A/HRC/14/31
I. Introduction
1.
The current report is submitted by the independent expert on the question of human
rights and extreme poverty, Magdalena Sepúlveda Carmona, in accordance with Human
Rights Council resolution 8/11. The report reflects the expert’s work in analysing how
specific poverty reduction strategies, in particular those related to the area of social
protection, comply with human rights standards.
2.
Since her previous annual report to the Human Rights Council (A/HRC/11/9) which
focused on a human rights approach to cash transfers programmes, the independent expert
submitted a report to the General Assembly (A/64/279) analysing the impact of the global
financial crisis on the human rights situation of people living in extreme poverty. It
highlighted the urgency of establishing and enhancing solid social protection systems to
address the impact of the crisis.
3.
The independent expert visited Zambia (August 2009) and Bangladesh (December
2009). In both countries, she comprehensively assessed existing social protection
programmes, including cash transfer schemes. In September 2009, she took part in the
Social Forum of the Human Rights Council, where she discussed the role of social
protection systems. During the reporting period, the expert also participated in numerous
events and held working meetings with Governments, United Nations agencies, donor
agencies, academic institutions, NGOs as well as representatives of people living in
poverty. In accordance with resolution 12/19 (October 2009) of the Human Rights Council,
she is also preparing a progress report on ways to improve the draft guiding principles on
extreme poverty and human rights, to be presented at the fifteenth session of the Human
Rights Council.
4.
This report focuses on the role that non-contributory pensions or social pensions1
play in reducing extreme poverty and contributing to the realization of human rights of
older persons. It also examines how a human rights perspective can be integrated into the
design, implementation and monitoring of these initiatives. Social pensions consist of cash
benefits received by persons above a given age that do not require prior compulsory
contributions from beneficiaries, employers or the State.
5.
To collect information to prepare this report, the independent expert sent a
questionnaire to Governments requesting information on their social pensions for older
persons. The questionnaire addressed: (i) the legal and institutional framework; (ii) the
schemes costs and coverage; (iii) implementation procedures; (iv) monitoring mechanisms
and complaints procedures; and (v) studies and evaluations. As of 10 March 2010, 45
countries had responded;2 all submissions are available on the webpage of the mandate.3
6.
The report also benefits from a review of the existing literature on the topic of oldage poverty and an expert meeting convened by the expert and organized by the Office of
the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, with the support of HelpAge
International and the Friedrich Ebert Stiftung, on 8–9 February 2010. Twenty five experts
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GE.10-12583
The report uses the two expressions interchangeably.
Albania, Algeria, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Belarus, Brazil, Canada, Costa Rica, Cyprus,
Dominican Republic, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Iraq, Japan, Kazakhstan,
Luxembourg, Mali, Mexico, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Nepal, Oman, Qatar, Republic of
Korea, Romania, Serbia, Singapore, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Spain, South Africa, Switzerland,
Syria, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Turkey, Ukraine, Venezuela
(Bolivarian Republic of) and Zambia.
http://www2.ohchr.org/english/issues/poverty/expert/index.htm.
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