A/HRC/42/43 the Independent Expert gave a keynote speech on 7 June 2019 at the conference on ageing and technology in an inclusive society, organized by the Lisbon University Institute, in which she highlighted the necessities for a human rights-based approach. III. Human rights of older persons in emergency situations A. Background 12. In the present report, the Independent Expert builds on her activities in accordance with her mandate, paying special attention to the different groups of older persons, such as refugees and climate-displaced persons, and persons facing conflict, emergency or disaster situations. She notably draws on the discussions held at the side event on “Building climate resilience: the rights of groups in focus” and during the expert round-table discussion on “Climate displacement and human rights�� at the Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue in Geneva in June 2015 (see A/HRC/30/43), in which the Independent Expert participated. The report is also informed by the discussions held in April 2016 on the need to build older persons’ resilience in disaster situations at the Climate Displacement Roundtable organized in Geneva by Displacement Solutions and the Global Migration Centre of the Graduate Institute Geneva (A/HRC/33/44, para. 14). 13. The Independent Expert also paid particular attention to the issue of older persons in post-disaster situations or affected by climatic changes during her country visits, including to Mauritius (A/HRC/30/43/Add.3), Namibia (A/HRC/36/48/Add.2), Costa Rica (A/HRC/33/44/Add.1), Singapore (A/HRC/36/48/Add.1), Georgia (A/HRC/39/50/Add.1) and Mozambique (A/HRC/42/43/Add.2), which allowed her to gather first-hand information. 14. On 13 September 2019, the Independent Expert held bilateral consultations at the Headquarters of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in Geneva to discuss various protection issues pertaining to older persons in emergency situations. She commends ICRC, in particular the advisers on detention, inclusion and diversity, for convening the consultations, in which the challenges of humanitarian action and response activities for older persons, and opportunities and roles, were discussed, and which also informed the present report. The Independent Expert also expresses her gratitude to the International Labour Organization for the consultations held in April 2019 and its contribution. 15. On 28 February 2019, the Independent Expert convened an interagency and stakeholder meeting at the Palais des Nations, United Nations Office at Geneva, on how humanitarian organizations could enhance the inclusion of older persons in responses to humanitarian emergencies. At the meeting, participants also considered the roles and specific vulnerabilities of older persons in humanitarian crises, as well as the obstacles and opportunities for inclusive humanitarian assistance. The Independent Expert thanks all stakeholders for their valuable contributions and insight. 16. On 5 April 2019, in Geneva, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) organized bilateral consultations with some 20 representatives from various fields of competences, areas of responsibilities and several field offices via videoconference to discuss the situation of older persons in forced displacement. The primary aim was to identify the key issues that older persons face in forced displacement, and to make recommendations to assist in the preparation of a written UNHCR submission to inform the present report. The Independent Expert expresses her gratitude to UNHCR, and commends it for that initiative, and for its cooperation and support for the cause of protecting the rights of older persons. She further notes with appreciation that UNHCR has substantially increased its emphasis on priority areas of engagement with regard to protecting the rights of older persons in forced displacement, and has established a dedicated focal point on ageing within its Division of International Protection. The Independent Expert looks forward to continuing this constructive and fruitful cooperation. 5