with disabilities
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
SRSG on violence against children: Annual report 2015, para. 63
- Paragraph text
- Younger children are particularly concerned about risks related to the online content they may encounter. As they get older, they become more concerned by contact and conduct risks linked to the use of social networking sites. Adolescents may face unusually high risks of exposure to harmful material and cyberbullying. A considerable proportion of the victims of online sexual abuse are children under the age of 12.
- Body
- Special Representative of the Secretary-General on violence against children
- Document type
- SRSG report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Violence
- Person(s) affected
- Adolescents
- Children
- Older persons
- Youth
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
SRSG on violence against children: Annual report 2015, para. 19
- Paragraph text
- Younger children are at high risk of violence, especially when they are placed in residential care. They are heavily dependent on caregivers for their development and well-being, and when neglected, injured or abused, they have less ability to speak up and seek support. If they are surrounded by violence and stress, they can suffer long-lasting emotional trauma and harm to their health, including irreversible damage to brain development.
- Body
- Special Representative of the Secretary-General on violence against children
- Document type
- SRSG report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Violence
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Older persons
- Youth
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Protection of and assistance to internally displaced persons 2015, para. 15
- Paragraph text
- Also expresses particular concern about the full range of threats, violations and abuses of human rights and violations of international humanitarian law experienced by many internally displaced persons, including women and children, who are particularly vulnerable or specifically targeted especially for sexual and gender-based violence and sexual exploitation and abuse, trafficking in persons, forced recruitment and abduction, encourages the continued commitment of the Special Rapporteur to promote action to address their particular assistance and protection needs, and calls upon States, in cooperation with international agencies and other stakeholders, to provide protection and assistance to internally displaced persons who are victims of the above-mentioned violations and abuses, as well as other groups of internally displaced persons with special needs, such as severely traumatized individuals, older persons and persons with disabilities, taking into account all relevant resolutions of the General Assembly and the Security Council;
- Body
- United Nations General Assembly
- Document type
- Resolution
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Humanitarian
- Movement
- Violence
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Older persons
- Persons on the move
- Persons with disabilities
- Women
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
The right of persons with disabilities to social protection 2015, para. 6
- Paragraph text
- Most social protection systems comprise contributory and non-contributory programmes, which can include universal benefit schemes, social insurance, social assistance and public employment programmes. Benefits can include child and family benefits, sickness and health-care benefits, disability benefits, old age and survivor benefits, employment injury benefits, unemployment benefits and employment guarantees, maternity benefits, income support and other benefits in cash and in kind. Social protection can be provided in many ways, with States establishing programmes according to their particular context and historical background.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Economic Rights
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Older persons
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
The right of persons with disabilities to social protection 2015, para. 31
- Paragraph text
- While the extra cost of disability varies greatly depending on the availability and financial accessibility of goods and services, researchers have calculated that it can amount to almost 50 per cent of an individual's income. A recent study on older persons with disabilities estimates that, on average, disability costs are approximately 65 per cent higher than the net weekly pre-disability household income. In addition, the economic cost of living with a disability includes foregone benefits or opportunity costs (e.g., lost income of individuals with disabilities or of family members who cannot work, or who work less, if the household includes one or more persons with disabilities), the impact of which depends on many factors, including the type of impairment, the household's socioeconomic status, the individual's work status and the policy context (e.g., the existence of disability benefits).
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Economic Rights
- Equality & Inclusion
- Person(s) affected
- Older persons
- Persons with disabilities
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Work of the mandate and priorities of the SR 2015, para. 47
- Paragraph text
- The cooperation between sectors can also be beneficial to facilitate access to preschool education, especially for children of families at risk, and enable community readiness to accept and integrate children and adults with disabilities into all of the everyday life of the community. This approach can also offer opportunities for adolescents and youth at risk to find alternatives to youth violence by engaging them in community programmes that support recreation centres for older persons, thus contributing to the reinforcement of intergenerational links and improving the quality of human relationships in general.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Education
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Adolescents
- Children
- Older persons
- Persons with disabilities
- Youth
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Comprehensive, rights-based and child-centred care, recovery and reintegration programmes 2015, para. 55
- Paragraph text
- Even though access to education, vocational training and life skills is an essential aspect of recovery and reintegration, child victims often face challenges in accessing them. In many cases, child victims have never attended school. In other cases, they are unable to enrol in school owing to discrimination or lack of a residence permit. Additional barriers include lack of identity documents, in particular birth certificates, loss of educational records, financial and geographical barriers, gender discrimination, bullying or teasing, corporal punishment, feeling uncomfortable in the school environment, difficulties with concentration, older children not wanting to be placed in classes with very young children and children needing to work. When education is provided in shelters, children with different abilities may be placed in the same class; studying may not lead to an accreditation and the quality of teaching may not be of the same standard as in formal schools.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the sale and sexual exploitation of children, including child prostitution, child pornography and other child sexual abuse material
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Education
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Older persons
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Different levels and types of services and the human rights to water and sanitation 2015, para. 8
- Paragraph text
- Sanitation facilities must be physically accessible for everyone within or in the immediate vicinity of each household, health or educational institution, public institutions and places, and the workplace (see A/HRC/12/24, para. 75). Sanitation facilities should be designed in a way that enables all users to physically access and use them, including, especially those with special access needs, such as children, persons with disabilities, elderly persons, pregnant women, parents accompanying children, chronically ill people and those accompanying them. Considering the needs of these individuals has implications for the entrance size, the interior space, handrails or other support mechanisms and the position of defecation, as well as other aspects.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the human rights to safe drinking water and sanitation
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Water & Sanitation
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Older persons
- Persons with disabilities
- Women
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Sustainable Development Summit: Transforming our world: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development 2015, para. 11.2
- Paragraph text
- By 2030, provide access to safe, affordable, accessible and sustainable transport systems for all, improving road safety, notably by expanding public transport, with special attention to the needs of those in vulnerable situations, women, children, persons with disabilities and older persons
- Body
- United Nations General Assembly
- Document type
- Declaration / Confererence outcome document
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Older persons
- Persons with disabilities
- Women
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Sustainable Development Summit: Transforming our world: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development 2015, para. 11.2
- Paragraph text
- By 2030, provide access to safe, affordable, accessible and sustainable transport systems for all, improving road safety, notably by expanding public transport, with special attention to the needs of those in vulnerable situations, women, children, persons with disabilities and older persons
- Body
- United Nations General Assembly
- Document type
- Declaration / Confererence outcome document
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Older persons
- Persons with disabilities
- Women
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015–2030 2015, para. 36a (iv)
- Paragraph text
- [When determining specific roles and responsibilities for stakeholders, and at the same time building on existing relevant international instruments, States should encourage the following actions on the part of all public and private stakeholders:] Civil society, volunteers, organized voluntary work organizations and community-based organizations to participate, in collaboration with public institutions, to, inter alia, provide specific knowledge and pragmatic guidance in the context of the development and implementation of normative frameworks, standards and plans for disaster risk reduction; engage in the implementation of local, national, regional and global plans and strategies; contribute to and support public awareness, a culture of prevention and education on disaster risk; and advocate for resilient communities and an inclusive and all-of-society disaster risk management that strengthen synergies across groups, as appropriate. On this point, it should be noted that: Older persons have years of knowledge, skills and wisdom, which are invaluable assets to reduce disaster risk, and they should be included in the design of policies, plans and mechanisms, including for early warning;
- Body
- United Nations General Assembly
- Document type
- Resolution
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Humanitarian
- Person(s) affected
- Older persons
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Sustainable Development Summit: Transforming our world: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development 2015, para. 2.2
- Paragraph text
- By 2030, end all forms of malnutrition, including achieving, by 2025, the internationally agreed targets on stunting and wasting in children under 5 years of age, and address the nutritional needs of adolescent girls, pregnant and lactating women and older persons
- Body
- United Nations General Assembly
- Document type
- Declaration / Confererence outcome document
- Topic(s)
- Food & Nutrition
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Adolescents
- Children
- Girls
- Older persons
- Women
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Sustainable Development Summit: Transforming our world: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development 2015, para. 11.7
- Paragraph text
- By 2030, provide universal access to safe, inclusive and accessible, green and public spaces, in particular for women and children, older persons and persons with disabilities
- Body
- United Nations General Assembly
- Document type
- Declaration / Confererence outcome document
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Older persons
- Persons with disabilities
- Women
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Sustainable Development Summit: Transforming our world: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development 2015, para. 2.2
- Paragraph text
- By 2030, end all forms of malnutrition, including achieving, by 2025, the internationally agreed targets on stunting and wasting in children under 5 years of age, and address the nutritional needs of adolescent girls, pregnant and lactating women and older persons
- Body
- United Nations General Assembly
- Document type
- Declaration / Confererence outcome document
- Topic(s)
- Food & Nutrition
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Adolescents
- Children
- Girls
- Older persons
- Women
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Sustainable Development Summit: Transforming our world: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development 2015, para. 11.7
- Paragraph text
- By 2030, provide universal access to safe, inclusive and accessible, green and public spaces, in particular for women and children, older persons and persons with disabilities
- Body
- United Nations General Assembly
- Document type
- Declaration / Confererence outcome document
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Older persons
- Persons with disabilities
- Women
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Independent Expert on the enjoyment of human rights of persons with albinism 2015, para. 12
- Paragraph text
- Expressing grave concern at the attacks and widespread violations against persons with albinism, including women and children, persons with disabilities and the elderly,
- Body
- United Nations Human Rights Council
- Document type
- Resolution
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Older persons
- Persons with disabilities
- Women
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Work of the mandate and priorities of the SR 2015, para. 30
- Paragraph text
- Other thematic reports have explored the enjoyment of the right to health and the underlying determinants, including water and sanitation, occupational health, the right to health in conflict, unhealthy foods, and the right to health of migrants, older persons and persons with psychosocial disabilities (including the key issue of informed consent).
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Water & Sanitation
- Person(s) affected
- Older persons
- Persons on the move
- Persons with disabilities
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
The right of persons with disabilities to social protection 2015, para. 11
- Paragraph text
- As a foundation for any national social protection system, these floors must ensure, at a minimum, access to essential health care (including maternity care) and to a basic level of income security for (a) children - including access to food, education, care and other necessary goods and services; (b) persons of active age who are unable to earn sufficient income, including persons with disabilities; and (c) older persons. The ILO recommendation concerning national floors of social protection, 2012 (No. 202) identifies as priority areas of attention the prevention and alleviation of poverty, vulnerability and social exclusion, and sets forth guidelines for implementing and monitoring national strategies that are participatory, country-led, sustainable and regularly reviewed. It also provides guidance to States on progressively providing higher levels of protection to as many people as possible and as soon as possible, reflecting States' economic and fiscal capacities. The recommendation also recognizes the principles of non-discrimination, gender equality and responsiveness to specific needs, and emphasizes that any initiative should support people with special needs and other potentially disadvantaged groups.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Health
- Poverty
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Older persons
- Persons with disabilities
- Year
- 2015
Paragraph
Second United Nations Decade for the Eradication of Poverty (2008-2017) 2014, para. 31
- Paragraph text
- Stresses the importance of implementing nationally appropriate social protection systems and measures for all, including social protection floors, and of achieving substantial coverage of the poor and the vulnerable, and encourages Member States to continue developing and implementing social protection floors based on national priorities, paying particular attention to women, children, older persons and persons with disabilities;
- Body
- United Nations General Assembly
- Document type
- Resolution
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Poverty
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Older persons
- Persons with disabilities
- Women
- Year
- 2014
Paragraph
Assessment of the status of implementation of the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development 2014, para. 5
- Paragraph text
- Urges Governments to develop, strengthen and implement effective strategies aimed at eradicating poverty and at promoting inclusive growth and sustainable development that address the needs of children, adolescents and youth, older persons, unemployed persons and persons with disabilities, as well as other disadvantaged and marginalized groups in both urban and rural areas;
- Body
- Commission on Population and Development
- Document type
- Declaration / Confererence outcome document
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Poverty
- Person(s) affected
- Adolescents
- Children
- Older persons
- Persons with disabilities
- Youth
- Year
- 2014
Paragraph
Eliminating discrimination against women in economic and social life with a focus on economic crisis 2014, para. 129
- Paragraph text
- [The Working Group recommends that States:] States should recognize, reduce and redistribute unpaid care work for children and other disabled or elderly dependents, by including unpaid care work in gross national product; allowing deduction of care expenses for tax purposes; improving the environmental and service infrastructure to reduce private care burdens; and synchronizing school time with working time;
- Body
- Working Group on the issue of discrimination against women in law and practice
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Older persons
- Persons with disabilities
- Women
- Year
- 2014
Paragraph
Eliminating discrimination against women in economic and social life with a focus on economic crisis 2014, para. 135
- Paragraph text
- [The Working Group recommends that States:] Ensure that women are not forced into early retirement; that women who have been economically active have access to adequate occupational pensions, including by introducing gender-specific compensatory measures such as accumulation of pension rights during maternity and childcare absences; unisex calculation of benefits; equalizing of mandatory retirement age and mandatory joint annuities.
- Body
- Working Group on the issue of discrimination against women in law and practice
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Economic Rights
- Equality & Inclusion
- Gender
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Older persons
- Women
- Year
- 2014
Paragraph
Vision of the mandate 2014, para. 8
- Paragraph text
- In its general comment No. 12 (1999) on the right to adequate food, the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights defined the necessary elements required for the right to food (i.e., the possibility either to feed oneself directly from productive land or other natural resources, or to purchase food) as follows: (a) availability; (b) accessibility; and (c) adequacy. Availability relates to the presence of sufficient food on the market to meet population needs. Accessibility refers to both physical and economic access: physical accessibility means that food should be accessible to all persons, including the physically vulnerable, such as children, older persons and persons with a disability; economic accessibility means that food should be affordable without compromising other basic needs, such as education, health care or housing. Adequacy requires that food satisfy dietary needs (factoring in a person's age, living conditions, health, occupation, sex and so on), be safe for human consumption, free of adverse substances, culturally acceptable and nutritious.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right to food
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Food & Nutrition
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Older persons
- Year
- 2014
Paragraph
Violence against women as a barrier to the effective realization of all human rights 2014, para. 44
- Paragraph text
- Violence against women is too often discussed in a theoretical vacuum that focuses only on interpersonal and structural inequalities between men and women, thereby excluding analysis on intra-gender inequalities. It is important to recognize the obstacles faced by women who experience multiple and intersecting forms of discrimination, for example women with disabilities, women who belong to ethnic or cultural minorities, women who live in poverty, women who live in rural areas, women who lack citizenship status and older women, among others. This increases the risk that some women will experience targeted, compounded or structural discrimination, in addition to gender-based violence (A/HRC/17/26, para. 17).
