A/HRC/RES/35/13
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,
Reaffirming that the family, as the fundamental group of society and the natural
environment for the growth and well-being of all its members, should be afforded the
necessary protection and assistance so that it can fully assume its responsibilities within the
community,
Affirming that everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health
and well-being of himself or herself and of his or her family, including food, clothing,
housing and medical care and necessary social services, and the right to security in the
event of unemployment, sickness, disability, widowhood, old age or other lack of
livelihood in circumstances beyond his or her control,
Recognizing the potential contribution of the family to society, national development
and the achievement of major objectives of every society and of the United Nations, and
noting with concern that such a contribution continues to be underestimated,
Recalling that the pledge made by all States with the adoption of the 2030 Agenda
for Sustainable Development1 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,
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,
Welcoming the holding of the intersessional seminar on the protection of the family
and disability,
1.
Reaffirms that the family is the natural and fundamental group unit of society,
and is entitled to protection by society and the State;
2.
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;
3.
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;
4.
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;
1
2
General Assembly resolution 70/1.