A/HRC/33/44 various settings, taking into account a gender perspective. The findings should constitute the basis for further action. 67. Some countries have specific strategies for the prevention of elder abuse and have developed guidelines on violence prevention. The objective is to detect the level of violence in an organization or institution and to provide guidance on how to initiate violence-free treatment and care practices in older persons’ and nursing homes. Training programmes, including for security forces, are essential to help prevent and detect elder abuse. 68. Little information was provided on measures to support victims of violence and abuse, such as hotlines. 69. The development of safety action plans to prevent the main threats to the security of older persons was another topic that was mentioned in questionnaire responses. The main threats were abuse in its various forms, robberies, thefts, scams and the fraudulent use of older persons’ property. The action plans also seek to build older persons’ confidence in the police and to encourage older persons to contribute more actively to crime prevention and to report crimes, either as victims or witnesses. H. Participation 70. Several countries have established participatory mechanisms, such as national or local councils, to ensure the participation of older persons to guarantee that States develop age-sensitive laws and policies to implement and mainstream access to the required protection. Some bodies operate at the national level, others at the local level, and may be composed of organizations of older persons, civil society organizations working on issues of interest to older persons, experts and academics, national human rights institutions and older persons themselves. Competencies vary and include the right to put forward proposals to the Government on issues of relevance to older persons, analysing public policies relating to ageing, or providing information to the authorities on the challenges faced by older persons. I. Adequate standard of living 71. Housing is an essential aspect of active ageing and of the ability of older persons to live an autonomous life. Adequacy and affordability is often a concern, particularly in countries where tenant protection is weak. A number of countries reported on housing or rent assistance programmes for older persons to improve their access to adequate and affordable housing. 72. There are also programmes specifically targeting older persons living on the street. They encompass comprehensive assistance in terms of food, clothing and other basic services, as well as overnight accommodation for those who do not wish to move into residences, in order to improve their quality of life. J. Access to justice 73. Access to justice requires on the one hand enhanced awareness by older persons of their rights, legal aid and availability of effective remedies and on the other hand that their specific needs in terms of accessibility be taken into account. 74. Several countries have designed comprehensive policies to facilitate older persons’ access to justice. Measures comprise preferential treatment of older persons in judicial proceedings and the provision of adequate information in an age-friendly manner, as well GE.16-11742 13