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on violence against women, its causes and consequences
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Gender
- Violence
- Person(s) affected
- Older persons
- Persons with disabilities
- Women
- Year
- 2014
Paragraph
Protection of the family 2014, para. 5
- Paragraph text
- Reaffirming that States have the primary responsibility to promote and protect the human rights and fundamental freedoms of all human beings, including women, children and older persons,
- Body
- United Nations Human Rights Council
- Document type
- Resolution
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Older persons
- Women
- Year
- 2014
Paragraph
Gender equality and the empowerment of women in natural disasters 2014, para. 12
- Paragraph text
- Stressing the importance of ensuring non-discriminatory participation and inclusion of women and girls, as well as vulnerable persons within groups such as children, older persons and persons with disabilities, in every phase of disaster risk reduction, response and recovery, through a people-centred and holistic approach that fully respects human rights, in order to build an inclusive society, supported by a social bond among people through community-based approaches, which promotes gender equality, the empowerment of women, social and economic inclusion and development, strengthens the resilience of communities and reduces social and economic vulnerabilities to disasters,
- Body
- Commission on the Status of Women
- Document type
- Resolution
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Humanitarian
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Girls
- Older persons
- Persons with disabilities
- Women
- Year
- 2014
Paragraph
Gender equality and the empowerment of women in natural disasters 2014, para. 8
- Paragraph text
- Stresses the importance of mainstreaming gender and disability perspectives in disaster risk management prior to disasters, in order to strengthen the resilience of communities and reduce social vulnerabilities to disasters, and recognizes the need for the inclusive participation and contribution of women, as well as vulnerable persons within groups such as children, older persons and persons with disabilities, to various processes, including the Third World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction and its preparatory process;
- Body
- Commission on the Status of Women
- Document type
- Resolution
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Gender
- Humanitarian
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Older persons
- Persons with disabilities
- Women
- Year
- 2014
Paragraph
Gender equality and the empowerment of women in natural disasters 2014, para. 1
- Paragraph text
- Bearing in mind that natural disasters affect human lives and living conditions thereafter, and have a more direct and adverse impact on women and girls, as well as vulnerable persons within groups such as children, older persons and persons with disabilities, and that natural disasters have different impacts on men and women, owing to social exclusion, gender inequality, gender stereotypes, different family responsibilities, discrimination against women and poverty, as well as the lack of equal access to adequate services, information, economic opportunities, entitlements, justice and safety,
- Body
- Commission on the Status of Women
- Document type
- Resolution
- Topic(s)
- Environment
- Equality & Inclusion
- Gender
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Girls
- Men
- Older persons
- Persons with disabilities
- Women
- Year
- 2014
Paragraph
The Kampala Convention: a road map for action 2014, para. 87f
- Paragraph text
- [The Special Rapporteur also recommends that States Members of the African Union:] Establish or strengthen the mechanisms promoting the engagement and participation of local authorities, communities, civil society organizations and the private sector in issues relating to internal displacement; community participation should involve those who are most vulnerable; in particular, potentially vulnerable groups, such as women, children, older persons and persons with disabilities, should be fully included in disaster prevention, response planning and implementation to ensure that their specific needs are addressed;
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the human rights of internally displaced persons
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Humanitarian
- Movement
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Older persons
- Persons on the move
- Persons with disabilities
- Women
- Year
- 2014
Paragraph
Eliminating discrimination against women in economic and social life with a focus on economic crisis 2014, para. 24
- Paragraph text
- Although women at all economic levels, in high-, middle- and low-income countries, suffer from discrimination, they have primary responsibility for the provision of care and are victims of violence. Women are not a homogenous group, and their experience varies greatly between regions, countries, socioeconomic classes within countries and their identities as members of minorities, migrants, girl children, older women, or on account of single parenthood, disabilities or sexual identity, among others.
- Body
- Working Group on the issue of discrimination against women in law and practice
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Girls
- Older persons
- Persons on the move
- Persons with disabilities
- Women
- Year
- 2014
Paragraph
The implementation of the right to social protection through the adoption of social protection floors 2014, para. 23d
- Paragraph text
- [At the international level, definitional issues continue to be controversial, especially in terms of whether social protection floors should be seen as a matter of human rights and whether they should be universal and unconditional. Before examining those dimensions, it is appropriate to take note of the approach reflected in ILO recommendation No. 202. As the culmination of many initiatives, both within and well beyond the ILO context, it has become the principal benchmark against which social protection floors should be designed, implemented and evaluated. The main elements of recommendation No. 202 are as follows:] Social protection floors should include at least basic social security guarantees for health care and also for income security for children, older persons and those unable to work, in particular in cases of sickness, unemployment, maternity, and disability;
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Older persons
- Year
- 2014
Paragraph
Human rights of migrants in the post-2015 development agenda 2014, para. 18
- Paragraph text
- In addition, ageing populations have caused a shift in demographics that has led to labour shortages in Italy and Japan, among others. In 2010, for the first time, more workers were retiring from the European labour market than joining it. By 2030, the labour shortage in Europe is likely to rise to 8.3 million workers. By 2020, other large economies, such as Canada, China, the Republic of Korea and the Russian Federation, will also face similar shortages. To overcome this challenge, employers will have to embrace diversity and rely on recruitment from a global labour force. Migrants of all skill levels will be required for many sectors of the economy.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the human rights of migrants
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Economic Rights
- Person(s) affected
- Older persons
- Persons on the move
- Year
- 2014
Paragraph
Challenges and achievements in the implementation of the Millennium Development Goals for women and girls 2014, para. 42ff
- Paragraph text
- [The Commission urges Governments, at all levels [...] to take the following actions:] [Realizing women's and girls' full enjoyment of all human rights]: Promote universal social protection across the life cycle, including for older women, that gives women and girls protection against risks and vulnerabilities and promotes their social inclusion and full enjoyment of all human rights;
- Body
- Commission on the Status of Women
- Document type
- CSW Agreed Conclusions / Declaration
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Gender
- Person(s) affected
- Girls
- Older persons
- Women
- Year
- 2014
Paragraph
Eliminating discrimination against women in economic and social life with a focus on economic crisis 2014, para. 96
- Paragraph text
- Need for care continues for toddlers and older children after the period of parental leave and also exists for the elderly and disabled. Responsibility for this needs to be redistributed through care services. At present, international minimum state obligations for provision of childcare services or for elderly and disabled services are lacking.
- Body
- Working Group on the issue of discrimination against women in law and practice
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Older persons
- Persons with disabilities
- Women
- Year
- 2014
Paragraph
Assessment of the status of implementation of the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development 2014, para. 23
- Paragraph text
- Encourages Governments to ensure that the social integration of older persons and the promotion and protection of their rights form an integral part of development policies at all levels;
- Body
- Commission on Population and Development
- Document type
- Declaration / Confererence outcome document
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Person(s) affected
- Older persons
- Year
- 2014
Paragraph
The Kampala Convention: a road map for action 2014, para. 48
- Paragraph text
- Article 9 (2) of the Convention requires States to provide special protection and assistance to internally displaced persons with special needs, including separated and unaccompanied children, female heads of household, expectant mothers, mothers with young children, persons with disabilities and older persons, and to take measures for family tracing and reunification.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the human rights of internally displaced persons
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Movement
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Families
- Older persons
- Persons on the move
- Persons with disabilities
- Year
- 2014
Paragraph
Women, the girl child and HIV/AIDS 2014, para. 7
- Paragraph text
- Urges Governments and other relevant stakeholders to address the challenges faced by older women in accessing HIV prevention, treatment, care and support, as well as in caring for people living with or affected by HIV and AIDS, including orphaned children in vulnerable situations;
- Body
- Commission on the Status of Women
- Document type
- Resolution
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Girls
- Older persons
- Women
- Year
- 2014
Paragraph
Challenges and achievements in the implementation of the Millennium Development Goals for women and girls 2014, para. 42gg
- Paragraph text
- [The Commission urges Governments, at all levels [...] to take the following actions:] [Realizing women's and girls' full enjoyment of all human rights]: Recognize that caregiving is a critical societal function and therefore emphasize the need to value, reduce and redistribute unpaid care work by prioritizing social protection policies, including accessible and affordable social services, including care services for children, persons with disabilities, older persons and persons living with HIV and AIDS, and all others in need of care; the development of infrastructure, including access to environmentally sound time- and energy-saving technologies; employment policies, including family-friendly policies with maternity and paternity leave and benefits; and the promotion of the equal sharing of responsibilities and chores between men and women in caregiving and domestic work to reduce the domestic work burden of women and girls and to change the attitudes that reinforce the division of labour based on gender;
- Body
- Commission on the Status of Women
- Document type
- CSW Agreed Conclusions / Declaration
- Topic(s)
- Gender
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Girls
- Men
- Older persons
- Women
- Year
- 2014
Paragraph
SRSG on violence against children: Annual report 2014, para. 81
- Paragraph text
- Older children are equally active, using ICTs to prepare schoolwork, search for information, socialize with friends, play games, watch the news and video clips online, and to communicate, including through e-mail and instant messaging.
- Body
- Special Representative of the Secretary-General on violence against children
- Document type
- SRSG report
- Topic(s)
- Education
- Equality & Inclusion
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Older persons
- Year
- 2014
Paragraph
Accessibility 2014, para. 30
- Paragraph text
- It is necessary to establish minimum standards for the accessibility of different services provided by public and private enterprises for persons with different types of impairments. Reference tools such as the ITU-T recommendation Telecommunications Accessibility Checklist for standardization activities (2006) and the Telecommunications accessibility guidelines for older persons and persons with disabilities (ITU-T recommendation F.790) should be mainstreamed whenever a new ICT-related standard is developed. That would allow the generalization of universal design in the development of standards. States parties should establish a legislative framework with specific, enforceable, time-bound benchmarks for monitoring and assessing the gradual modification and adjustment by private entities of their previously inaccessible services into accessible ones. States parties should also ensure that all newly procured goods and services are fully accessible for persons with disabilities. Minimum standards must be developed in close consultation with persons with disabilities and their representative organizations, in accordance with article 4, paragraph 3, of the Convention. The standards can also be developed in collaboration with other States parties and international organizations and agencies through international cooperation, in accordance with article 32 of the Convention. States parties are encouraged to join ITU study groups in the radiocommunication, standardization and development sectors of the Union, which actively work at mainstreaming accessibility in the development of international telecommunications and ICT standards and at raising industry's and governments' awareness of the need to increase access to ICT for persons with disabilities. Such cooperation can be useful in developing and promoting international standards that contribute to the interoperability of goods and services. In the field of communication-related services, States parties must ensure at least a minimum quality of services, especially for the relatively new types of services, such as personal assistance, sign language interpretation and tactile signing, aiming at their standardization.
- Body
- Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Older persons
- Persons with disabilities
- Year
- 2014
Paragraph
Reflection on work undertaken in first 14 years of the mandate; outline of opportunities and priorities 2014, para. 43
- Paragraph text
- Migrant workers have also made important advances in addressing discrimination in economic and social contexts, such as discrimination based on citizenship or immigration status, including "undocumented" status. Migrant domestic workers, migrant construction workers (for example, those working in extractive industries or large-scale infrastructure projects), children, older migrants and migrants in irregular situations are the most vulnerable, often lacking administrative or judicial remedies for their housing claims. Migrant workers and the members of their families frequently face housing conditions characterized by overcrowding, irregular or unregulated rental markets, high exposure to arbitrary changes in the cost of rent or essential services, and substandard living conditions, and can be subject to abuse, in particular when they are undocumented.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on adequate housing as a component of the right to an adequate standard of living
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Economic Rights
- Equality & Inclusion
- Movement
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Families
- Older persons
- Persons on the move
- Year
- 2014
Paragraph
Unhealthy foods, non-communicable diseases and the right to health 2014, para. 34
- Paragraph text
- Despite the common association of NCDs with older persons, children are also affected by the full range of NCDs, including heart disease, cancer and diabetes, and by their risk factors such as being overweight or obese. Diet-related NCDs and obesity affect even very young children. For instance, of the 500 million obese people worldwide in 2008, more than 42 million were children under the age of five, with 35 million of those children in developing countries.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Older persons
- Year
- 2014
Paragraph
The implementation of the right to social protection through the adoption of social protection floors 2014, para. 63
- Paragraph text
- The Social Protection Floor Initiative should also be a focus of attention for many of the special procedures mandate holders dealing with relevant issues. The initiative is of particular importance for those concerned with the rights of children, women, persons with disabilities, older persons and others.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Older persons
- Persons with disabilities
- Women
- Year
- 2014
Paragraph
Eliminating discrimination against women in economic and social life with a focus on economic crisis 2014, para. 134
- Paragraph text
- [The Working Group recommends that States:] Provide adequate non-contributory pensions, on an equal basis with men, as a core social and economic right;
- Body
- Working Group on the issue of discrimination against women in law and practice
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Economic Rights
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Older persons
- Women
- Year
- 2014
Paragraph
Preparations for and observance of the twentieth anniversary of the International Year of the Family 2013, para. 5
- Paragraph text
- Encourages Member States to promote policies that strengthen social integration and intergenerational solidarity through investment in family-centred support programmes, including social protection assistance, the prevention of the abuse of older persons, the protection of persons with disabilities, including in particular children with disabilities, and investments in cross-generational facilities and intergenerational learning, and volunteer programmes for youth, older persons, mentoring and job-sharing;
- Body
- United Nations General Assembly
- Document type
- Resolution
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Families
- Older persons
- Persons with disabilities
- Youth
- Year
- 2013
Paragraph
Unpaid care work and women's human rights 2013, para. 5
- Paragraph text
- Considering the limited length of this report and the mandate's focus on extreme poverty and human rights, no attempt is made to assess the extensive issue of human rights and care holistically. Rather, the report focuses specifically on the human rights of unpaid caregivers, in particular women living in poverty who provide unpaid care. Other relevant human rights implications of unpaid care work - such as tensions between care and unwanted dependency, abuses against persons with disabilities or older persons, and children's right to receive quality care - are not addressed, and only brief recommendations are made on paid domestic work. The Special Rapporteur hopes that this report will nevertheless encourage broader discussion of the human rights implication of care work.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Poverty
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Older persons
- Persons with disabilities
- Women
- Year
- 2013
Paragraph
Comprehensive prevention strategies against sale and sexual exploitation of children 2013, para. 35
- Paragraph text
- Children living in difficult conditions are likely to be tempted by the prospect of living independently, in a bigger city, and earning money and sending money home. Especially for older children, the search for a better life and economic opportunities can prompt risky choices. They may be more prone to accepting solicitations by brokers and potential employers or to migrating on their own, all of which expose them to trafficking and exploitative situations. Some children may also engage in risky behaviours, such as the consumption of drugs and alcohol and involvement in criminal gangs. Vulnerability is primarily relational. It is highly dependent on the child's situation in a given context, namely, environment, social norms and a variety of possible shocks. An individual child's characteristics only become a source of vulnerability if the child's environment fails to provide a protective framework or contributes to exposing the child to risk.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the sale and sexual exploitation of children, including child prostitution, child pornography and other child sexual abuse material
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Economic Rights
- Equality & Inclusion
- Violence
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Older persons
- Year
- 2013
Paragraph
Rights of linguistic minorities 2013, para. 81
- Paragraph text
- Minority communities are not homogenous and it is important to understand the challenges facing those, including women, children and the elderly, whose needs, perceptions and expectations may vary. Older people, who may be first-generation immigrants, may have stronger linguistic and cultural ties than young people who have been brought up and educated in their country of residence. They may face greater challenges in learning and adapting to the national language and require culturally sensitive, affordable and accessible assistance.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Older persons
- Persons on the move
- Women
- Youth
- Year
- 2013
Paragraph
Women in conflict prevention, conflict and post-conflict situations 2013, para. 51
- Paragraph text
- Women in rural areas are often disproportionately affected by the lack of adequate health and social services and inequitable access to land and natural resources. Similarly, their situation in conflict settings presents particular challenges with regard to their employment and reintegration, given that it is often exacerbated by the breakdown of services, resulting in food insecurity, inadequate shelter, deprivation of property and lack of access to water. Widows, women with disabilities, older women, single women without family support and female-headed households are especially vulnerable to increased economic hardship owing to their disadvantaged situation, and often lack employment and means and opportunities for economic survival.
