A/HRC/24/25 State, of social justice and of the reduction in regional disparities in health centres and in qualified health personnel. 57. During the discussion, the representative of Brazil noted that legislation to protect the rights of older persons had been introduced in 1994 and improved in 2003. Civil society played an important role in making proposals and monitoring implementation. Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of) indicated that its Constitution forbade age discrimination and provided for the protection of older persons, including protection of their human dignity and autonomy, access to efficient social services, an adequate standard of living and pensions tied to the minimum urban wage. Legislation had been adopted to ensure access to adequate social, geriatric and gerontology services, and to extend social coverage and health services. The European Union stated that one of the objectives of the European Year for Active Ageing and Solidarity between Generations in 2012 had been to encourage healthy ageing in dignity. A dedicated European Union health programme had launched initiatives to promote health and reduce health inequalities, promote healthy ageing, patients’ safety and health information. 58. Ms. St. Pierre Guibault pointed out certain key elements that would enhance success in providing social security, including constitutional protection, enabling legislation to give effect to rights, universality of protection through universal schemes, guaranteed minimum income, the responsibility and proactive response of the State in pursuing innovative strategies and the involvement of civil society. 59. Ms. Araujo de Carvalho highlighted other important elements, such as evidencebased research, for example on the impact of the implementation of a human rights-based approach to women’s health. She emphasized the importance of civil participation in the promotion of intergenerational solidarity. Mr. Atlas stressed that the participation of civil society and the private sector should be taken into account in the process of protecting and promoting the rights of older persons. E. Abuse and neglect of and violence against older persons 60. The panel discussion on abuse, neglect and violence against older persons was moderated by the Chief of the Women’s Rights and Gender Section of OHCHR, and included interventions by Viviane Brunne, Associate Population Affairs Officer with the Economic Commission for Europe (ECE); the Director of the Resource Centre for the Elderly of Kyrgyzstan, Svetlana Bashtovenko; and the Chairperson of the Tanzania Social Protection Network, Theresa Minja. 61. Ms. Brunne emphasized that older persons had a fundamental right to protection from abuse, and that the State had a correlative obligation to put in place legal and social structures to protect them from abuse, to ensure legal investigation and prosecution, and to intervene and remove victims from situations of abuse. Many consequences resulted from abuse: reluctance to seek help for fear of institutionalization, social withdrawal, anxiety, depression, increased dependence, illness, emergency room visits, mortality, additional costs for health and care systems, and loss of social capital and people as productive resources in society. Comparative analysis showed that data were seldom available and that underreporting was common. 62. Several international policy instruments referred to violence against and abuse and neglect of older persons. For example, the Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing recognized the dignity of older persons, and called on States to adopt measures to eliminate all forms of neglect, abuse and violence; the ECE Regional Implementation Strategy of 2002 stated that all ages should enjoy quality of life, independent living, health and wellbeing; and the Vienna Ministerial Declaration of 2012 referred to the need for policies on 13