A/HRC/42/43/Add.1 C. Adequate standard of living and autonomy 38. Uruguay has a long history of social welfare policies, and reforms have sought to raise people out of poverty and to lower inequalities. The country has been described as South America’s first welfare State, including as a result of its pioneering efforts in health care and social security. During recent years, the Government has aimed to lower poverty and income inequalities further. Between 2008 and 2012, the poverty rate for the population as a whole fell from over 20 per cent to 12.4 per cent, while extreme poverty fell from 1.6 per cent to 0.5 per cent (A/HRC/WG.6/18/URY/1, paras. 80 and 83). In 2017, the poverty rate fell to 7.9 per cent, while extreme poverty fell to 0.1 per cent and inequality to 0.38 per cent (A/HRC/WG.6/32/URY/1, para. 111). 39. The incidence of poverty among older persons is significantly lower than among the population as a whole, and declined faster than in other age groups during the 1990s. In all age groups, poverty reduced during the first half of the 1990s and has risen again in recent years, but the rise has been less pronounced among older persons than among other age groups. Substantial numbers of older persons in Uruguay contribute financially to their families by supporting younger generations. 40. While noting that poverty among older persons in Uruguay is relatively low compared to other age groups, in the case of older persons, poverty and deprivation take on particular relevance when they intersect with physical and intellectual limitations. 41. Notwithstanding the many institutional and economic efforts made, poverty continues to cause concern, and the ethically unacceptable extremes of destitution and social exclusion continue to persist (A/HRC/WG.6/5/URY/1, para. 92). Older women in poverty, specifically widows with no children, are particularly vulnerable as they also do not have informal safety nets to provide them with assistance. 42. Transportation, the physical environment, information and communications facilities and services open to the public, particularly in rural areas, are not fully accessible for older persons, notably those with disabilities (CRPD/C/URY/CO/1, para. 21). The quantity and quality of basic services and their accessibility is more limited in rural than in urban areas, which particularly affects older rural women. In Montevideo, the Government introduced the Golden Card which provides older persons with discounts on services in sectors such as tourism, recreation and health. 43. Uruguay has made progress in terms of housing-related action for older persons. In 2001, it passed Act No. 18340 establishing the first housing benefits for retirees and pensioners. The benefits were extended in 2006, when a rent subsidy was created; the subsidy was enhanced in September 2009 under executive order No. 397/009. 44. Nonetheless, a considerable number of persons in Uruguay, including older persons, live in informal settlements. These older persons and those who are homeless face several challenges regarding access to or the quality or affordability of services, hindering their enjoyment of their fundamental rights. Forced evictions that are conducted without providing appropriate protection and the criminalization of homelessness in certain instances are also issues of concern (A/HRC/WG.6/32/URY/2, para. 33). 45. Various legal provisions, in particular articles 37 and 80 of the Constitution and some provisions of the Civil Code (as amended by Act No. 17535 on persons subject to general guardianship), are contrary to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and discriminate against and restrict the legal capacity of persons with disabilities (CRPD/C/URY/CO/1, para. 25). D. Social protection and the rights to social security and work 46. Uruguay has a long history of providing social security and having formal pension systems. One characteristic of the social protection system in Uruguay is that both contributory and non-contributory transfers are integrated, financed and provided by a 8