A/HRC/42/43 I. Introduction 1. The Independent Expert on the enjoyment of all human rights by older persons, Rosa Kornfeld-Matte, submits the present report to the Human Rights Council pursuant to its resolution 33/5. In the report, the Independent Expert examines the human rights protection of older persons in emergency situations, an issue that she considers of key importance when addressing existing protection gaps. The Independent Expert also reports on her activities during the reporting period, in particular within the context of the third International Conference on the Human Rights of Older Persons, convened by Austria in Vienna on 12 and 13 November 2018. The declaration adopted at the Conference is annexed to the present report. II. Activities of the Independent Expert 2. During the reporting period, the Independent Expert visited Uruguay, from 19 to 29 November 2018 (see A/HRC/42/43/Add.1) and Mozambique, from 24 April to 2 May 2019 (see A/HRC/42/43/Add.2). She expresses her appreciation to the Governments of those countries for their cooperation before, during and after her visits, and for the fruitful and constructive dialogue. 3. On 11 September 2018, the Independent Expert, together with representatives of Argentina, Slovenia and the Group of Friends on the Human Rights of Older Persons (referred to informally as “GoF-HROP”), organized a panel discussion entitled “Social exclusion of older persons: impact and solutions”. She shared the findings of her previous thematic report (A/HRC/39/50) on the imperative need to adopt a human rights-based approach to ageing, which entails active measures against ageism and a re-conceptualizing of the way in which societies view older persons, from passive receivers of care and assistance to active contributors to society. She affirmed that social inclusion requires the mainstreaming of the rights of older persons into various fields, such as development, urban policies and poverty reduction strategies. Concluding, she stressed the significant negative practical implications due to the lack of a comprehensive and integrated international legal instrument to promote and protect the rights and dignity of older persons. 4. On 12 September 2018, the Independent Expert participated in a panel discussion on the theme “Older women and violence: challenges to access law enforcement and justice”, organized by the Women’s UN Report Network1 and other civil society organizations. In her keynote speech, she stressed that violence against older women was prevalent globally, yet still invisible. She discussed the reasons for under detection and reporting, the lack of statistics and data, and potential countermeasures, and insisted that far more was required to advance on awareness and sensitization, and that the sharing of good practices and global guidance were the first step towards addressing prevention, data and study lacunae, as was the gathering of evidence to develop concrete solution-based approaches. 5. In her statement marking the twenty-ninth anniversary of the International Day of Older Persons, on 1 October 2019, the Independent Expert paid tribute to all human rights advocates working to combat ageism, discrimination and the denial of rights of older persons. On 27 September 2018, she participated in a side event held at the United Nations Headquarters on the human rights of older persons and positive ageing. The event was convened by Chile, Argentina and the Group of Friends of Older Persons, and was chaired by the President of Chile, Sebastian Piñera and the First Lady, Cecilia Morel. In her address, the Independent Expert emphasized the need for a holistic approach to protect and respect the human rights of older persons to address the challenges they faced on a daily basis. 6. Pursuant to General Assembly resolution 72/144, on 2 October 2018 the Independent Expert addressed and engaged in an interactive dialogue with the Assembly under the agenda item on social development. Her presentation focused on the impact of the 1 https://wunrn.com/. 3