Human Rights of Older Persons

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Human Rights of Older Persons

In 2050, for the first time in human history, there will be more persons over 60 than children in the world. Yet older persons are all too often subjected to discrimination, neglect, ageism, exclusion and other human rights violations.

UN Human Rights works to ensure the protection and promotion of the rights of older persons. Analysis by the Office illustrates that the existing human rights framework is inadequate when it comes to older persons.

In a milestone development, States adopted a Human Rights Council Resolution in 2025 to start drafting a new legally binding instrument on the rights of older persons. This instrument will address existing gaps, establish standards to combat ageism, and create accountability mechanisms to ensure that the human rights of older persons are upheld.

UN Human Rights supports the open-ended intergovernmental working group tasked with elaborating this new instrument and assists the Independent Expert on the enjoyment of all human rights by older persons in carrying out their mandate.

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Our work on Human Rights of Older Persons

OHCHR and UNESCO Contribution to European Commission’s call for evidence on the European Arctic Policy
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OHCHR input to EU Public Consultation - Enhancing the Strategy for the rights of persons with disabilities up to 2030
OHCHR Contribution to the European Commission's call for evidence for the forthcoming European Ocean Act
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OHCHR Europe's Contribution to the European Commission's call for evidence on Public Participation and Better Regulation
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Key Messages: Expert Roundtable on the EU’s Facilitation Directive: An opportunity to rethink EU Counter-smuggling responses
2025-10 UN Human Rights UN-Habitat Joint Submission on the European Affordable Housing Plan
Advocating for a Human Rights-Based EU Anti-Poverty Strategy
An EU Anti-Poverty Strategy grounded in human rights - Input to the EU public consultation
Key messages: Multi-Stakeholder Dialogue on Human Rights Defenders Mobility and Protection in the EU
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Key messages: Panel discussion on “safeguarding human rights in simplification: the EU’s proposal to amend the CSDDD” (23 September 2025)
HUMAN RIGHTS AS GUIDING COMPASS FOR EU SOCIAL POLICY
20250910 Input - Consultation EPSR UN Human Rights
EU CONSULTATION ON THE NEXT GENDER EQUALITY STRATEGY
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Recommendations 2026-2030 EU Anti-racism Strategy
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Review of EU Member States by United Nations Human Rights Mechanisms in the Area of LGBTIQ+ Rights
SUMMARY: The state of water and human rights in the EU27: a human rights-based approach to water resilience
The state of water and human rights in the EU27: a human rights-based approach to water resilience
OHCHR Raises Concerns over “Omnibus” Proposal That Risks Undermining EU Corporate Sustainability Directive
OHCHR Commentary on the Omnibus Proposal
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Response to the European Commission consultation on draft act on researcher access to data under the EU Digital Services Act
JOINING FORCES TO BETTER SUPPORT AND PROTECT ENVIRONMENTAL HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS (EHRDS) IN EUROPE:
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EU receives key consultative report on the right to health for People of African Descent for upcoming action plan
Consultation Report and Recommendations for the post-2025 EU ARAP
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Joint statement on the EU Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive by OHCHR, UNDP, UNEP, UNFPA, UNICEF and UNOPS
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OHCHR observations: EU returns proposal
Regional Dialogue on the Right to a Clean, Healthy and Sustainable environment
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Guidance to respect children’s rights in return policies and practices
Ending the immigration detention of children in the EU
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Human Rights of Older Persons in Europe
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The Rights of Vulnerable Children under the Age of Three - ending their placement in institutional care
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Rights of Domestic Migrant Workers in Europe
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Forgotten Europeans – Forgotten Rights: Human Rights of persons in institutional care
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The UN Human Rights Europe Office engages closely with EU institutions, UN partners, civil society organizations and National Human Rights Institutions to promote age equality and the rights of older persons.

Our work in this area focuses on the following priorities:

  • Raising awareness on the drafting process of the new legally binding instrument on the rights of older persons
  • Promoting older persons’ participation in EU and global processes