Human Rights Council

Forty- second session

9–27 September 2019

Agenda item 3

Resolution adopted by the Human Rights Council on 26 September 2019

42 / 12. The human rights of older persons

The Human Rights Council,

Guided by the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations,

Guided also by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and other relevant human rights instruments,

Reaffirming the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action,

Bearing in mind the Political Declaration and the Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing of 2002, and all other relevant General Assembly resolutions,

Recalling General Assembly resolution 70/164 of 17 December 2015 on measures to enhance the promotion and protection of the human rights and dignity of older persons, and Human Rights Council resolutions 21/23 of 28 September 2012, 24/20 of 27 September 2013 and 33/5 of 29 September 2016 on the human rights of older persons,

Recalling also its resolutions 5/1, on institution-building of the Human Rights Council, and 5/2, on the Code of Conduct for special procedure mandate holders of the Council, of 18 June 2007, and stressing that the mandate holder shall discharge his or her duties in accordance with those resolutions and the annexes thereto,

Recognizing the importance of the mandate of the Independent Expert on the enjoyment of all human rights by older persons in raising awareness of the rights of older persons, and taking note with appreciation of the reports of the Independent Expert and of the Open-ended Working Group on Ageing, which is open to all States Members of the United Nations, for the purpose of strengthening the protection of the human rights of older persons,

Acknowledging the efforts of States to determine the best way to strengthen the protection of the human rights of older persons, and considering the various proposals that have been made within the Open-ended Working Group on Ageing, including the possible elaboration of a multilateral legal instrument on the rights of older persons,

1.Welcomesthe work of the Independent Expert on the enjoyment of all human rights by older persons;

2.Decides to extend the mandate of the Independent Expert on the enjoyment of all human rights by older persons for a period of three years according to the terms set out by the Human Rights Council in its resolution 33/5;

3.Requests all Governments to cooperate with the Independent Expert, and invites them to provide the mandate holder with all necessary information relating to the mandate;

4.Requests the Independent Expert to report regularly to the Human Rights Council and the General Assembly in accordance with their respective programmes of work;

5.Also r equests the Independent Expert to work in close coordination, while avoiding unnecessary duplication, with the Open-ended Working Group on Ageing, including by participating in its annual session;

6.Encourages all relevant stakeholders, including United Nations agencies, funds and programmes, human rights mechanisms, national human rights institutions and civil society, and invites the private sector, donors and development agencies, to cooperate fully with the Independent Expert to enable the mandate holder to fulfil the mandate;

7.Requests the Secretary-General to ensure that the reports of the Independent Expert are brought to the attention of the Open-ended Working Group on Ageing, in accordance with paragraphs 1 and 3 of General Assembly resolution 67/139 of 20 December 2012, and to the Assembly;

8.Requests the Secretary-General and the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to provide the Independent Expert with all the human, technical and financial resources necessary for the effective fulfilment of the mandate;

9.Decides to remain seized of the matter.

39th meeting 26 September 2019

[Adopted without a vote.]