- Body
- Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Humanitarian
- Person(s) affected
- Older persons
- Persons with disabilities
- Women
- Year
- 2013
Paragraph
The right of the child to rest, leisure, play, recreational activities, cultural life and the arts 2013, para. 38
- Paragraph text
- The exclusion of children has significant implications for their development as citizens. Shared experience of inclusive public spaces by different age groups serves to promote and strengthen civil society and encourage children to recognize themselves as citizens with rights. States are encouraged to promote dialogue between older and younger generations to encourage greater recognition of children as rights holders, and of the importance of networks of diverse community spaces in local areas or municipalities which can accommodate the play and recreational needs of all children.
- Body
- Committee on the Rights of the Child
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Older persons
- Year
- 2013
Paragraph
Women’s right and the right to food 2013, para. 40
- Paragraph text
- A first requirement is breaking the cycle of discrimination against women. This does not mean simply removing discriminatory provisions in the law, particularly as regards access to land or other productive resources, but it also requires that the structural causes of de facto discrimination be addressed. In particular, measures should be taken to relieve women of the burden imposed on them by the duties they assume in the "care" economy, and to improve their economic opportunities by better access to education and employment. Older women are particularly at risk of food insecurity as the cumulative effect of discrimination in accessing employment tends to leave older women with disproportionately lower (or no) incomes and pensions in later life; yet older women are expected to take care of other, more dependent members of the household.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right to food
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Food & Nutrition
- Person(s) affected
- Older persons
- Women
- Year
- 2013
Paragraph
Right to health in conflict situations 2013, para. 37
- Paragraph text
- States should give particular attention to persons rendered vulnerable by conflict, such as women, children, older persons, people with disabilities and displaced communities. This requires States to address marginalization arising from social, political and economic exclusion; discrimination against persons belonging to or perceived to belong to a specific community; vulnerability due to ill-health; and conflict strategies that deliberately render certain communities vulnerable. These factors, individually or in combination, may expose certain groups to multiple vulnerabilities and an increased risk of violation of their right to health. Recognizing the diverse vulnerabilities in different communities and empowering them to participate in all decision-making processes that affect their health enable States to fulfil their obligation under the right to health during conflict and also promotes a sustainable recovery from conflict.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Humanitarian
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Older persons
- Persons on the move
- Persons with disabilities
- Women
- Year
- 2013
Paragraph
Rights of migrant workers in an irregular situation and members of their families 2013, para. 46
- Paragraph text
- Detention can be particularly damaging to vulnerable categories of migrant workers, impacting negatively on their physical and mental health. These migrant workers and members of their families may include victims of torture, unaccompanied older persons, persons with disabilities and persons living with HIV/AIDS. Special measures should be taken to protect vulnerable people deprived of their liberty, including access to adequate health services, medication and counselling. Moreover, migrant workers with disabilities and members of their families with disabilities should be provided with "reasonable accommodation" to ensure their right to enjoy their human rights and fundamental freedoms on an equal basis with others.
- Body
- Committee on Migrant Workers
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Movement
- Person(s) affected
- Families
- Older persons
- Persons on the move
- Persons with disabilities
- Year
- 2013
Paragraph
Right to health in conflict situations 2013, para. 40
- Paragraph text
- The health needs of certain groups are often overlooked in conflict due to limited or suspended services. Older persons are more at risk in conflict due to poor mobility and are less able to travel to health facilities. They may be unable to carry heavy packages of food or containers of water, and often live without family support, which renders them vulnerable to higher levels of malnutrition and disease. Similarly, persons with disabilities, often abandoned by families fleeing conflict, may face greater health and safety risks. Many facilities are unable to provide children with disabilities with the treatment and care suited to their physical developmental needs, hampering their ability to enjoy their right to health.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Humanitarian
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Families
- Older persons
- Persons on the move
- Persons with disabilities
- Year
- 2013
Paragraph
Unpaid care work and women's human rights 2013, para. 87
- Paragraph text
- States must ensure that social protection systems do not create significant inequalities between those who have an interrupted participation in the labour force - due for example to parenthood, care for older persons or persons with disabilities - and those who do not. At a minimum, States must provide universal non-contributory social pensions that are sufficient for an adequate standard of living, and ensure that women living in poverty can access them. The introduction of carer credits into a country's pension or superannuation system can provide a method of explicitly recognizing those years spent providing unpaid care.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Poverty
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Person(s) affected
- Older persons
- Persons with disabilities
- Women
- Year
- 2013
Paragraph
Protection of and assistance to internally displaced persons 2013, para. 11
- Paragraph text
- Expresses particular concern about the grave problems faced by many internally displaced women and children, especially violence, exploitation and abuse, including sexual and gender-based violence and sexual exploitation and abuse, trafficking in persons, forced recruitment and abduction, and encourages the continued commitment of the Special Rapporteur to promote action to address their particular assistance, protection and development needs, as well as those of other groups with special needs, such as severely traumatized individuals, older persons and persons with disabilities, taking into account all relevant resolutions of the General Assembly and the Security Council;
- Body
- United Nations General Assembly
- Document type
- Resolution
- Topic(s)
- Movement
- Violence
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Older persons
- Persons on the move
- Persons with disabilities
- Women
- Year
- 2013
Paragraph
Mandate of the Special Rapporteur on the human rights of internally displaced persons 2013, para. 6
- Paragraph text
- Expresses particular concern at the grave problems faced by many internally displaced women and children, including violence and abuse, sexual and labour exploitation, trafficking in persons, forced recruitment and abduction, and notes the need to continue to pay more systematic and in-depth attention to their special assistance, protection and development needs, as well as those of other groups with special needs, such as older persons, persons with disabilities and severely traumatized individuals affected by internal displacement, taking into account the relevant resolutions of the General Assembly and the Human Rights Council;
- Body
- United Nations Human Rights Council
- Document type
- Resolution
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Movement
- Violence
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Older persons
- Persons on the move
- Persons with disabilities
- Women
- Year
- 2013
Paragraph
Elimination and prevention of all forms of violence against women and girls 2013, para. 34bb
- Paragraph text
- [The Commission urges governments, at all levels[...] to take the following actions:] [Strengthening implementation of legal and policy frameworks and accountability]: Adopt a life-cycle approach in efforts to end discrimination and violence against women and girls, and ensure that specific issues affecting older women are given greater visibility and attention, are addressed through the fulfilment of obligations under relevant international conventions and agreements and are included in national policies and programmes to prevent and eliminate violence against women;
- Body
- Commission on the Status of Women
- Document type
- CSW Agreed Conclusions / Declaration
- Topic(s)
- Gender
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Violence
- Person(s) affected
- Girls
- Older persons
- Women
- Year
- 2013
Paragraph
Women’s right and the right to food 2013, para. 22
- Paragraph text
- The right to social security, as guaranteed under the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, includes access to health care; benefits and services to persons without work-related income due to sickness, disability, maternity, employment injury, unemployment, old age or death of a family member, including contributory or non-contributory pensions for all older persons; family and child support sufficient to cover food, clothing, housing, water and sanitation; survivor and orphan benefits. The Special Rapporteur observes that, in many cases, the specific situation of women is not considered in the design and implementation of programmes. Three examples may serve to illustrate this.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right to food
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Older persons
- Women
- Year
- 2013
Paragraph
Unpaid care work and women's human rights 2013, para. 26
- Paragraph text
- Women, especially women living in poverty, face multiple, overlapping and variable obstacles to their enjoyment of rights due to care responsibilities they carry throughout their life cycle. Girls may be withdrawn from school or unable to achieve their full potential owing to care work in the home, restricting their future opportunities; during pregnancy or early childcare women are more likely to face employment loss or labour insecurity; while older women find themselves with lower levels of retirement savings because of caring responsibilities. These life-cycle risks have a profound effect on the enjoyment of their rights as well as on the inter-generational transmission of poverty. If women are unable to enjoy a particular human right on an equal basis with men, this is unequivocally a violation of the right in question.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Economic Rights
- Poverty
- Person(s) affected
- Girls
- Older persons
- Women
- Year
- 2013
Paragraph
Integration of a human rights-based approach in measures to discourage the demand that fosters all forms of exploitation of persons, especially women and children, and which leads to human trafficking 2013, para. 17
- Paragraph text
- In the case of services provided by trafficked persons, the person who purchases or uses such services as sexual, care for the elderly or infirm, or domestic work generally comes into direct contact with the person being exploited. In contrast, consumers seeking cheap products generally have no personal contact and are often situated in a different country altogether. However, in both cases it is conceivable that the users of the services provided are unaware that those involved in producing goods or providing services for them have been trafficked or subjected to illegal force or coercion.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on trafficking in persons, especially in women and children
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Economic Rights
- Equality & Inclusion
- Violence
- Person(s) affected
- Older persons
- Year
- 2013
Paragraph
Elimination and prevention of all forms of violence against women and girls 2013, para. 34oo
- Paragraph text
- [The Commission urges governments, at all levels[...] to take the following actions:] [Addressing structural and underlying causes and risk factors so as to prevent violence against women and girls]: Develop and implement gender-sensitive policies, strategies, programmes and measures which promote greater understanding and recognition that caregiving is a critical societal function, and encourage the equal sharing of responsibilities and chores between men and women in caregiving, including for persons with disabilities, older persons and people living with HIV, as well as for child-rearing, parenting and domestic work; and also work to change attitudes that reinforce the division of labour based on gender, in order to promote shared family responsibility for work in the home and reduce the domestic work burden for women and girls;
- Body
- Commission on the Status of Women
- Document type
- CSW Agreed Conclusions / Declaration
- Topic(s)
- Gender
- Violence
- Person(s) affected
- Girls
- Men
- Older persons
- Women
- Year
- 2013
Paragraph
The right of the child to have his or her best interest taken as a primary consideration 2013, para. 44
- Paragraph text
- The evolving capacities of the child (art. 5) must be taken into consideration when the child's best interests and right to be heard are at stake. The Committee has already established that the more the child knows, has experienced and understands, the more the parent, legal guardian or other persons legally responsible for him or her have to transform direction and guidance into reminders and advice, and later to an exchange on an equal footing. Similarly, as the child matures, his or her views shall have increasing weight in the assessment of his or her best interests. Babies and very young children have the same rights as all children to have their best interests assessed, even if they cannot express their views or represent themselves in the same way as older children. States must ensure appropriate arrangements, including representation, when appropriate, for the assessment of their best interests; the same applies for children who are not able or willing to express a view.
- Body
- Committee on the Rights of the Child
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Families
- Older persons
- Year
- 2013
Paragraph
Preparations for and observance of the twentieth anniversary of the International Year of the Family 2013, para. 7
- Paragraph text
- Further encourages Member States to promote the delivery of family-centred benefits, such as housing assistance, child benefits, old-age pensions, cash transfers, social protection, social transfer programmes and other relevant measures to reduce family poverty and prevent the intergenerational transfer of poverty;
- Body
- United Nations General Assembly
- Document type
- Resolution
- Topic(s)
- Poverty
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Families
- Older persons
- Year
- 2013
Paragraph
Mapping and framing security of tenure 2013, para. 12
- Paragraph text
- Among all these, women, who often have to depend on a man to gain access to housing and secure tenure, are particularly vulnerable. Single and older women, in particular, too often do not have the legal empowerment, education or financial resources to defend their tenure.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on adequate housing as a component of the right to an adequate standard of living
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Economic Rights
- Person(s) affected
- Older persons
- Women
- Year
- 2013
Paragraph
Unpaid care work and women's human rights 2013, para. 47
- Paragraph text
- Ensuring the enjoyment of rights of other members of the population - such as older persons, children and persons with disabilities - will also prove beneficial to their caregivers, by alleviating and redistributing intensive care needs. In this regard, inter alia, States are required to provide physical as well as psychological rehabilitative measures aimed at maintaining the functionality and autonomy of older persons; and attention and care for chronically and terminally ill persons.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Older persons
- Persons with disabilities
- Year
- 2013
Paragraph
Unpaid care work and women's human rights 2013, para. 50
- Paragraph text
- Even those women who are able to combine unpaid care work with formal jobs are disadvantaged; their work histories and social security contributions are more likely than those of men to be interrupted by periods of full-time caregiving, and therefore they are less likely to receive an adequate pension on retirement. Thus, the gendered division of unpaid care work is one of the key reasons why older women are more likely to live in poverty than their male counterparts.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Economic Rights
- Gender
- Poverty
- Person(s) affected
- Older persons
- Women
- Year
- 2013
Paragraph
Unpaid care work and women's human rights 2013, para. 3
- Paragraph text
- For the purposes of this report, unpaid care work includes domestic work (meal preparation, cleaning, washing clothes, water and fuel collection) and direct care of persons (including children, older persons and persons with disabilities, as well as able-bodied adults) carried out in homes and communities.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Older persons
- Persons with disabilities
- Year
- 2013
Paragraph
The right of the child to rest, leisure, play, recreational activities, cultural life and the arts 2013, para. 39
- Paragraph text
- Balancing risk and safety: Fears over the physical and human risks to which children are exposed within their local environments are leading, in some parts of the world, to increasing levels of monitoring and surveillance, with consequent constraints on their freedom to play and opportunities for recreation. In addition, children themselves can pose a threat to other children in their play and recreational activities - for example, bullying, abuse of younger children by older children and group pressure to engage in high risk-taking. While children must not be exposed to harm in the realization of their rights under article 31, some degree of risk and challenge is integral to play and recreational activities and is a necessary component of the benefits of these activities. A balance is needed between, on the one hand, taking action to reduce unacceptable hazards in children's environment, such as closing local streets to traffic, improving street lighting or creating safe boundaries for school playgrounds, and on the other hand, informing, equipping and empowering children to take the necessary precautions to enhance their own safety. The best interests of the child and listening to children's experiences and concerns should be mediating principles for determining the level of risk to which children can be exposed.
- Body
- Committee on the Rights of the Child
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Education
- Equality & Inclusion
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Older persons
- Year
- 2013
Paragraph
Mandate of the Special Rapporteur on the human rights of internally displaced persons 2013, para. 14d
- Paragraph text
- [Requests the Special Rapporteur on the human rights of internally displaced persons, in carrying out his or her mandate:] To integrate a gender perspective throughout the work of the mandate, and to give special consideration to the human rights of internally displaced women and children, as well as of other groups with special needs, such as older persons, persons with disabilities and severely traumatized individuals affected by internal displacement, and their particular assistance, protection and development needs;
- Body
- United Nations Human Rights Council
- Document type
- Resolution
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Gender
- Humanitarian
- Movement
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Older persons
- Persons on the move
- Persons with disabilities
- Women
- Year
- 2013
Paragraph
Unpaid care work and women's human rights 2013, para. 51
- Paragraph text
- In contexts where the majority of the population is not formally employed and does not benefit from contributory social insurance, social assistance schemes such as social transfers are critical to ensure sufficient income for an adequate standard of living, and to purchase the necessary inputs into caregiving. Under human rights law, States parties are obliged to establish non-contributory schemes in order to uphold this right for the most disadvantaged and marginalized groups. For example, social pensions often play a critical role in ensuring that women receive adequate protection in old age (see A/HRC/14/31).
