HRBA Portal

United Nations Principles for Older Persons
Principles adopted by General Assembly resolution 46/91 of 16 December 1991 detailing the rights pertaining to independence, participation, care, self-fulfillment, and dignity of older persons.

UNDESA Programme on Ageing
This is the website of the UNDESA Programme on Ageing, the focal point within the United Nations system on matters related to ageing. As the focal point, its primary action is to facilitate and promote the Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing, including designing guidelines for policy development and implementation; advocating means to mainstream ageing issues into development agendas; engaging in dialogue with civil society and the private sector; and information exchange.

The UN Open-Ended Working Group on Ageing
The website for the Open-Ended Working Group on Ageing established by the UN General Assembly by resolution 65/182 on 21 December 2010 featuring reports, activities and documentation. The Working Group will consider the existing international framework of the human rights of older persons and identify possible gaps and how best to address them, including by considering, as appropriate, the feasibility of further instruments and measures.

“Setting the scene: Existing international framework”, First substantive session of Open-ended Working Group on the Human Rights of Older Persons (19 April 2011)
Statement of Mr. Craig Mokhiber during the first substantive session of Open-ended Working Group on the Human Rights of Older Persons considering the human rights mechanisms of the UN and how they apply to the rights of older persons.

Human Rights of Older Persons: AARP-UN Briefing series on Global Aging
A briefing calling for a clear and vigorous articulation of core human rights principles such as non-discrimination that are essential dimensions of legislation and public policy concerning older persons.

HelpAge International
HelpAge International helps older people claim their rights, challenge discrimination and overcome poverty, so that they can lead dignified, secure, active and healthy lives.

Global Action on Aging
A webpage compiling information on the rights of older persons including issues of health, rural lifestyles, armed conflicts, pensions and more.

Relevant International Standards

In recent years, various stakeholders have called for more visibility and increased use of international human rights standards to address the dire situation of millions of older women and men around the world.   By virtue of the universal scope of all rights, the whole range of internationally recognized human rights standards and principles, as contained in core international human rights treaties, also covers and protects older persons.

Specific Instruments

 Political Declaration and Madrid Plan of Action (2002)
The Madrid Plan of Action focuses on three priority areas: older persons and development; advancing health and well-being into old age; and ensuring enabling and supportive environments. It is a resource for policymaking, suggesting ways for Governments and other actors to reorient the ways in which their societies perceive, interact with and care for their older citizens.

Brasilia Declaration (2007)
At the Second Regional Intergovernmental Conference on Ageing in Latin America and the Caribbean, emphasis was directed toward the responsibility of Governments to promote and provide basic social and health-care services and facilitate access to older person, bearing in mind their specific needs. It further noted the creation of legal protection frameworks.

Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (1979)
Section E of Article 11 grants “(e) The right to social security, particularly in cases of retirement, unemployment, sickness, invalidity and old age and other incapacity to work, as well as the right to paid leave”, and generally protects women of advanced age from discrimination based on gender.

• See also:  CEDAW General Recommendation No. 27 on Older Women and Protection of their Human Rights

Resolution 66/173. Follow-up to the Second World Assembly on Ageing
The 2011 UN Secretary-General’s report on ageing focuses, for the first time, on the human rights of older persons. The report shows growing international concern for the situation of older men and women particularly in relation to age-related discrimination; violence and abuse; and lack of special measures and protection mechanisms. The report devotes attention to critical ESC rights, such as the right to health, to social security, to work and to an adequate standard of living.

You can also access a comprehensive list of international standards on the human rights of older persons including relevant Resolutions and Reports through this UN webpage.

Other Relevant Instruments

International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (1966)
This Convention includes highly relevant provisions for the protection of human rights of older persons, such as the rights to health, to an adequate standard of living, to freedom from torture, legal capacity and equality before the law.

See also:

• CESCR, General Comment No. 6 on the Economic, Social and Cultural Rights of Older Persons
• CESCR, General Comment No. 19 on the Right to Social Security
• Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (1965)

Article 5 in Part I of CERD contains provisions for the rights of older persons regardless of race or ethnicity to civil and political rights including the right to housing, work, public health, medical care, social security and social services, and to equal participation in cultural activities.

International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (1966)
The ICCPR contains provisions that protect the civil and political rights for all persons without exclusion of those in advanced age, noting equal protection from discrimination, inhuman treatment, and violations of liberty, life, and political freedom.