A/HRC/45/14/Add.1 discrimination based on age, individually and cumulatively, exclusion, poverty and all forms of violence, abuse, neglect and maltreatment. 2. Discrimination 75. The Independent Expert stresses the need to take appropriate measures to translate the protection guarantees under the National Human Rights Action Plan (2016–2020) into practice and to eliminate multiple and intersecting forms of discrimination experienced by older persons, including older women, older persons belonging to ethnic and religious minorities, older persons with disabilities and those living in rural areas. 76. Noting the existing non-discrimination means available, the Independent Expert advocates for the translation and mainstreaming of the term “ageism” along with its notional conception. She also notes insufficient awareness and appreciation of ageism and stresses the need to adopt specifically targeted policies and a dedicated normative anti-ageism response. 77. She also encourages the Government to consider establishing an independent national equality body to monitor and report on discrimination issues, including discrimination against older persons, or ageism; to promote equality; and to deal with complaints of discrimination in an expeditious manner, ensuring access to justice in the fight against discrimination and inequality. 3. Violence, maltreatment, neglect and abuse 78. The Independent Expert recognizes the measures taken by the Government to combat violence, maltreatment, neglect and abuse of older persons, but emphasizes that additional measures and mechanisms are needed to detect, report and prevent all forms of abuse in institutional and family settings. Protocols and procedures are generally needed to assist individuals, families, caregivers and community groups to recognize those at risk and respond when appropriate. Caregivers in domestic and institutional settings need to be sensitized and trained on how to prevent and detect violence, and abuse and neglect of older persons. 79. She also encourages the Government to do more to sensitize and raise awareness among the general public. In addition, she recommends specific training for judges, lawyers and prosecutors as well as law enforcement officials, which is essential to ensuring investigations of incident cases and to its human rights-based remedy. In view of a general tendency towards the underreporting of cases of violence and abuse involving older persons, she further stresses that disseminating information to older persons about their rights is essential in encouraging them to disclose any abusive experiences. 4. Education, training and lifelong learning 80. The Independent Expert notes that China recognizes the challenges faced in ensuring education, training and lifelong learning of older persons, including insufficient resources; the need to address the disparities in the development between rural, urban and peri-urban areas and regions; and the need to strengthen both departmental coordination and the depth and breadth of social participation. 81. The Independent Expert noted that China has very good practices with regard to Universities of the Third Age for older persons. She underlines the need to expand lifelong learning opportunities with a special focus on enhancing the participation of older women. It would be important to unleash older women’s potential through lifelong learning and new forms of employment and engagement. Ensuring access to education and training in old age requires that the living environment of older persons be taken into account in the planning and design of educational opportunities. While targeted educational programmes are important, older persons should not be excluded from broader educational programmes, as this would be limiting and could also lead to creating spaces of social exclusion. 16