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Economic Rights
- Equality & Inclusion
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Person(s) affected
- Older persons
- Women
- Year
- 2013
Paragraph
Unpaid care work and women's human rights 2013, para. 48
- Paragraph text
- The right to social security provides that all persons have the right to equal enjoyment of adequate protection from social risks and contingencies, through contributory (social insurance) or non-contributory (social assistance) schemes, without discrimination of any kind. Social security benefits such as old age pensions, child benefits and unemployment benefits, while not directly providing care, can play an important role in helping households purchase essential inputs (food, school materials, and health services) or to pay for care services where necessary.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Economic Rights
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Older persons
- Year
- 2013
Paragraph
Unpaid care work and women's human rights 2013, para. 67
- Paragraph text
- Women's migration generally does not prompt changes in the sexual division of labour; the extra unpaid care responsibilities usually fall to older women and girls within the household or community. These global care chains reflect and, in some ways, exacerbate enormous inequalities in terms of class, gender and ethnicity. The people who make up the chains, from the first to the last link, are almost exclusively female, often belong to an ethnic minority in their destination country, and generally cannot rely on State support for their care responsibilities.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Economic Rights
- Gender
- Movement
- Person(s) affected
- Girls
- Older persons
- Women
- Year
- 2013
Paragraph
Policies and programmes involving youth 2013, para. 17
- Paragraph text
- Recognizes the importance of strengthening intergenerational partnerships and solidarity among generations, and in this regard calls upon Member States to promote opportunities for voluntary, constructive and regular interaction between young people and older generations in the family, the workplace and society at large;
- Body
- United Nations General Assembly
- Document type
- Resolution
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Older persons
- Youth
- Year
- 2013
Paragraph
Elimination and prevention of all forms of violence against women and girls 2013, para. 26
- Paragraph text
- The Commission recognizes the vulnerability of older women and the particular risk of violence they face, and stresses the urgent need to address violence and discrimination against them, especially in the light of the growing proportion of older people in the world's population.
- Body
- Commission on the Status of Women
- Document type
- CSW Agreed Conclusions / Declaration
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Gender
- Violence
- Person(s) affected
- Girls
- Older persons
- Women
- Year
- 2013
Paragraph
Human rights of internally displaced persons 2012, para. 13
- Paragraph text
- Expresses particular concern at the grave problems faced by many internally displaced women and children, including violence and abuse, sexual exploitation, trafficking in persons, forced recruitment and abduction, and encourages the continued commitment of the Special Rapporteur to promote action to address their particular assistance, protection and development needs, as well as those of other groups with special needs, such as severely traumatized individuals, older persons and persons with disabilities, taking into account all relevant United Nations resolutions;
- Body
- United Nations Human Rights Council
- Document type
- Resolution
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Movement
- Violence
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Older persons
- Persons on the move
- Persons with disabilities
- Women
- Year
- 2012
Paragraph
Detention of migrants in an irregular situation 2012, para. 72j
- Paragraph text
- [The Special Rapporteur calls on States to consider progressively abolishing the administrative detention of migrants. In the meantime, Governments should take measures to ensure respect for the human rights of migrants in the context of detention, including by:] Taking into due consideration the particular vulnerabilities of specific groups of migrants including victims of torture, unaccompanied older migrants, migrants with a mental or physical disability and migrants living with HIV/AIDS. Detention of migrants belonging to vulnerable categories and in need of special assistance should be only allowed as a measure of last resort, and they should be provided with adequate medical and psychological assistance;
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the human rights of migrants
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Movement
- Person(s) affected
- Older persons
- Persons on the move
- Year
- 2012
Paragraph
Violence against women with disabilities 2012, para. 92
- Paragraph text
- The 1948 American Declaration of the Rights and Duties of Man and the 1969 American Convention on Human Rights are the relevant instruments for the Americas. The Additional Protocol to the American Convention on Human Rights in the Area of Economic, Social and Cultural Rights of 1988 focuses on the obligation of States to promote social, economic, and cultural human rights. It includes the right to social security, as a protection from the consequences of old age and of disability, which prevents a person from securing the means for a dignified and decent existence.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on violence against women, its causes and consequences
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Person(s) affected
- Older persons
- Year
- 2012
Paragraph
Rio+20 – Conference on Sustainable Development: The future we want 2012, para. 136
- Paragraph text
- We emphasize the importance of increasing the number of metropolitan regions, cities and towns that are implementing policies for sustainable urban planning and design in order to respond effectively to the expected growth of urban populations in the coming decades. We note that sustainable urban planning benefits from the involvement of multiple stakeholders as well as from full use of information and sex-disaggregated data, including on demographic trends, income distribution and informal settlements. We recognize the important role of municipal governments in setting a vision for sustainable cities, from the initiation of city planning through to revitalization of older cities and neighbourhoods, including by adopting energy efficiency programmes in building management and developing sustainable, locally appropriate transport systems. We further recognize the importance of mixed-use planning and of encouraging non-motorized mobility, including by promoting pedestrian and cycling infrastructures.
- Body
- United Nations General Assembly
- Document type
- Declaration / Confererence outcome document
- Topic(s)
- Environment
- Equality & Inclusion
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Person(s) affected
- Older persons
- Year
- 2012
Paragraph
Violence against women with disabilities 2012, para. 84
- Paragraph text
- In general recommendation No. 24, the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women also discusses issues of concern to women with disabilities. The Committee recognizes that societal factors may be determinative of health status and that special attention should be given to the health needs and rights of women with disabilities, among other vulnerable groups. General recommendation No. 27 pertains to the protection of the human rights of older women and addresses women with disabilities by discussing the double discrimination and gender stereotyping older women with disabilities face, especially in regard to their access to education, health-care services, legal services and their increased susceptibility to violence. General recommendation No. 28 focuses on the core obligations of States parties under article 2 and discusses the enhanced vulnerability for discrimination that women with disabilities face in civil and penal laws, regulations and customary laws and practice. The Declaration on the Elimination of Violence against Women 1993 (see General Assembly resolution 48/104) also makes reference to violence and women with disabilities.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on violence against women, its causes and consequences
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Older persons
- Persons with disabilities
- Women
- Year
- 2012
Paragraph
Stigma and the realization of the human rights to water and sanitation 2012, para. 74
- Paragraph text
- While the focus in combating stigma must be on bringing about societal change and changes in attitude, technical measures are still crucial to ensure accessibility, for instance for persons with disabilities or older persons, as are public health measures to prevent and cure neglected tropical diseases. Sanitation systems should be adjusted to avoid manual sanitation work. The provision of adequate facilities is crucial for menstrual hygiene management, since it is often the lack of a safe and clean space that prevents women and girls from exercising proper hygiene.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the human rights to safe drinking water and sanitation
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Water & Sanitation
- Person(s) affected
- Girls
- Older persons
- Persons with disabilities
- Women
- Year
- 2012
Paragraph
Violence against women with disabilities 2012, para. 30
- Paragraph text
- Older women experience disability more frequently as they age, and older women with disabilities are at particularly high risk of violence. Older women face multiple forms of discrimination, with gender, disability and age compounded by other forms of discrimination. General recommendation No. 27 of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women, on older women and protection of their human rights, recognizes that, inter alia, gender stereotyping and traditional and customary practices can have harmful impacts on all areas of the lives of older women, in particular those with disabilities, and can result in physical violence as well as psychological, verbal and financial abuse.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on violence against women, its causes and consequences
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Gender
- Person(s) affected
- Older persons
- Persons with disabilities
- Women
- Year
- 2012
Paragraph
Gender equality and the empowerment of women in natural disasters 2012, para. 5
- Paragraph text
- Stressing the importance of taking equally into account the specific needs of women and vulnerable people within groups such as children, older persons and persons with disabilities in every phase of disaster risk reduction, response and recovery, ensuring equal opportunities for their participation in these processes, calling for a people-centred, holistic approach, in order to build an inclusive society, supported by a social bond among people through community-based approaches, which promotes gender equality and the empowerment of women, strengthens the resilience of communities and reduces social vulnerabilities to disasters,
- Body
- Commission on the Status of Women
- Document type
- Resolution
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Humanitarian
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Older persons
- Persons with disabilities
- Women
- Year
- 2012
Paragraph
Gender equality and the empowerment of women in natural disasters 2012, para. 1
- Paragraph text
- Bearing in mind that natural disasters affect human lives and living conditions thereafter, and often have a more direct and adverse impact on women, as well as vulnerable people within groups such as children, older persons and persons with disabilities, and that natural disasters often have different impacts on men and women in regard to the associated risks and vulnerabilities, due to gender inequality, gender stereotypes and discrimination against women, including the lack of equal access to adequate information and economic opportunities, poverty and social exclusion, safety and different family responsibilities,
- Body
- Commission on the Status of Women
- Document type
- Resolution
- Topic(s)
- Environment
- Equality & Inclusion
- Gender
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Men
- Older persons
- Persons with disabilities
- Women
- Year
- 2012
Paragraph
Integrating non-discrimination and equality into the post-2015 development agenda for water, sanitation and hygiene 2012, para. 67
- Paragraph text
- Evidence shows that women and girls, older people, people with chronic illnesses and persons with disabilities often face particular barriers in accessing water and sanitation, and that these barriers are experienced both within the household and when accessing community and public facilities. Global monitoring data have demonstrated that women and girls shoulder the burden of collecting household water, restricting their time for other activities, including education and work. Moreover, when households share sanitation facilities, women and girls may be required by social norms concerning privacy to avoid using the facilities except during hours of darkness, when their personal safety may be at increased risk. When sanitation and water facilities are not designed with them in mind, older persons and those with physical access constraints, including disabilities may face obstacles to accessing and using these facilities. Such discrimination based on sex/gender, age, disability, and health status occurs across the globe and in all strata of society.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the human rights to safe drinking water and sanitation
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Water & Sanitation
- Person(s) affected
- Girls
- Older persons
- Persons with disabilities
- Women
- Year
- 2012
Paragraph
Integrating non-discrimination and equality into the post-2015 development agenda for water, sanitation and hygiene 2012, para. 69
- Paragraph text
- Much has been learned through questions in household surveys about intrahousehold inequalities related to water collection. Much less is known about such inequalities concerning sanitation and hygiene, and about water, sanitation and hygiene-related household inequalities concerning age and disability. Given that not all households share resources and assets equally among their members and that some may be relatively more privileged than others, commanding more income and accessing greater consumption opportunities, it is imperative to accurately disaggregate intrahousehold data regarding household resources such as water and sanitation. There is evidence that intrahousehold inequality and poverty may disproportionately affect women, persons with disabilities, children and older persons. Targets and indicators should be phrased to require monitoring of intrahousehold inequalities. They should shine a powerful light on areas that need change and ensure that monitoring is in line with the human rights imperative to overcome inequalities wherever they occur.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the human rights to safe drinking water and sanitation
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Poverty
- Water & Sanitation
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Older persons
- Persons with disabilities
- Women
- Year
- 2012
Paragraph
Access to justice for people living in poverty 2012, para. 40
- Paragraph text
- Persons living in poverty, particularly those with disabilities or older persons, may experience additional obstacles in accessing justice when courts and police stations are not appropriately designed, and when court processes are not adaptable. For example, many judicial systems are heavily reliant on paper forms and written submissions, and on the presentation of oral evidence. Often, police stations and courts are not wheelchair accessible. Where measures are not in place to enable judicial bodies to adapt their processes for those in need, including by providing aid to defendants, claimants, witnesses and jurors who require it, such persons are excluded from accessing and benefiting from the justice system.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Poverty
- Person(s) affected
- Older persons
- Persons with disabilities
- Year
- 2012
Paragraph
Stigma and the realization of the human rights to water and sanitation 2012, para. 57
- Paragraph text
- Article 17 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights goes on to guarantee that "everyone has the right to the protection of the law against such interference or attacks", thus including an explicit guarantee of protection against interference by private parties. This results in a positive obligation of States parties to protect privacy against interference and attacks by others, which has been found to be of particular relevance, for instance, in relation to persons deprived of personal liberty, older persons, persons with disabilities or transgendered persons. This provision is of enormous significance in the context of combatting stigma. It clearly demonstrates that States' obligations reach into the private sphere. They cannot dismiss stigma as a social phenomenon over which States have no influence. Instead, they have positive obligations that extend into this realm, requiring States, for instance, to take measures that enable women and girls to manage their menstrual hygiene needs in a manner that protects their privacy and dignity.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the human rights to safe drinking water and sanitation
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Gender
- Person(s) affected
- Girls
- Older persons
- Persons with disabilities
- Women
- Year
- 2012
Paragraph
Access to justice for people living in poverty 2012, para. 38
- Paragraph text
- Such factors often act as a persuasive deterrent against seeking redress from judicial or adjudicatory mechanisms, or may indeed represent an insurmountable obstacle for the poorest and most marginalized. This is especially so for those who have limited mobility, such as older persons or persons with disabilities, or those for whom travel is more difficult or dangerous, including women and children.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Movement
- Poverty
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Older persons
- Persons with disabilities
- Women
- Year
- 2012
Paragraph
Stigma and the realization of the human rights to water and sanitation 2012, para. 27
- Paragraph text
- Some older persons might also face stigma, in particular when suffering dementia or other mental illnesses and requiring care, including for their sanitation and hygiene needs. Incontinence is not uncommon, but usually not openly addressed. Again, stigma can contribute to making the particular needs of older persons invisible, preventing the care they require and isolating them.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the human rights to safe drinking water and sanitation
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Water & Sanitation
- Person(s) affected
- Older persons
- Year
- 2012
Paragraph
Detention of migrants in an irregular situation 2012, para. 53
- Paragraph text
- In the Special Rapporteur's view, the obligation to always consider alternatives to detention (non-custodial measures) before resorting to detention should be established by law. Detailed guidelines and proper training should be developed for judges and other State officials, such as police, border and immigration officers, in order to ensure a systematic application of non-custodial measures instead of detention. Non-custodial measures should be subject to legal review, and migrants who are subject to non-custodial measures should have access to legal counsel. When considering alternatives to detention, States must take full account of individual circumstances and those with particular vulnerabilities, including pregnant women, children, victims of trafficking, victims of torture, older persons and persons with disabilities. The least intrusive and restrictive measure possible in the individual case should be applied. Legislation should establish a sliding scale of measures from least to most restrictive, allowing for an analysis of proportionality and necessity for every measure. Some non-custodial measures may be so restrictive, either by themselves or in combination with other measures, that they amount to alternative forms of detention, instead of alternatives to detention. When considering whether the measures applied amount to detention, the cumulative impact of the restrictions as well as the degree and intensity of each of them should also be assessed.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the human rights of migrants
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Movement
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Older persons
- Persons on the move
- Persons with disabilities
- Women
- Year
- 2012
Paragraph
Gender-related killings of women 2012, para. 37
- Paragraph text
- Although in the majority of the cases younger women are at higher risk of sorcery/witchcraft violence, a study has found that in some parts of Africa, older women are more vulnerable to sorcery-related femicide due to their economic dependence on others, or the property rights that they hold-and which younger members of the family want to inherit. Also, if women are perceived as dangerous and a threat to men, their labelling as witches, and consequently their destruction, is then seen as justified.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on violence against women, its causes and consequences
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Harmful Practices
- Violence
- Person(s) affected
- Men
- Older persons
- Women
- Year
- 2012
Paragraph
Servile marriage 2012, para. 78
- Paragraph text
- According to Save the Children in the 2004 edition of its annual publication, State of the World's Mothers, once born, children of girl brides are twice as likely to die before the age of 1 year as the children of a woman in her twenties. If they survive, the children are more likely than those born to older mothers to have poorer health care and inadequate nutrition as a result of the mother's poor feeding behaviour.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of slavery, including its causes and consequences
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Food & Nutrition
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Girls
- Older persons
- Women
- Year
- 2012
Paragraph
Servile marriage 2012, para. 83
- Paragraph text
- World Health Organization research also shows that women and girls with low levels of education are at a greater risk of violence than better educated and older women. The higher the levels of schooling for girls, the less they are at risk of servile marriage. In the United Republic of Tanzania, women who attend secondary school are 92 per cent less likely to be married before the age of 18 years than women who attend only primary school.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of slavery, including its causes and consequences
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Education
- Person(s) affected
- Girls
- Older persons
- Women
- Year
- 2012
Paragraph
Human rights and extreme poverty 2012, para. 9
- Paragraph text
- Stressing that special attention should be given to children, older persons, persons with disabilities and indigenous peoples who are living in extreme poverty,
- Body
- United Nations General Assembly
- Document type
- Resolution
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Poverty
