A/HRC/36/48 7. The Independent Expert also presented her comprehensive report to the seventh session of the Open-ended Working Group on Ageing, which was held in New York from 12 to 15 December 2016. The Independent Expert was pleased to note that many delegations echoed her findings that the existing international legal framework, regardless of its degree of implementation, is not enough to comprehensively and effectively ensure the enjoyment of all human rights by older persons, and that it addresses the issues of ageing from a developmental rather than a human rights approach. It will be important to capitalize on the increasing cross-regional consensus that there are many areas in which further protection of the human rights of older persons is needed to allow them to fully enjoy and actually exercise their human rights. The Independent Expert looks forward to collaborating further with, and contributing to the work of, the Open-ended Working Group on Ageing, in accordance with her mandate. 8. The Independent Expert also participated in a side event on ageism and the human rights of older persons on the margins of the Open-ended Working Group on Ageing organized by the International Longevity Centre Canada, in partnership with the University of Ottawa’s Faculty of Health Sciences. In her statement, she noted the need to give a voice to older persons in international forums to promote dialogue and cooperation on issues affecting them. 9. Together with the Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health, the Independent Expert participated in the fourth Annual Conference of AGE Platform Europe on 18 November 2016 in Brussels, which focused on age discrimination, while strengthening both the economic and social rights of older persons in order to empower them as equal citizens and rights-holders. 10. The Independent Expert has identified elder abuse as a priority area for her mandate and continued to undertake targeted activities in this area. She contributed to the side event on the occasion of the World Elder Abuse Awareness Day on 15 June 2017, entitled “Violence against older persons, a human rights issue”, co-organized by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and the Group of Friends of the Human Rights of Older Persons, and the Permanent Missions of Argentina, Austria, Brazil, El Salvador, Israel, Montenegro, Namibia, Portugal, Slovenia and Uruguay to the United Nations Office and other international organizations in Geneva. The United Nations Population Fund, the World Health Organization, the Geneva NGO Committee on Ageing and the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions also supported this event. In her message, the Independent Expert urged public action to halt the abuse of older persons by relatives. III. Robots and rights: the impact of automation on the human rights of older persons A. Background 11. In 1942, science fiction author Isaak Asimov formulated the Three Laws of Robotics, which, until today, underpin virtually every discussion in this area. Accordingly, “a robot may not injure a human being or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm. A robot must obey orders given it by human beings except where such orders would conflict with the First Law. A robot must protect its own existence as long as such protection does not conflict with the First or Second Law.” As forward-looking as these laws were at the time, even predating the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the unprecedented impact of progressive digitalization on every sphere of our lives requires us to take this debate a step further to ensure that the human rights framework adequately addresses the ensuing challenges. 12. Robots and artificial intelligence will radically transform our lives, including the concept of care of older persons. This is not meant to be a prophecy, but a call for reflection 4