A/HRC/33/44 18. The population is ageing in all regions of the world. While Western Europe continues to have the oldest population, 67 per cent of older persons currently live in developing countries. In the years to come, most of the projected growth will take place in the global South, as some countries and regions entered the demographic transition only recently. 19. The older population itself is also ageing. The group of persons aged 80 or over, which currently accounts for 14 per cent of older persons, will grow to 21 per cent in 2050. B. Regulatory and normative developments 20. In her first report to the Human Rights Council, the Independent Expert provided an overview of the international instruments and initiatives pertaining to the rights of older persons. The 2012 report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to the Economic and Social Council (E/2012/51 and Corr.1) contains a thorough analysis of existing international instruments and gaps in the protection regime. In 2011, OHCHR had prepared a valuable background paper for the Open-ended Working Group on Ageing, in which it reviewed existing international human rights norms as they apply to older persons and summarized the relevant work of some international human rights mechanisms, particularly treaty monitoring bodies and special procedures, in addressing substantive human rights issues in all regions of the world. 2 The present report therefore focuses on the regulatory and normative developments that have taken place since the completion of the Independent Expert’s previous report. 21. On 15 June 2015, the States members of the Organization of American States approved the Inter-American Convention on Protecting the Human Rights of Older Persons. It has not yet received the two ratifications required for the Convention to enter into force. 22. The Convention is the first regional normative instrument dedicated to older persons and represents a major step forward in addressing the human rights of older persons. The Convention is an example of good practice that could inspire other regions, as it allows States to strengthen cohesion and normative action and to clarify States’ obligations with regard to the rights of older persons. 23. The African Union Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Rights of Older Persons in Africa is another major development. The Protocol covers a range of rights including access to health services, freedom from discrimination and the right to employment, social protection and education, providing a framework for Governments to protect those rights. 24. The adoption of the Sustainable Development Goals by the General Assembly on 25 September 2015 represents an important step forward, as older persons are included directly or by implication in 15 of the 17 global Goals. In particular, Goal 3: Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages, will be instrumental in fighting age discrimination within health systems to ensure that older persons around the world enjoy their basic human right to the highest attainable standard of health and well-being as they age. The challenge ahead is to ensure that those commitments are followed through and the goals are met. 2 6 See http://social.un.org/ageing-working-group/documents/OHCHR% 20Backgroud%20paper%202011.pdf. GE.16-11742