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Ethnic minorities
- Older persons
- Persons with disabilities
- Year
- 2012
Paragraph
A more systematized and equitable response to internally displaced persons outside camps 2012, para. 39
- Paragraph text
- Despite these challenges, host communities are often the key to ensuring essential assistance services to IDPs, to the work of humanitarian organizations, and to finding durable solutions. They are most often the "first responders" to a crisis, and may welcome, support and assist IDPs upon their arrival. But as displacement becomes protracted, tensions can often result due to competition over scarce resources, employment opportunities, or from underlying religious, ethnic, cultural or other differences - frequently related to or exacerbated by the conflict causing the displacement in the first place. Without IDP frameworks and institutions in place to respond to the particular context and needs of IDPs living within these communities, these tensions and competition over resources and services will usually have a disproportionate impact on the most vulnerable IDP groups, such as female-headed households, children and older persons, and leave them exposed to human rights violations, exploitation and poverty.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the human rights of internally displaced persons
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Humanitarian
- Movement
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Older persons
- Persons on the move
- Year
- 2012
Paragraph
Detention of migrants in an irregular situation 2012, para. 43
- Paragraph text
- Detention can be particularly damaging to vulnerable categories of migrants, including victims of torture, unaccompanied older persons, persons with a mental or physical disability, and persons living with HIV/AIDS. The UNHCR guidelines provide that, given the very negative effects of detention on the psychological well-being of those detained, active consideration of possible alternatives should precede any order to detain asylum-seekers belonging to vulnerable categories. The Special Rapporteur is of the opinion that the same principle should apply to vulnerable migrants. In the event that individuals falling within these categories are detained, it is advisable that this should only be on the certification of a qualified medical practitioner that detention will not adversely affect their health and well-being. In addition, there must be regular follow up and support by skilled personnel. They must also have access to adequate health services, medication and counselling.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the human rights of migrants
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Health
- Movement
- Person(s) affected
- Older persons
- Persons on the move
- Year
- 2012
Paragraph
Access to justice for people living in poverty 2012, para. 64
- Paragraph text
- Often, the criteria which govern access to State-funded legal assistance are arbitrary and overly restrictive, and rely heavily on means-testing to determine eligibility. Means-testing is often inaccurate and is unable to take account of the wealth distribution within a household, disadvantaging those who have restricted access to household wealth, such as women and older persons. Furthermore, it fails to realistically reflect the options faced by persons living in poverty; for example, it may disqualify individuals if they have the option of disposing of household assets, even if those assets are used to produce food and generate subsistence income for the household.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Poverty
- Person(s) affected
- Older persons
- Women
- Year
- 2012
Paragraph
Access to justice for people living in poverty 2012, para. 66
- Paragraph text
- Even where legal aid services are available and adequately funded, discrimination in their design and implementation impedes certain individuals and groups from accessing them. For example, some rely on telephone intakes or written applications, failing to take into account the needs and constraints of persons with disabilities, older persons or those with lower levels of literacy. Inadequate or piecemeal support directed towards community-based paralegal programmes also restricts an important and more affordable source of legal assistance. Although all aspects of the legal profession should be regulated, excessive restrictions on the operation of paralegals, or lack of official recognition of their role, can also hamper the support they provide to persons living in poverty.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Poverty
- Person(s) affected
- Older persons
- Persons with disabilities
- Year
- 2012
Paragraph
The realization of the right to health of older persons 2011, para. 12
- Paragraph text
- The Special Rapporteur concedes that in order to be fully successful the right-to-health approach to older persons should be accompanied by a paradigm shift with respect to how society perceives ageing and older persons. The World Health Organization defines ageing as the "process of progressive change in the biological, psychological and social structure of individuals". Throughout the course of one's life, the human body's functional capacity declines from early adulthood to old age. However, increases in longevity also mean that older persons may stay active for a longer part of their lives than ever before, both in terms of occupational and non-occupational activities. Encouraging older persons to remain physically, socially and economically active for as long as possible will have benefits not only for the individual, but for society as a whole.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Older persons
- Year
- 2011
Paragraph
The realization of the right to health of older persons 2011, para. 44
- Paragraph text
- Long-term care includes a variety of services (medical or otherwise) that help meet both the medical and non-medical needs of people with a chronic illness or disability who cannot care for themselves for long periods of time. Long-term care is manifested in the provision of help with daily tasks such as bathing, dressing up, cooking and so on. According to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), long-term care can be defined as "a range of services for people who depend on ongoing help with the activities of daily living caused by chronic conditions of physical or mental disability". In the context of the right to health, long-term care must also be understood as the intervention of skilled practitioners to provide assistance in dealing with syndromes associated with chronic diseases or disabilities impeding personal capacities. They are, nonetheless, medical conditions affecting older persons disproportionately.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Older persons
- Persons with disabilities
- Year
- 2011
Paragraph
The realization of the right to health of older persons 2011, para. 59
- Paragraph text
- The Special Rapporteur is of the view that a holistic approach to health should also address the process of dying. While this report does not consider issues of patient autonomy in respect of deciding to end life, it is nonetheless necessary to ensure that patients be able to make autonomous, informed decisions regarding the quality of health during the process of dying. That includes choices about access to adequate pain relief and other necessary interventions, location of death, and the ability to refuse treatment designed to prolong life when it is not desired by the patient. This requires clear, candid and non-judgmental discussion with medical practitioners, who should be adequately trained to deal with these delicate issues in order to enable older persons to "die with dignity", as required from a human rights prospective.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Older persons
- Year
- 2011
Paragraph
The realization of the right to health of older persons 2011, para. 60
- Paragraph text
- The Special Rapporteur believes that the end of life of persons forms an integral part of their life. Consequently, he stresses that older persons must be treated with as much dignity during the process of dying as they should have been in the earlier phases of their life course. Palliative care requires important funding and mobilisation of numerous actors and stakeholders within the medical sector, and it is absolutely crucial in order to prolong the lives of older persons affected by life-threatening diseases and to ensure their death in dignity.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Older persons
- Year
- 2011
Paragraph
The realization of the right to health of older persons 2011, para. 62
- Paragraph text
- Health information needs to be of the highest quality, freely available on a non-discriminatory basis, accessible to the individual's particular communication needs (including special physical or cultural circumstances), and presented in a manner culturally and otherwise acceptable to the person consenting (ibid., para. 23). Informed consent requires that communication is cognizant of varying levels of comprehension and not be too technical, complex, hasty, or in a language, manner or context that the patient does not understand. This is particularly true and necessary for vulnerable populations, such as older persons, who may require additional attention, explanation, or assistance in receiving and adequately understanding the health information that is imparted by the caregiver to the patient prior to treatment.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Older persons
- Year
- 2011
Paragraph
The realization of the right to health of older persons 2011, para. 63
- Paragraph text
- Evaluations have consistently found a deficit in the information provided to older persons to help them make an informed decision, in particular those with less formal education. Some healthcare workers can be dismissive of the particular vulnerabilities of older persons, failing to adequately obtain informed consent because it may be more complex than usual to do so. A one-size-fits-all approach is often inappropriate with respect to older persons, A more customized, individualized, age-friendly approach is required to better address the needs of this group. This will imply moving beyond basic health literacy, which does not adequately secure the right to health, into greater health information awareness and education, possibly through peer networks.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Education
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Older persons
- Year
- 2011
Paragraph
The realization of the right to health of older persons 2011, para. 50
- Paragraph text
- The Special Rapporteur is particularly concerned about unreported violence directed against older persons in care. As with other vulnerable and marginalized groups, special attention is needed to protect older persons from abuse and to ensure that their rights are not violated in settings where they might be especially prone to violations. Abuse of older persons is defined as a single or repeated act, or lack of appropriate action, occurring within any relationship where there is an expectation of trust which causes harm or distress to an older person. It is important to note that abuse is often insidious, limiting the autonomy of older persons in subtle ways. It can take various forms, including physical, psychological, emotional, sexual or financial abuse, or be affected by neglect.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Violence
- Person(s) affected
- Older persons
- Year
- 2011
Paragraph
The realization of the right to health of older persons 2011, para. 15
- Paragraph text
- Treating older persons as a homogenous group is incorrect and needs to be rectified. In developing a more comprehensive approach to the enjoyment of the right to health of older persons, it is important to both collect and analyse disaggregated data and develop appropriate strategies for diverse groups.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Older persons
- Year
- 2011
Paragraph
Protection of and assistance to internally displaced persons 2011, para. 8
- Paragraph text
- Expresses particular concern at the grave problems faced by many internally displaced women and children, including violence and abuse, sexual exploitation, trafficking in persons, forced recruitment and abduction, and encourages the continued commitment of the Special Rapporteur to promote action to address their particular assistance, protection and development needs, as well as those of other groups with special needs, such as severely traumatized individuals, older persons and persons with disabilities, taking into account all relevant United Nations resolutions;
- Body
- United Nations General Assembly
- Document type
- Resolution
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Movement
- Violence
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Older persons
- Persons on the move
- Persons with disabilities
- Women
- Year
- 2011
Paragraph
The realization of the right to health of older persons 2011, para. 28
- Paragraph text
- International human rights law proscribes discrimination and ensures equality on a number of grounds and for a variety of groups, including older persons. Older persons are further identified by general comment No. 14 as a group especially vulnerable to violations. Treaty bodies, including CESCR, have identified older persons as a vulnerable or marginalized group, one that is potentially more susceptible to discrimination and violence. According to general comment No. 14, it is important to ensure the functionality and autonomy of older persons (E/C.12/2000/4, para. 25). This implies promotion of individual choice with respect to models of care, insofar as this is possible.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Older persons
- Year
- 2011
Paragraph
The realization of the right to health of older persons 2011, para. 29
- Paragraph text
- Older women are often more disadvantaged because they may suffer from a combination of both gender and age discrimination. Ageing women make up a significant proportion of the world's population, with the majority of older women living in developing countries. A number of life-course events adversely affect the health of women in older age, including discrimination against infant girls in the provision of food and care, barriers to education, low incomes and poorer access to decent work, care-giving responsibilities as mothers and wives, domestic violence (during childhood, adulthood and elder abuse), widowhood, and cultural traditions and attitudes towards health care. Lower incomes, disruptions to work due to family responsibilities, and discrimination in access to the labour force during women's working life mean that women often have less retirement savings and are therefore more financially vulnerable in older age.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Economic Rights
- Equality & Inclusion
- Gender
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Girls
- Older persons
- Women
- Year
- 2011
Paragraph
The realization of the right to health of older persons 2011, para. 36
- Paragraph text
- Chronic illnesses and disability increase in prevalence with advancing age. Around half of deaths due to non-communicable diseases occur in persons aged over 70. It is estimated that 35.6 million people lived with dementia worldwide in 2010, which will increase to 65.7 million by 2030 and to 115.4 million by 2050. In light of the increasing proportion of the population who are elderly, it becomes vital that these conditions are managed in an equitable and resource-effective manner. Health systems throughout the world are generally designed to deal with acute medical conditions. They have struggled to re-model and adapt to prevent or manage the increasing number of chronic illnesses. One should also note the importance of the use of evidence-based guidelines and establishment of minimum standards of health care for common chronic conditions, and integration of their management into primary health care.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Older persons
- Year
- 2011
Paragraph
The realization of the right to health of older persons 2011, para. 20
- Paragraph text
- Internationally recognized human rights standards and principles as contained in core international human rights treaties cover and protect older persons. Despite this tacit protection, it has increasingly been argued that there is a gap in the international human rights system because there is currently no specific universal human rights instrument on the rights of older persons. Specific provisions focusing on older persons, such as those which exist for some other categories of vulnerable persons such as women, children, persons with disabilities, and migrant workers, are also lacking.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Older persons
- Persons on the move
- Persons with disabilities
- Women
- Year
- 2011
Paragraph
The realization of the right to health of older persons 2011, para. 23
- Paragraph text
- General comment No.14 describes legal obligations of States. The three primary obligations are to respect, protect and fulfil the right to health. The obligation to respect refers to the States' duty to refrain from interfering directly or indirectly with the right to health. In many cases, older persons are the object of State policies which may infringe upon their right to health. Examples include restrictions on the autonomy of older persons in terms of definitions of capacity without an individual determination. The obligation to protect deals with States' duty to prevent third parties, such as corporations, from interfering directly or indirectly with the right to health. This may be relevant, for example, where there is systematic abuse of the elderly in private long-term care facilities. Finally, the obligation to fulfil requires States to adopt appropriate legislative, administrative, budgetary, judicial, promotional and other measures to fully realize the right to health.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Older persons
- Year
- 2011
Paragraph
The realization of the right to health of older persons 2011, para. 24
- Paragraph text
- According to general comment No. 14, the right to health contains both freedoms and entitlements. The freedoms include the right to make independent decisions about one's health, which is to say freedom from State interference. For older persons, freedoms regard issues such as informed consent, autonomy and guardianship. Entitlements, which concern positive obligations of the State may, for example, include the provision of primary health care and social protection which recognizes and takes into account age-related elements, States should recognize that ageing is a lifelong process; State policy and legislation should reflect this reality. Investment in health services should be made at various stages of the life course, when risks to well-being and windows of opportunity are greatest.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Older persons
- Year
- 2011
Paragraph
The realization of the right to health of older persons 2011, para. 69
- Paragraph text
- The Special Rapporteur points to the importance of increasing awareness and empowering of older persons in order to strengthen their participation in health policymaking and build networks of older persons through which health information can be more easily accessed. It is also important that older persons are in a position to fully understand health information and make voluntary and informed decisions based on that information. It is the duty of the State to find and implement new and innovative ways to reach out to older persons, identify age-friendly means to disseminate health-related information and encourage their participation.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Older persons
- Year
- 2011
Paragraph
The realization of the right to health of older persons 2011, para. 70
- Paragraph text
- In a report of this length, it is impossible to address all of the important issues, but the Special Rapporteur notes with urgency the present demographic changes leading to a rapidly increasing number of older persons. Society should move beyond seeking simply healthy ageing for its citizens, and begin working towards active and dignified ageing, which should be planned and supported just like any other stage of the individual's life course. Planning for old age implies putting in place diagnostic and prevention services at the primary healthcare level long before ageing sets in. The pursuit of active and dignified ageing for older persons requires re-framing society's concept of ageing to focus on the continued participation of older persons in social, economic, cultural and civic affairs, as well as their continuous contributions to society longer into their lives. The promotion and protection of the human rights of older persons should be of concern to everyone because ageing is a process which everyone will undergo. Older persons are especially vulnerable as a group because of stereotyped perceptions of the group as a "lapsed" segment of society. However, as life expectancy increases and medicine improves, older persons stay active longer than ever before, both in terms of occupational and non-occupational activities. Encouraging older persons to remain physically, politically, socially and economically active for as long as possible will benefit not only the individual, but also the society as a whole.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Older persons
- Year
- 2011
Paragraph
The realization of the right to health of older persons 2011, para. 8
- Paragraph text
- Developing countries will be predominantly affected by the resulting epidemiological transition, when non-communicable diseases amongst older persons increase. The broader population will however continue to struggle with communicable diseases, particularly infectious diseases and other illnesses related to poverty. Developing age-friendly services and settings, and promotion of health care and preventive medicine among older persons will strengthen the efforts of developing countries to deal with the complications of chronic and terminal non-communicable illnesses. In order to address the challenge adequately, it is essential for States to prepare themselves to meet the needs of older persons, train health professionals in old-age care, and formulate sustainable policies for long-term care.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Older persons
- Year
- 2011
Paragraph
The realization of the right to health of older persons 2011, para. 30
- Paragraph text
- The right-to-health requires active and informed participation in policy decisions by those populations that are affected by them (E/CN.4/2006/48, para. 25). Effective provision of health services can only be assured if the participation of affected populations is secured by States (E/C.12/2000/4, para. 54). It is notable that the United Nations Principles for Older Persons encourages the participation of older people in the formulation and implementation of policies which affect them.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Older persons
- Year
- 2011
Paragraph
The realization of the right to health of older persons 2011, para. 31
- Paragraph text
- The Special Rapporteur notes the importance of monitoring progress in ensuring progressive realization of the right to health of older persons using indicators and benchmarks as part of the right to health framework. General comment No. 14 identifies the failure of States to monitor the realization of the right to health at the national level, as well as the resulting insufficient or misallocated expenditure, as examples of violations of the State's obligations (E/C.12/2000/4, para. 52).
