A/HRC/18/37 I. Introduction 1. At its fifteenth session, the Human Rights Council in its resolution 15/22 requested the Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health, Anand Grover, to prepare a thematic study on the realization of the right to health of older persons, including the main existing challenges and best practices, with the assistance of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and in consultation with States, relevant United Nations agencies, national human rights institutions and other relevant stakeholders. 2. In February 2011, the Special Rapporteur invited States, relevant United Nations agencies, national human rights institutions and other relevant stakeholders to submit information and comments that would inform him on the main existing challenges and good practices on the realization of the right to health of older persons.1 The Special Rapporteur expresses his appreciation for the high level of participation by States and other stakeholders in what is often perceived to be a complex and marginal area in human rights. 3. On 7 April 2011, the Special Rapporteur convened an expert meeting on the right to health of older persons in Geneva. During the meeting, a number of prominent experts on ageing, the health of older persons and health-related human rights had focused discussions of challenges posed by ageing and explored measures to address them from a human rights perspective. The main issues that were considered during the consultations related to primary health care and chronic illnesses; legal capacity and informed consent; palliative care; and home support and institutional care. 4. On 8 April 2011, the Special Rapporteur held a public consultation on the right to health of older persons in Geneva, which was organized by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) and attended by representatives of nearly 30 States and international organizations. During the public consultation the Special Rapporteur shared his initial remarks and main observations from the expert meeting, and engaged in an open dialogue with States and other relevant stakeholders on the realization of the right to health of older persons. II. Ageing: a shifting paradigm 5. The world population is ageing at a steady and significant pace. The total number of persons aged 60 years and above increased from 200 million in 1950 to 760 million in 2010, and it is anticipated to become over one billion by the end of the current decade.2 By 2050, it is expected that one in five persons will be over the age of 60. 3 The senior population is the fastest growing one and this is becoming a global phenomenon. 6. Although the growth of the older population is affecting the whole world, most of the increase is taking place in the developing world. More than half of the elderly (400 million) live in Asia, while Europe is the region with the second-largest number of older persons (nearly 161 million), followed by North America (65 million), Latin America and 1 2 3 In order to increase the outreach, the invitations were circulated both through notes verbales and through a public announcement posted on the OHCHR homepage of the Special Rapporteur, which allowed for direct electronic submissions. World Population Prospects: The 2008 Revision, vol. II: Sex and Age Distribution of the World Population (United Nations publication, Sales No. 10.XIII.3). World Health Organization, Social Development and Ageing: Crisis or Opportunity? (WHO, Geneva, 2000), p. 4. 3