A/HRC/26/46 to persons with low income, measures to ensure the affordability of medicines, and the creation of social assistance units by the Ministry of Health. However, public policies still needed to be adapted to the specific health issues linked with ageing. For example, growing life expectancies also involved increased morbidity rates, particularly given the prevalence of poverty among older persons. 24. In the interactive dialogue, representatives of Alzheimer’s Disease International, World Network of Users and Survivors of Psychiatry, AGE Platform Europe, Age International and Argentina raised various issues regarding the health of older persons including dementia and mental illness, neglect and abuse including torture and degrading treatment. Speakers called for an international instrument to address those issues and for measures to improve the treatment of older persons. They noted that during times of conflict and economic crisis older persons were disproportionately impacted and might be unable to afford health care or health insurance. They highlighted the need for comprehensive measures to promote the health of older persons, including through continuing education and employment. D. Older persons and the rights to social security and to work 25. Emmanuelle St-Pierre Guilbault, a legal specialist in the Social Protection Department at the International Labour Organization, discussed the right of older persons to work and their rights at work. The rights to work and social security were formulated in general terms in human rights instruments and did not address the specific situation of older persons. ILO standards defining the content of social security for all population groups addressed some older persons’ issues, taking into account best practices at the country level. ILO social security standards addressed the rights of older persons at work, social security and an adequate standard of living. Recommendation No. 162 (1980) concerning Older Workers specifically addressed older workers, pensions and age discrimination. Social Security (Minimum Standards) Convention No. 102 (1952) defined social security benefits that people should have throughout their lives, including in old age, in the event of disability or for other contingencies. Recommendation No. 202 (2012) concerning National Floors of Social Protection called for social protection floors and health-care coverage to keep people out of poverty and ensure a life of dignity. Ms. Guilbault concluded by describing efforts at the most recent international labour conference to address employment in the new demographic context which had resulted in a call for a new research agenda and further standard-setting. 26. Odile Frank, a representative of the Global Coalition for Social Protection Floors, described the efforts of that coalition of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and trade unions to promote social protection floors worldwide. Of the world population, 80 per cent was living in income insecurity. That situation had seriously worsened as a result of the economic and financial crisis. The concept of social protection floors had been made explicit in the United Nations system and had broad support, including from the Bretton Woods institutions, ILO and the human rights community. Social protection floors included universal access to essential health care and basic income security for children and in cases of maternity, unemployment, sickness and disability, and for older persons. Ms. Frank called for States to take a comprehensive approach to social security systems that would contribute to social justice and the enjoyment of human rights. 27. Marlene Márquez Herrera, a member of the executive board of CORV, commended the academic work on social protection floors but stressed the importance of including the perspectives of older persons themselves in the development of international plans to address ageing. She called for an increased focus on social security as a fundamental human right and a reconceptualization of how societies viewed ageing and older persons. She 8