Countdown to Human Rights Day
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights is a real cornerstone for the United Nations.
Issued by
Independent Expert on the enjoyment of all human rights by older persons
Published
25 July 2023
presented to
the 78th session of the General Assembly
Issued by Special Procedures
Subjects
Climate change, Older persons
Symbol Number
A/78/226
Summary
In the present report, the Independent Expert on the enjoyment of all human rights by older persons, Claudia Mahler, examines the rights of older persons in the context of climate change-induced disasters and how to build forward more equally.
Older persons are among those who are the most affected by the negative impacts of climate change, including the spread of diseases, temperature changes and the increased frequency and intensity of natural disasters. As noted by the Human Rights Council in its resolution 44/7, under international human rights law States and other duty bearers, including businesses, must “promote, protect and respect, as would be appropriate, human rights, including those of older persons, when taking action to address the adverse effects of climate change”. However older persons do not constitute a homogenous group when facing the impacts of climate change. The adverse effects felt by all older persons are aggravated by multiple and intersectional factors of inequality and discrimination, such as gender, ethnicity, or economic or migration status. Older women, older persons from ethnic minorities, older Indigenous people and older persons with disabilities, for example, are disproportionately affected by climate change-related harms. Ageism further aggravates the disproportionate impacts of climate change on the human rights of older persons. Yet, older persons are often neglected in humanitarian responses as well as in climate change-related disaster preparedness and management.
Pursuant to Human Rights Council resolution 44/7, in 2021 the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights presented an Analytical study on the promotion and protection of the rights of older persons in the context of climate change (A/HRC/47/46). The Analytical study analyses the international legal framework promoting and protecting the rights of older persons in the context of climate change and highlights the potential of older persons in addressing the adverse impacts of climate change.
The Independent Expert on the enjoyment of all human rights by older persons, Dr. Claudia Mahler, will focus her next thematic report on older persons in the context of climate change-induced disasters and building back better. The report will be presented to the 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly in October 2023.
In this report, the Independent Expert will examine the human rights of older persons in responses to climate change-related disasters, including emergency preparedness and management. The report will aim at taking stock of laws and policies at the international, national and local level that are taking older persons into account in relation to emergency response in relation to climate change but also risk management and preventive measures. It will also address the issue of older persons’ access to information in relation to climate change disasters, as well as the participation of older persons in climate change-related emergency response and preparedness. The objective of the report is to provide a catalogue of good practices put in place by governments, as well as an analysis of the gaps in the existing framework and the challenges faced by relevant stakeholders. The Independent Expert will address the issue from an intersectional perspective, in exploring the interactions with other social factors such as gender, sex, race, ethnicity, indigenous identity, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, social status, place of origin, and immigration status. Finally, the Independent Expert will provide recommendations on upholding the human rights of older persons in the prevention, mitigation, and response to climate-change disasters.
In this regard and to inform her report, the Independent Expert would like to seek written inputs from relevant stakeholders, including national and local governments, national and international non-governmental organizations, national human rights institutions, international and regional inter-governmental organizations, United Nations agencies and entities, activists, academics, and older persons.
She strongly encourages sharing concrete examples of good practices where available.
The Independent Expert kindly invites all interested stakeholders to share their views and provide written submissions on the following issues:
Argentina: note verbale | input
Chile: note verbale | input
Lithuania: note verbale | input
Italy
Mexico: note verbale | input-1 | input-2
Defensoría del Pueblo de la Nación (Argentina)
Amnesty International: input-1 | input-2
Association for Aging Studies (SENEX)
Association of Reintegration of Crimea
Die Bundesarbeitsgemeinschaft der Seniorenorganisationen (BAGSO)
HelpAge International: input | annex-1 | annex-2 | annex-3
International Longevity Centre Canada
Organization for Defending Victims of Violence (ODVV)
Lisette R. Robles, Rogie Royce Z. Carandang, Agustinus Koli and Rochelle Agualin