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Older persons
- Year
- 2011
Paragraph
The realization of the right to health of older persons 2011, para. 38
- Paragraph text
- Several obstacles have been identified in relation to older persons' access to primary health care and to the quality of health-care services provided. Discrimination against older persons on the basis of their age is a major barrier to access primary care and prevention of chronic illness. . There is a pernicious and deeply ingrained notion that once a person ages, he/she becomes incapable of contributing to society, chronically ill and/or frail. Such prejudices often lead to a conclusion that not much can be done to assist them.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Older persons
- Year
- 2011
Paragraph
The realization of the right to health of older persons 2011, para. 11
- Paragraph text
- The Special Rapporteur believes that the promotion and protection of human rights of older persons is not only in the interest of senior persons, but should also be of concern to everyone, because every person ages. The right to health will not provide a magic solution to these multifaceted challenges, but it will allow shifting the discourse on older persons from a needs-based approach to a rights-based one, and enable greater articulation of the rights of older persons. Health is a fundamental human right, indispensable for the exercise of many other rights. It is necessary for living a life in dignity. This is especially true for older persons, who are often perceived as a "lapsed" segment of society and are particularly vulnerable to infringements of their right to health.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Older persons
- Year
- 2011
Paragraph
The realization of the right to health of older persons 2011, para. 26
- Paragraph text
- States should take measures to ensure that older persons receive age-friendly health care of a quality commensurate with that of other age groups. Examples of improved quality goods, services and facilities for older people would include greater numbers of geriatricians and improved training in geriatrics across all specialties to ensure that needs of older persons are recognised and attended to. There is also a need for improved communication across specialties, including allied health professions such as dentists, pharmacists etc in order to adequately address the treatment needs of older persons with multiple chronic illnesses.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Older persons
- Year
- 2011
Paragraph
The realization of the right to health of older persons 2011, para. 27
- Paragraph text
- General comment No. 14 notes that the right to health should be understood in broader terms, which include the underlying determinants of health, such as access to water and sanitation, food and nutrition, education and housing. An example of this would be the sub-optimal nutrition of older persons, which is commonly linked to circumstances under which older persons are isolated, immobile and live in poverty. Education is another relevant determinant for the health of older persons. A recent study in the United States of America showed that older persons with limited literacy had a higher risk of death, compared to those with adequate literacy.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Poverty
- Water & Sanitation
- Person(s) affected
- Older persons
- Year
- 2011
Paragraph
The realization of the right to health of older persons 2011, para. 68
- Paragraph text
- The Special Rapporteur believes that the issue of informed consent of older persons is increasingly important given global ageing and the consequent societal challenges. He further believes that international guidelines and national systems should be developed to regulate practices and ensure that older people are supported in making informed health-care decisions. It is also desirable to establish peer groups who would provide older persons with information before their visit to a doctor or other care provider for treatment, which might help overcome immediate problems such as lack of training.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Older persons
- Year
- 2011
Paragraph
The realization of the right to health of older persons 2011, para. 40
- Paragraph text
- Access to primary healthcare services is also impeded by both physical and financial obstacles. Healthcare facilities might be situated too far from older persons' place of residence, with transport proving to be too expensive, inadequate, or simply unavailable. Compounding this problem is the limited mobility of older persons. They may be unable to drive, have no access to transportation, or have physical impairments that reduce their movement. Physical difficulties to access health for older persons are further reinforced by their socio-economic vulnerability, especially as access to health care is often subject to receiving a pension or to paying out-of-pocket fees. Living in poverty can also be a root cause of deterioration of older persons' health: with limited access to safe drinking water or adequate nutrition, older persons face a high risk of contracting diseases. Even where health services are accessible to older persons, they are not always adapted to their needs.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Poverty
- Person(s) affected
- Older persons
- Year
- 2011
Paragraph
The realization of the right to health of older persons 2011, para. 42
- Paragraph text
- It is also important that primary care and prevention of chronic illness is promoted and strengthened in the developing world. A paradigm shift is necessary to detect diseases early and mitigate their effect, rather than wait until the onset of health problems. More needs to be done to stress the importance of prevention efforts, regular contact with a general practitioner or other primary health-care provider, and early diagnosis and treatment. Prevention is extremely important, as it allows reaching the individual before the disease takes hold. It needs to be emphasized that early diagnosis and prevention, long before a person grow older and preferably at the primary health-care facility, is one of the key elements in ensuring good health in old age.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Older persons
- Year
- 2011
Paragraph
The realization of the right to health of older persons 2011, para. 49
- Paragraph text
- The Special Rapporteur stresses the impact of institutionalization on the autonomy of older persons and its often harmful effect on their dignity. Loss of full independence, restricted freedom of movement and lack of access to basic functions would cause feelings of deep frustration and humiliation to any individual. Older persons are no exception to this. It is essential that complaints mechanisms are put in place to address practices that unnecessarily restrict liberty and autonomy of older persons and to enable them to reclaim their dignity.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Older persons
- Year
- 2011
Paragraph
The realization of the right to health of older persons 2011, para. 53
- Paragraph text
- Various initiatives have been adopted in the area of domestic violence, particularly in respect of violence towards women, which could be drawn upon to raise awareness of abuse of older persons amongst medical professionals and the wider community. In addition to increased training, procedures need to be put in place for reporting abuses and addressing the consequences. For example, the 2006 Older Persons Act of South Africa, inter alia, requires a person who may witness the abuse of an older person, not only physical but also psychological, sexual, and economic abuse, to report the violation. The Act also establishes a system in which abusers of older persons are investigated and registered with a view to prohibiting them from operating or being employed in a residential facility or community-based care for older persons.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Violence
- Person(s) affected
- Older persons
- Women
- Year
- 2011
Paragraph
The realization of the right to health of older persons 2011, para. 39
- Paragraph text
- It is essential that the actual vulnerabilities of older persons are recognized, and prejudicial perceptions and attitudes are addressed, so that goods and services are designed in such a manner to overcome actual, rather than perceived, barriers in accessing healthcare. Discriminatory attitudes of medical professional towards older persons could also undermine meaningful communication with their patients with direct consequences on the accuracy of diagnosis and quality of treatment.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Older persons
- Year
- 2011
Paragraph
The realization of the right to health of older persons 2011, para. 45
- Paragraph text
- Long-term care takes two broad forms: home care and institutional care. Institutional care is the accommodation and care of a person in a specialized care-giving institution. Older persons in such institutions are often under the authority of the caregiver, who is meant to assist them in their daily activities, including the administration of medicines and health services. Given the growth of such institutions, it is important to examine implications for older persons and their right to health.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Older persons
- Year
- 2011
Paragraph
The realization of the right to health of older persons 2011, para. 64
- Paragraph text
- In addition to the imbalance of power, experience and trust inherently present in the doctor-patient relationship, structural inequalities can result in the voluntary or informed nature of consent being significantly compromised (ibid., para. 45). With a view to protecting the rights of older persons, States should establish appropriate support mechanisms that would help overcome subsequent challenges to achieving informed consent, including community involvement and comprehensive counselling.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Older persons
- Year
- 2011
Paragraph
Human rights based approach to recovery from the global economic and financial crises, with a focus on those living in poverty 2011, para. 72
- Paragraph text
- Human rights standards relating to working conditions require States to ensure just and favourable conditions of work, including safe and healthy working conditions, reasonably limited working hours and paid annual leave. The right to form and join trade union organizations and engage in collective bargaining must be ensured. Workers must have access to a social security system that provides for the broadest possible coverage (such as health care, sickness compensation, old age pensions and compensation for employment-related injuries).
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Older persons
- Year
- 2011
Paragraph
The realization of the right to health of older persons 2011, para. 46
- Paragraph text
- Home care is generally understood as medical services performed by professionals in the patient's home, as opposed to care provided in specialized institutions. It generally allows older persons a greater degree of autonomy over their lives than institutional care. However, home care should be understood as medical home care delivered by health professionals, as opposed to informal care that is provided by family members or other individuals.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Families
- Older persons
- Year
- 2011
Paragraph
The realization of the right to health of older persons 2011, para. 9
- Paragraph text
- However, the ageing world's most important challenge is to ensure the enjoyment of human rights of older persons. It is critical that measures be put in place to eradicate discrimination and exclusion of older persons and to ensure access to services according to their needs. In a statement marking the International Day of Older Persons, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Ms. Navi Pillay, pointed to the urgent need for better legal protection of older persons, a growing sector of society that is often most vulnerable and neglected, and she emphasized that "the human rights community has been slow in realizing that the global agenda and the advocacy efforts at the national level can no longer ignore the rights of older persons".
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Gender
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Older persons
- Year
- 2011
Paragraph
The realization of the right to health of older persons 2011, para. 47
- Paragraph text
- It is essential that appropriate recognition be given to those who care for older persons in informal settings, which has both benefits and risks. Informal care may allow older persons to remain in their homes, and be cared for by a familiar person, an option often preferred by the patient. It also reduces reliance on formal or institutional care, minimizing the burden on these limited resources. However, older persons are often placed, or find themselves, in informal care without a thorough assessment, exposing them to risk. Such risks include inadequate care by a person who is not equipped to provide the necessary care, as well as the risk of abuse by a caregiver. Numerous States have introduced initiatives to provide support to carers, such as financial support in lieu of lost income, and respite care, which allow older persons to stay at home as long as possible, whilst receiving good-quality care.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Older persons
- Year
- 2011
Paragraph
The realization of the right to health of older persons 2011, para. 41
- Paragraph text
- Improving the quality of care provided by primary care physician to older patients remains a challenge which is exacerbated in rural areas, where rural general medical practitioners have fewer opportunities to partner with geriatricians to deliver care to their catchment area. Dissemination of information from specialty areas into primary care should be encouraged in all areas, but is particularly important in respect of older persons, given the suitability and cost-effectiveness of the management of chronic diseases within the primary care setting.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Older persons
- Year
- 2011
Paragraph
The realization of the right to health of older persons 2011, para. 6
- Paragraph text
- Although the growth of the older population is affecting the whole world, most of the increase is taking place in the developing world. More than half of the elderly (400 million) live in Asia, while Europe is the region with the second-largest number of older persons (nearly 161 million), followed by North America (65 million), Latin America and the Caribbean (59 million), Africa (55 million) and Oceania (5 million). On average, it is estimated that 29 million older persons will be added to the world's population each year between 2010 and 2025, and over 80 per cent of those will be added in the developing countries. By 2050, it is further projected that around 80 per cent of the elderly will live in the developing world.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Older persons
- Year
- 2011
Paragraph
The realization of the right to health of older persons 2011, para. 51
- Paragraph text
- The abuse of older persons can be complex when the abusing caregiver is a relative or a family member. The frequency of elder abuse in the domestic setting, including abuse perpetrated by family members, was estimated by one study as occurring in anywhere between 2 and 10 per cent of all cases. In an institutional setting incidences of abuse are even harder to ascertain Abuse may also take the form of prejudicial and discriminatory attitudes and acts, which manifests itself through paternalism towards older persons in care, leaving them feeling humiliated, infantilized, and robbing them of the identity they otherwise have as human beings.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Health
- Violence
- Person(s) affected
- Families
- Older persons
- Year
- 2011
Paragraph
The realization of the right to health of older persons 2011, para. 52
- Paragraph text
- In some instances, health-care workers themselves may not even recognize instances of abuse. Health-care workers should therefore be trained and assisted in identifying possible cases of abuse. Models of such training and intervention are used in cases of domestic abuse and may serve as workable models for dealing with recognition and treatment of the abuse of older persons. Health-care workers need to become aware of the possibility that a patient may be a victim of abuse and be able to manage health-related interactions, in a way which would make the abused individuals feel comfortable discussing their particular situation.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Violence
- Person(s) affected
- Older persons
- Year
- 2011
Paragraph
The realization of the right to health of older persons 2011, para. 55
- Paragraph text
- Palliative care has grown significantly in the last 30 years and is progressively implemented within national health systems, although this has been done to varying extents. The wide range of measures taken in different States shows the growing importance of ensuring quality of life of older persons towards the end of their lives and providing support for their families. In some countries palliative care is recognized only in the context of certain chronic diseases such as cancer. Other States have integrated palliative care into their national health legislation and plans of action and created institutions which are devoted to palliative care. Some other countries have placed obligations on health institutions to have staff qualified in palliative care or have established group of experts on the issue.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Families
- Older persons
- Year
- 2011
Paragraph
Looking forward: addressing new challenges and consolidating gains 2011, para. 66
- Paragraph text
- The Human Rights Council resolution 14/6 extending this mandate, requests the Special Rapporteur to "integrate a gender perspective throughout the work of the mandate, and to give special consideration to the human rights of internally displaced women and children, as well as of other groups with special needs, such as older persons, persons with disabilities and severely traumatized individuals affected by internal displacement, and their particular assistance, protection and development needs". As part of carrying out this aspect of the mandate, a special focus will be given to exploring more specifically the situation of internally displaced women and girls, including in various types of internal displacement situations.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the human rights of internally displaced persons
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Gender
- Humanitarian
- Movement
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Girls
- Older persons
- Persons on the move
- Persons with disabilities
- Women
- Year
- 2011
Paragraph
Joint report with SRSG Violence against Children on child-sensitive complaint mechanisms 2011, para. 37
- Paragraph text
- In some countries the exercise of this right is limited to older children. In Russia, for example, children 14 or older can take legal action to seek protection from their parents or other persons exercising parental authority. In Tunisia, children over the age of discretion (13 years) may take legal action in "matters of special urgency and in the case of danger at home".
