Objectives of the report

The report of the Independent Expert, Ms. Claudia Mahler, will focus her report to the General Assembly in 2020 on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the enjoyment of the human rights of older persons. The report aims to highlight the challenges for the rights of older persons in the current national and international legal framework. It will analyse different risks to older persons human rights which were exacerbated and heightened and made more apparent during the pandemic. Ageism and age discrimination have continued, together with violations to older persons’ right to health and care service support, including their right to life, their right to information, their right to live free from violence, abuse and neglect, and their right to participate and to social inclusion. The report will provide best practices and case studies.

Key questions and types of input sought

The below questionnaire has been developed jointly with other Special Procedures mandate holders to facilitate submissions covering a range of human rights concerns related to the COVID 19 pandemic. Questions developed by the Independent Expert on the enjoyment of all human rights by older persons can be found on page 10 of the joint questionnaire.

States, international and regional organizations, National Human Rights Institutions, and civil society organizations, UN agencies and other stakeholders are invited to submit their responses. Relevant reports developed for other purposes will also be accepted.

How inputs will be used

Submissions will be published on the website of the Special Procedures, unless the submitting party indicates otherwise.

For all replies, please refer to the inputs found in the SPB Joint COVID Inputs page