A/HRC/27/46 D. Global context 19. In 2002, the Second World Assembly on Ageing adopted the Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing to respond to the opportunities and challenges of population ageing in the twenty-first century. The Plan of Action was preceded by the Vienna International Plan of Action on Ageing, which was adopted at the First World Assembly on Ageing, held in Vienna in 1982 and which was subsequently endorsed by the General Assembly. 20. The Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing requires States to take measures to address ageing in order to achieve a society for all ages. It also calls for the mainstreaming of ageing into national and global development agendas, and contains recommendations for action focused on three priority areas, namely development, health and well-being, and enabling and supportive environments, which are divided into specific issues, objectives and actions. 21. The Independent Expert has been mandated to assess the human rights implications of its implementation. In this context, she notes that the Secretary-General, in his report on further Implementation of the Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing, outlined impediments to its implementation, including the lack of financial and human resources, lack of political focus and will, and differing national and regional perceptions of old age issues, which translate into different policy approaches, as well as emerging views and approaches.6 22. In its resolution 65/182 on the follow-up to the Second World Assembly on Ageing, the General Assembly established the Open-ended Working Group on Ageing for the purpose of strengthening the protection of the human rights of older persons by considering the existing international framework of the human rights of older persons and identifying possible gaps and how best to address them, including by considering, as appropriate, the feasibility of further instruments and measures. 23. As mentioned above, the Independent Expert will work in close coordination with the Open-ended Working Group, while avoiding unnecessary duplication. In this regard, it is important to note the difference in the mandates of the Independent Expert and the Openended Working Group. While the latter is mandated to consider the existing international framework of the human rights of older persons to identify possible gaps and to assess how best to address them, including by considering, as appropriate, the feasibility of further instruments and measures, the Independent Expert is entrusted to assess the implementation of the existing law and to identify best practices and gaps. The comprehensive report that the Independent Expert has been requested to prepare for the Human Rights Council at its thirty-third session will be brought to the attention of the Working Group, in accordance with Council resolution 24/20. E. International standards and initiatives 24. At the international level, there are policies, standards and mechanisms aimed at protecting and promoting the rights of older persons, either in the form of generic or specific provisions, especially in the field of international labour law, as well as international and human rights law. This leads to a context of regulatory dispersion (rather than “legal gap” or “lack of regulation”), whereby the rights of older persons lack systematic protection. 6 6 E/CN.5/2014/4.

Select target paragraph3

Connect to a paragraph
Connect to an entity
Disable highlights
Add to table of contents