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the sale and sexual exploitation of children, including child prostitution, child pornography and other child sexual abuse material
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Families
- Older persons
- Year
- 2011
Paragraph
The realization of the right to health of older persons 2011, para. 16
- Paragraph text
- When appropriate, clinical trials should be conducted with the participation of older persons in order to determine the effect of these medications on that population group, due to the frequency with which older persons may use these medications. Given the substantial underrepresentation of older patients in studies on various diseases, clinical trial recruitment should be diversified to include a number of considerations including age, gender and race.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Older persons
- Year
- 2011
Paragraph
The realization of the right to health of older persons 2011, para. 18
- Paragraph text
- The Special Rapporteur believes that States should allocate more resources for the provision of geriatric healthcare in order to ensure that all healthcare workers, irrespective of specialty or profession, are adequately trained to deal with the particular health issues associated with ageing. They should also be trained on the right to health so that they interact with elderly patients in an appropriate, considerate and non-discriminatory manner.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Older persons
- Year
- 2011
Paragraph
The realization of the right to health of older persons 2011, para. 56
- Paragraph text
- Several issues arise with respect to the provision of palliative care to older persons, one of which concerns availability of palliative care and in particular, medicines utilized in such care. Moderate to severe pain is a common by-product of illnesses requiring palliative care, for which opioid-based analgesics are commonly prescribed. State parties to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights are required, as a core obligation under the Covenant, to ensure provision of essential drugs as defined under the WHO Action Programme on Essential Drugs. Despite this and the fact that oral morphine and other narcotic preparations are inexpensive and should not be difficult to obtain, the availability of such medications used in palliative care is often limited. That is due to a number of factors, such as restrictive drug regulations, failure to implement a properly functioning supply and distribution system, and inadequate health-care system capacity. Particularly concerning is the complex international narcotic control framework that severely inhibits access to medicines regulated under the framework. Even when such medications are available, there often remains a lack of understanding of palliative care and the use of narcotics in pain relief amongst medical practitioners. More comprehensive training on palliative care and the use of narcotic drugs is needed. These barriers to availability of good quality palliative care are not unique to older persons as a group, but older persons are disproportionately affected due to the increased incidence of chronic and terminal illness amongst them.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Older persons
- Year
- 2011
Paragraph
The realization of the right to health of older persons 2011, para. 57
- Paragraph text
- Older persons may also be less likely to receive palliative care services than other, younger age groups. More research is needed to determine whether this distribution is inequitable or whether the needs of older persons are being met through other services. The right to health clearly proscribes discrimination in respect of age, including within palliative health care services. States are obliged to respect the right to health by refraining from denying or limiting equal access for all persons to palliative health services (E/C.12/2000/4, para. 34). Age-based discrimination that is sanctioned on the basis of risk/benefit profiling cannot under any circumstances be considered appropriate in the context of palliative care, which aims to improve quality of life, rather than its length.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Older persons
- Year
- 2011
Paragraph
The realization of the right to health of older persons 2011, para. 71f
- Paragraph text
- [The Special Rapporteur recommends:] Putting in place policies and procedures for reporting, addressing and preventing abuse of older persons;
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Older persons
- Year
- 2011
Paragraph
The realization of the right to health of older persons 2011, para. 71c
- Paragraph text
- [The Special Rapporteur recommends:] Implementing the right-to-health framework to ensure shifting the discourse surrounding older persons from a needs-based perspective to a rights-based approach, which enables greater realization of the right to health of older persons;
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Older persons
- Year
- 2011
Paragraph
The realization of the right to health of older persons 2011, para. 71d
- Paragraph text
- [The Special Rapporteur recommends:] Encouraging the establishment and support of networks of older persons in order to ensure their participation in the development and improvement of social protection and health care, which recognizes and ensures the enjoyment of the right to health;
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Older persons
- Year
- 2011
Paragraph
The realization of the right to health of older persons 2011, para. 71e
- Paragraph text
- [The Special Rapporteur recommends:] Establishing a system of social protection that affords older persons access to long-term care, whether institutional or home-based, which ensures that abuse or violations of rights do not take place;
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Older persons
- Year
- 2011
Paragraph
The realization of the right to health of older persons 2011, para. 71h
- Paragraph text
- [The Special Rapporteur recommends:] Developing international guidelines and national systems to regulate and monitor hospice-care practices to ensure that the elderly are supported in making informed health-care decisions, and that their human dignity and autonomy are not neglected due to their vulnerability
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Older persons
- Year
- 2011
Paragraph
The realization of the right to health of older persons 2011, para. 13
- Paragraph text
- The Special Rapporteur believes that the dominant view, which considers ageing a biomedical problem, leads to the unfortunate perception of ageing as an abnormal or pathological phenomenon because it equates advanced age with illness. This position is not only inconsistent with the holistic approach to human health, but it also perpetuates a perception of older persons as dependent and sick. When considering the health of older persons, the Special Rapporteur is of the view that there must be a paradigm shift away from the perception of older persons as a "social burden" to one that emphasizes the process of "active ageing" and that will reorient our ideas about ageing to focus on the continuing contribution of older persons to society. According to WHO, active ageing aims to optimize opportunities for health, participation and security amongst older persons in order to enhance their quality of life. The word active therefore refers to continuing participation in social, economic, cultural and civic affairs, and not simply the ability to be physically active or to participate in the labour force.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Gender
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Older persons
- Year
- 2011
Paragraph
The realization of the right to health of older persons 2011, para. 71g
- Paragraph text
- [The Special Rapporteur recommends:] Instituting mechanisms to raise awareness and train medical professionals, non-medical carers and the wider community on the treatment of older person, and to prevent and address their abuse;
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Older persons
- Year
- 2011
Paragraph
The realization of the right to health of older persons 2011, para. 17
- Paragraph text
- Differences between the genders in respect of the ageing process must also be acknowledged, given that global life expectancy at birth for women is currently 70 years, and is significantly higher than for men at 66 years. Given differing life expectancies, it is more often men who are able to rely on informal care from their spouses than women. Women who outlive their husbands are more often left with no spousal support, relying on informal care by other relatives or the formal care system. Compounding this problem is the fact that older women are frequently excluded from social security and health insurance schemes that are linked to formal, paid employment. They are also at much greater risk of poverty than men. In many countries older women are less likely than men to hold valuable assets in their own name (A/HRC/14/31, paras. 19-21). These factors limit women's ability to provide for their own health-related needs in later life. Furthermore, lack of access to health care services for debilitating diseases such as cancer and hypertension, or illnesses disproportionately affecting women such as osteoporosis, have also been noted to prevent older women from enjoying their full human rights (CEDAW/C/GC/27).
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Gender
- Health
- Poverty
- Person(s) affected
- Older persons
- Women
- Year
- 2011
Paragraph
The realization of the right to health of older persons 2011, para. 5
- Paragraph text
- The world population is ageing at a steady and significant pace. The total number of persons aged 60 years and above increased from 200 million in 1950 to 760 million in 2010, and it is anticipated to become over one billion by the end of the current decade. By 2050, it is expected that one in five persons will be over the age of 60. The senior population is the fastest growing one and this is becoming a global phenomenon.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Gender
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Older persons
- Year
- 2011
Paragraph
The realization of the right to health of older persons 2011, para. 14
- Paragraph text
- Ageing should be perceived as the culmination of a lifetime of influences and choices. Healthy and active ageing occurs through health promotion and consistent delivery of primary health care throughout one's life. The enjoyment of the right to health is not age-dependent and does not cease once a person reaches a certain age. Older persons should be viewed as rights-holders, who will often require support in order to claim their rights. This requires States to take particular steps as part of the development and implementation of comprehensive health plans that must include various strategies to ensure that older persons have access to good quality health care, goods and services. In addition to this, economic accessibility to ensure affordability is also required by the right to health, which requires that States take steps to ensure that adequate social protection is provided to older persons. The ageing of world population demands that immediate steps be taken to ensure that the costs of pension schemes and their analogues not be prohibitively burdensome for States. Failure to recognize older persons as rights-holders may lead to prejudice and discrimination directed against individuals or groups and may have profound consequences for their health outcomes and welfare.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Older persons
- Year
- 2011
Paragraph
The realization of the right to health of older persons 2011, para. 25
- Paragraph text
- Under the right-to-health framework, health facilities, goods and services should be made available, accessible, affordable, acceptable and be of good quality for older persons. Availability refers to the fact that functioning public health and health-care facilities, goods and services, as well as programmes, have to be available in sufficient quantity. In many cases, older persons are affected by selective unavailability because of rationing of medical care, i.e. allocation and prioritization of health resources, which often results in de-prioritizing older persons for health treatment. Accessibility includes physical, financial and information components. Older persons may be unable to access health care because of the location of services or their limited physical mobility. Poverty may also exacerbate older persons' inability to access healthcare, particularly where social security does not exist. Finally, information accessibility refers to the right to seek, receive and impart information regarding health issues. With regard to older persons, it means that health-related information should be tailored to suit their needs and communicated to them in an appropriate, comprehensible manner allowing them to make fully informed decisions about their health condition and treatment.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Older persons
- Year
- 2011
Paragraph
The realization of the right to health of older persons 2011, para. 71a
- Paragraph text
- [The Special Rapporteur recommends:] Recognizing ageing as a lifelong process, a reality which State policy, legislation and resource allocation should reflect so that health-care services, including diagnostic and prevention services, are available and accessible to a person before becoming old to allow for healthy ageing;
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Older persons
- Year
- 2011
Paragraph
The realization of the right to health of older persons 2011, para. 71j
- Paragraph text
- [The Special Rapporteur recommends:] Developing and implementing mechanisms to protect the rights of older persons if/when they are deemed incapable of providing informed consent to any treatment and/or other medical intervention due to injury, disease or chronic conditions such as dementia.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Older persons
- Year
- 2011
Paragraph
Women, the girl child and HIV/AIDS 2011, para. 34
- Paragraph text
- Encourages Governments to increase the provision of resources and facilities to women who find themselves having to provide care and/or economic support for those infected with HIV or affected by the pandemic and to address the challenges faced by the survivors and caregivers, in particular children and older persons, as well as to ensure the balanced sharing of the provision of care by both men and women;
- Body
- Commission on the Status of Women
- Document type
- Resolution
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Girls
- Men
- Older persons
- Women
- Year
- 2011
Paragraph
The realization of the right to health of older persons 2011, para. 34
- Paragraph text
- In addition to the broad issues with respect to the right to health framework outlined in the previous section, there are a number of specific issues and concerns relevant to older persons that require a more detailed assessment. This section will consider some of those issues: primary health care and chronic illness; long-term care; palliative care; and informed consent as related to older persons, including guardianship issues.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Older persons
- Year
- 2011
Paragraph
The realization of the right to health of older persons 2011, para. 21
- Paragraph text
- Nonetheless, different human rights treaty monitoring bodies have interpreted and applied existing norms to older persons as a group, recognizing their vulnerability to discrimination and exclusion. In 1995, the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (CESCR) adopted general comment No. 6, which offers a detailed interpretation of the specific obligations of State parties regarding each of the rights contained in the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, as they apply to older persons. In 2010, the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women adopted general recommendation No. 27 on older women and the protection of their human rights. General comment No. 14 of CESCR elaborates on substantive issues arising from the implementation of the right to health and addresses particular issues related to older persons, including "preventive, curative and rehabilitative health treatment…maintaining the functionality and autonomy of older persons … [and] attention and care for chronically and terminally ill persons, sparing them avoidable pain and enabling them to die with dignity".
