UN Human Rights Council Social Forum
The 2014 Social Forum of the UN Human Rights Council took place on 1-3 April in Geneva, Switzerland, and focused on the human rights of older people. The Social Forum is an annual event established by the Human Rights Council to create a space for dialogue between the United Nations, representatives of Member States, civil society and intergovernmental organisations. This year, participants discussed what protection systems and standards are needed to respond to human rights violations of older people and called for a dedicated instrument for the protection of the rights of older persons.
Older people are often subjected to discrimination, neglect and social exclusion and there is no explicit prohibition of age discrimination, as well as no dedicated international protection regime for the human rights of older persons. Since 2010, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights has contributed towards a human rights perspective of older people in the UN ageing agenda. An Independent Expert on the enjoyment of all human rights by older persons will soon be appointed and an Open Ended Working Group looking into ways to strengthen the protection of the human rights of older persons was established in 2010. At the Social Forum, participants discussed at the following issues:
- Age discrimination
- Prevention of torture or violence
- Participation in decision-making
- Autonomy and independent living
- Quality and accessible long-term care
- Income security (continued access to employment, social security and social protection)
- Measures to ensure support in exercising legal capacity
Resources
Presentations and statements from the Social Forum
Report of the UN Secretary General on the current situation of older people in all regions of the world and the existing international framework to protect human rights of older people