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Older persons
- Women
- Year
- 2011
Paragraph
The realization of the right to health of older persons 2011, para. 22
- Paragraph text
- In addition, there are non-binding United Nations instruments and international documents on ageing and older persons, such as the 1982 Vienna International Plan of Action on Ageing, the 1991 United Nations Principles for Older Persons, the 1992 Global targets on ageing for the year, and the 1992 Proclamation on Ageing. The most recent of these is the Political Declaration and the Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing adopted at the Second World Assembly on Ageing in April 2002, and endorsed by the General Assembly in resolution 57/167 of 18 December 2002. The Political Declaration reaffirms the global commitment to promote and protect human rights and to eliminate age-discrimination, neglect, abuse and violence (art. 5). It further makes reference to the right to health (art. 14), the opportunity to work and the continuing access to education and training programmes (art. 12). It has guided the development of legislation and policies at the national level and provided a framework for international cooperation, which resulted in, among other things, the establishment of the Open-Ended Working Group on the Human Rights of Older Persons in 2010, pursuant to General Assembly resolution 65/182.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Gender
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Older persons
- Year
- 2011
Paragraph
The realization of the right to health of older persons 2011, para. 71b
- Paragraph text
- [The Special Rapporteur recommends:] Ensuring that the right to the highest attainable standard of health shapes, and is integrated into, relevant national and international policies concerning ageing and older persons. Health facilities, goods and services should be made available, accessible, affordable and acceptable to older persons, and be of good quality;
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Older persons
- Year
- 2011
Paragraph
The realization of the right to health of older persons 2011, para. 10
- Paragraph text
- The Special Rapporteur believes that the right-to-health approach is indispensable for the design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of health-related policies and programmes to mitigate consequences of an ageing society and to ensure the enjoyment of this human right by older persons. Such an approach to health-related issues includes human dignity, the needs and rights of this vulnerable group, and puts emphasis on ensuring that health systems are accessible, available and affordable to all. Integrating human rights into health systems also means ensuring the principles of equality and freedom from discrimination and the empowerment of all, including the poor, allowing for their participation in decision-making processes and incorporating accountability mechanisms which they can access.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Older persons
- Year
- 2011
Paragraph
The realization of the right to health of older persons 2011, para. 43
- Paragraph text
- Due to resource constraints, particularly in developing countries, "best-practice" care may not always be possible. This should not deter States from taking steps to achieve the best possible outcomes for older patients in any given situation. Moreover, it has been acknowledged that personalization of care may, at times, require eschewing of more intensive services and accepting clinical outcomes that are less than the best possible health and function. Although this may still look like an anathema to some medical professionals, a shift in focus from curing to caring, particularly in older population, could be necessary to better meet the patient's personal goals. Presenting patients with options and ensuring that their desired outcomes are achieved through collaborative decision-making should be paramount in the professional-patient relationship.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Older persons
- Year
- 2011
Paragraph
The realization of the right to health of older persons 2011, para. 37
- Paragraph text
- The Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights reiterated that primary health care essentially falls under the core obligations accrued by States in fulfilling the right to health (E/C.12/2000/4, para. 43). General Comment 14 places special emphasis on the care of older persons as a vulnerable group, which requires an "integrated approach combining elements of a preventative, curative, and rehabilitative health treatment" (ibid, para. 25). It also specifies that such measures ought to include periodic check-ups and measures aimed at maintaining physical and psychological functionality. Thus, the right to health requires a constellation of activities, programs, and interventions to address primary health care of older persons as a core obligation under that right. Improving availability, accessibility, acceptability and quality of primary care is essential in particular in achieving better results in the management of chronic illnesses.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Older persons
- Year
- 2011
Paragraph
The realization of the right to health of older persons 2011, para. 48
- Paragraph text
- Formalized long-term care of both types is already prevalent in much of the developed world. In the developing world, traditional social dynamics are also undergoing changes due to various globalizing factors. Families play a steadily less prominent role as primary health-caregiver of older persons, and government institutions and medical professionals are assuming a bigger role in care-giving. The situation is exacerbated in developing countries by the lack of adequate institutional mechanisms and absence of measures to protect the rights for older persons in the context of external and non-family care. Developed countries, where infringements on the rights of older persons also take place, feature only relatively better in developing such mechanisms.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Families
- Older persons
- Year
- 2011
Paragraph
The realization of the right to health of older persons 2011, para. 7
- Paragraph text
- The Special Rapporteur considers these compelling figures a harbinger of a quiet demographic revolution. It owes much to the significant gains achieved in many areas which have substantially increased longevity but will have far-reaching and unpredictable consequences for all countries, developed and developing alike. A rapidly ageing population presents significant challenges for the global community, in a world that is already affected by various social, economic, cultural and political challenges. The immediate consequences of longer life expectancy include increases in the prevalence of chronic and non-communicable diseases and disabilities, which, if unaddressed, could place significant burdens on health systems, strain pension and social security systems, increase demand for primary health care and put pressure on the availability and affordability of long-term care.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Older persons
- Persons with disabilities
- Year
- 2011
Paragraph
The realization of the right to health of older persons 2011, para. 65
- Paragraph text
- The role of health-care providers is crucial for ensuring informed consent. In many cases, there is a lack of training for health-care workers in communicating health information to older persons, who may have special needs that are often left unaddressed. Medical education and training institutions must incorporate education regarding informed consent for vulnerable populations and their particular needs into curricula. Structural problems further frustrate efforts to obtain informed consent, such as the amount of time available to doctors and health-care workers to consult with patients. Older persons may require additional attention and assistance to fully understand the implications of the health-related information with which they are presented and which may render them particularly affected by scarcity of available consultation time. In general, each person should receive an individualized treatment, and his/her state of health should be regularly reviewed, including his/her medication.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Older persons
- Year
- 2011
Paragraph
The realization of the right to health of older persons 2011, para. 66
- Paragraph text
- Persistent denial of the right to informed consent could constitute a form of physical and psychological abuse of older persons, who are much more prone to treatment and care without consent. This is compounded by discrimination directed against older persons, who in some cases may have a diminished capacity to consent to treatment. The Special Rapporteur previously pointed out that older persons are taken advantage of due to perceived ignorance and helplessness, as well as actual physical or mental frailty such as that caused by degenerative diseases resulting in decreased ability to provide informed consent (A/64/272, para. 51). They face more frequently situations in which informed consent is necessary, and the possibility of infringement and abuse is therefore greater.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Older persons
- Year
- 2011
Paragraph
The realization of the right to health of older persons 2011, para. 67
- Paragraph text
- Domestic jurisdictions often fail to enact legislation or design policies in order to address and resolve problems particular to informed consent and older persons. The problem of legislation on older persons and the right to health is particularly acute in developing countries, which often lack an adequate legal framework concerning guardianship or consent. In some countries, the legal requirement for informed consent is circumvented by guardianship proceedings even in partial incapacitation, replacing patient's consent with that of the guardian. The right to health requires that States respect, protect, and fulfil the right to health, and it is incumbent upon States to develop policies and frameworks through which the right to health of older persons can be addressed to meet these requirements. It is important to establish safeguards to ensure the informed consent of older persons in the context of guardianship and build the capacity of older persons to fully understand and make use of health information.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Older persons
- Year
- 2011
Paragraph
Joint report with SRSG Violence against Children on child-sensitive complaint mechanisms 2011, para. 38
- Paragraph text
- Where the right to seek a judicial remedy is limited to older children, younger children may turn to administrative bodies, which may initiate legal proceedings if they consider it appropriate. In Ecuador, for example, where children over the age of 12 "may personally take legal action for the protection of their rights", younger children may request assistance to protect their rights when action concerning their legal guardian is needed. In the Russian Federation and Belarus, children of any age may make complaints to the competent administrative authorities concerning parents or other persons acting in loco parentis.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the sale and sexual exploitation of children, including child prostitution, child pornography and other child sexual abuse material
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Families
- Older persons
- Year
- 2011
Paragraph
Fertility, reproductive health and development 2011, para. 10
- Paragraph text
- Recognizing further that in the first stage of the demographic transition, when mortality is falling, the proportion of children increases, that in the second stage, when both fertility and mortality are falling, the proportion of adults of working age increases, and that in the third stage, when fertility and mortality reach low levels, only the proportion of older persons increases,
- Body
- Commission on Population and Development
- Document type
- Resolution
- Topic(s)
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Older persons
- Year
- 2011
Paragraph
Fertility, reproductive health and development 2011, para. 13
- Paragraph text
- Noting that the decline in fertility levels, reinforced by continued declines in mortality levels, is producing fundamental changes in the age structure of the population of most societies, most notably record increases in the proportion and number of elderly persons, including a growing number of very elderly persons,
- Body
- Commission on Population and Development
- Document type
- Resolution
- Topic(s)
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Older persons
- Year
- 2011
Paragraph
Women, the girl child and HIV/AIDS 2011, para. 6
- Paragraph text
- Urges Governments and other relevant stakeholders to address the challenges faced by older women in accessing HIV prevention, treatment, care and support, as well as in caring for people living with or affected by HIV and AIDS, including orphaned children in vulnerable situations;
- Body
- Commission on the Status of Women
- Document type
- Resolution
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Girls
- Older persons
- Women
- Year
- 2011
Paragraph
Multiple and intersecting forms of discrimination and violence against women 2011, para. 15
- Paragraph text
- In 1989, the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women explicitly linked gender-based violence and discrimination against women in its general recommendation No. 12 and called on States parties to include in their reports information on violence and on measures introduced to deal with it. Between 1989 and 1992, the Committee issued a series of general recommendations that addressed some rights violations experienced at the intersection of inter- and intra-gender sex discrimination and violence against women. In 1992 it issued general recommendation No. 19 both to define gender-based violence and to make it discrimination on the grounds of sex within the meaning of the Convention. Much of what is set forth in general recommendation No. 19 is reiterated and refined in the Declaration on the Elimination of Violence against Women. CEDAW has also addressed the impact of intersecting forms of discrimination against women and its nexus with gender-based violence. Most recently, in general recommendation No. 27, which deals with the rights of older women, it recognizes that age and sex make older women vulnerable to violence, and that age, sex and disability make older women with disabilities particularly vulnerable.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on violence against women, its causes and consequences
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Gender
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Violence
- Person(s) affected
- Older persons
- Persons with disabilities
- Women
- Year
- 2011
Paragraph
Right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health 2010, para. 11
- Paragraph text
- Requests the Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health, with the assistance of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, in consultation with States, relevant United Nations agencies, national human rights institutions and other relevant stakeholders, to prepare, within existing resources, a thematic study on the realization of the right to health of older persons, including the main existing challenges and best practices;
- Body
- United Nations Human Rights Council
- Document type
- Resolution
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Older persons
- Year
- 2010
Paragraph
Older women and protection of their human rights 2010, para. 9
- Paragraph text
- This general recommendation on older women and promotion of their rights explores the relationship between the articles of the Convention and ageing. It identifies the multiple forms of discrimination that women face as they age, outlines the content of the obligations to be assumed by States parties with regard to ageing with dignity and older women's rights, and includes policy recommendations aimed at mainstreaming the responses to the concerns of older women into national strategies, development initiatives and positive action so that older women can fully participate in society without discrimination and on an equal basis with men.
- Body
- Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Gender
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Older persons
- Women
- Year
- 2010
Paragraph
Older women and protection of their human rights 2010, para. 1
- Paragraph text
- The Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (hereinafter "the Committee"), concerned about the multiple forms of discrimination experienced by older women and that older women's rights are not systematically addressed in the reports of States parties, decided at its forty-second session, held from 20 October to 7 November 2008, pursuant to article 21 of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (hereinafter "the Convention"), to adopt a general recommendation on older women and protection of their human rights.
- Body
- Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Gender
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Older persons
- Women
- Year
- 2010
Paragraph
Older women and protection of their human rights 2010, para. 2
- Paragraph text
- In its decision 26/III of 5 July 2002, the Committee acknowledged that the Convention "is an important tool for addressing the specific issue of the human rights of older women." General recommendation No. 25 on article 4, paragraph 1, of the Convention (temporary special measures) also recognizes that age is one of the grounds on which women may suffer multiple forms of discrimination. In particular, the Committee recognized the need for statistical data, disaggregated by age and sex, in order to better assess the situation of older women.
- Body
- Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Older persons
- Women
- Year
- 2010
Paragraph
Older women and protection of their human rights 2010, para. 3
- Paragraph text
- The Committee affirms previous commitments to older women's rights enshrined in, inter alia, the Vienna International Plan of Action on Ageing, the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, the United Nations Principles for Older Persons (General Assembly resolution 46/91, annex), the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development, the Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing 2002, Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights general comment No. 6 on the economic, social and cultural rights of older persons (1995), and general comment No. 19 on the right to social security (2008).
- Body
- Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Gender
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Older persons
- Women
- Year
- 2010
Paragraph
Older women and protection of their human rights 2010, para. 6
- Paragraph text
- This unprecedented demographic ageing, due to improved living standards and basic health-care systems as well as declines in fertility and rising longevity, can be considered a successful outcome of development efforts and one that is set to continue, making the twenty-first century, the century of ageing. However, such demographic changes have profound human rights implications and increase the urgency of addressing the discrimination experienced by older women in a more comprehensive and systematic manner through the Convention.
- Body
- Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Gender
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Older persons
- Women
- Year
- 2010
Paragraph
Older women and protection of their human rights 2010, para. 42
- Paragraph text
- States parties have an obligation to ensure that the retirement age in both the public and private sectors do not discriminate against women. Consequently, States parties have an obligation to ensure that pension policies are not discriminatory in any manner, even when women opt to retire early, and that all older women who have been active have access to adequate pensions. States parties should adopt all appropriate measures, including, where necessary, temporary special measures, to guarantee such pensions.
- Body
- Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Economic Rights
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Older persons
- Women
- Year
- 2010
Paragraph
Older women and protection of their human rights 2010, para. 19
- Paragraph text
- Employers often regard older women as non-profitable investments for education and vocational training. Older women also do not have equal opportunities to learn modern information technology, nor the resources to obtain them. Many poor older women, especially those with disabilities and those living in rural areas, are denied the right to education and receive little or no formal or informal education. Illiteracy and innumeracy can severely restrict older women's full participation in public and political life, the economy, and access to a range of services, entitlements and recreational activities.
- Body
- Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Education
- Person(s) affected
- Older persons
- Persons with disabilities
- Women
- Year
- 2010
Paragraph
Older women and protection of their human rights 2010, para. 22
- Paragraph text
- Older women may not be eligible to claim family benefits if they are not the parent or legal guardian of children in their care.
- Body
- Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Older persons
- Women
- Year
- 2010
Paragraph
The importance of social protection measures in achieving Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) 2010, para. 54
- Paragraph text
- The fact that structural discrimination against women prevails in most societies and the consequent limited influence of women in decision-making processes must be taken into account in all stages of programmes. Gender stereotypes frequently attribute to women the responsibility of caregiving, particularly for children and older persons. While such activities contribute significantly to household and community well-being and development, they often go unrecognized by States and societies. Domestic responsibilities are usually not remunerated, and they often prevent women from gaining access to the formal labour market and limit the opportunities for women and girls to participate in capacity-building activities, including education and training.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Gender
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Girls
- Older persons
- Women
- Year
- 2010
Paragraph
The importance of social protection measures in achieving Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) 2010, para. 35
- Paragraph text
- Evidence also shows the positive impacts of social protection for people living with HIV/AIDS and their families. For example, in a number of African countries in which HIV/AIDS is prevalent, universal old-age pensions have significantly improved the lives of AIDS orphans raised by their grandparents. There are also programmes that are testing how financial incentives in the form of cash transfers could have a positive impact in preventing HIV/AIDS (Goal 6). For example, the RESPECT Project, a pilot cash-transfer programme in the United Republic of Tanzania, uses cash as an incentive to reduce risky sexual activity among young people, male and female, who are at high risk for HIV infection and to provide counselling and periodic screening for sexually transmitted infections. The final outcomes of this approach have yet to be seen, and further human rights analyses are required.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Older persons
- Youth
- Year
- 2010
Paragraph
Social protection and old age poverty 2010, para. 68
- Paragraph text
- Qualifying conditions for benefits of targeted schemes must be gender-sensitive, reasonable, objective and transparent. Particular care should be taken to ensure that it is the wealth of the older person him/herself that is assessed and not that of their household. Using household targeting methods for an individual benefit can place older persons in a disadvantageous position because of a lack of studies about household distribution of wealth. While community targeting is a method that can be implemented at reduced costs in many countries, it should also be examined carefully. Indeed, by leaving the decision of who gets the benefit to the discretion of community leaders, community targeting can reinforce power structures and patron-client relations. This can result in creating tensions between beneficiaries and others, further stigmatizing some groups.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Gender
- Person(s) affected
- Older persons
- Year
- 2010
Paragraph
Social protection and old age poverty 2010, para. 72
- Paragraph text
- The principle of equality and non-discrimination also requires States to ensure that social pensions are physically and culturally accessible to all older people.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Person(s) affected
- Older persons
- Year
- 2010
Paragraph
Social protection and old age poverty 2010, para. 93
- Paragraph text
- The living conditions of persons living in extreme poverty clearly impact on their health status throughout their life. Higher incidence of ill-health and premature mortality correlates with socioeconomic factors in all regions of the world. Ageing increases a person's susceptibility to illness and disability, and this phenomenon is further aggravated by poverty as they are less likely to be able to afford health care and more likely to maintain poor nutritional diets. They are also more likely to have engaged in physically demanding work for a living. Therefore, policies must take into account that older persons living in poverty may have a greater need for health care.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Health
- Poverty
- Person(s) affected
- Older persons
- Year
- 2010
Paragraph
Social protection and old age poverty 2010, para. 39
- Paragraph text
- In 1995, the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights adopted a general comment on the rights of older persons, in which it stressed that States needed to adapt their social and economic policies to respond to the needs of ageing populations and should give more consideration to older persons in their human rights monitoring and reporting. The general comment also sheds light on the relationship between the provisions of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, the Vienna International Plan of Action and the United Nations Principles for Older Persons, clearly indicating that both binding and non-binding commitments are linked.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Health
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Person(s) affected
- Older persons
- Year
- 2010
Paragraph
Social protection and old age poverty 2010, para. 40
- Paragraph text
- In 2009, the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women established a working group to elaborate a general recommendation on the rights of older women. In its preliminary work, the working group explains that the impact of gender inequalities throughout a woman's lifespan is intensified in old age and often results in unfair resource allocation, maltreatment, abuse, gender-based violence and prevention of access to basic services. The general recommendation will be an important tool for addressing the human rights of older women and the elimination of discrimination they face throughout their lives.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Gender
- Person(s) affected
- Older persons
- Women
- Year
- 2010
Paragraph
Older women and protection of their human rights 2010, para. 26
- Paragraph text
- Under some statutory and customary laws, women do not have the right to inherit and administer marital property on the death of their spouse. Some legal systems justify this by providing widows with other means of economic security, such as support payments from the deceased's estate. However, in reality, such provisions are seldom enforced, and widows are often left destitute. Some laws particularly discriminate against older widows, and some widows are victims of "property grabbing."
- Body
- Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Economic Rights
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Person(s) affected
- Older persons
- Women
- Year
- 2010
Paragraph