UN expert to assess human rights situation of older persons in Georgia

GENEVA (8 March 2018) – United Nations human rights expert Rosa Kornfeld-Matte will carry out her first official visit to Georgia from 12 to 22 March to assess the human rights situation of older persons in the country.

“This visit provides an important opportunity for dialogue with Georgia,” said Ms. Kornfeld-Matte. “It will be extremely useful to assess the implementation of national and international standards relevant to the rights of older persons, to identify good practices and provide recommendations on how to close potential gaps.

“I particularly want to learn more about Georgia’s 2017-2018 National Action Plan and its impact on the lives of older people,” added Ms. Kornfeld-Matte, the first Independent Expert tasked by the UN Human Rights Council with reporting and advising on how best to promote and protect the rights of the world’s older persons.

The expert, who is visiting the country at the invitation of the Government, will hold discussions with government representatives, non-governmental organizations and others working with or on behalf of older persons.

A press conference will be held in Tbilisi on Thursday 22 March at 10:30 local time, at the Courtyard Marriott Hotel in Tbilisi, 4 Freedom Square, Tbilisi 01105, Georgia, to share preliminary findings with the media. Access will be strictly limited to journalists.

The expert will present her findings and recommendations to the UN Human Rights Council in September 2018.

ENDS

Ms. Rosa Kornfeld-Matte (Chile) was appointed by the Human Rights Council as the first Independent Expert on the enjoyment of all human rights by older persons in May 2014. Ms. Kornfeld-Matte served as the National Director of the Chilean National Service of Ageing where she designed and implemented the National Policy of Ageing. She has a long career as an academic and is the founder of the programme for older persons at the Pontificia Unversidad Católica de Chile.

The Special Rapporteurs are part of what is known as the Special Procedures of the Human Rights Council. Special Procedures, the largest body of independent experts in the UN Human Rights system, is the general name of the Council’s independent fact-finding and monitoring mechanisms that address either specific country situations or thematic issues in all parts of the world. Special Procedures experts work on a voluntary basis; they are not UN staff and do not receive a salary for their work. They are independent from any government or organization and serve in their individual capacity.

UN Human Rights country page - Georgia

For further information and media requests, please contact:
Mr. Khaled Hassine (before/after the visit + 41 22 917 9367; during the visit + 079 444 4187 / khassine@ohchr.org) or write to olderpersons@ohchr.org 

For media inquiries related to other UN independent experts please contact:
Jeremy Laurence, UN Human Rights – Media Unit (+41 22 917 9383 / jlaurence@ohchr.org)

This year is the 70th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, adopted by the UN on 10 December 1948. The Universal Declaration – translated into a world record 500 languages – is rooted in the principle that “all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights.” It remains relevant to everyone, every day. In honour of the 70th anniversary of this extraordinarily influential document, and to prevent its vital principles from being eroded, we are urging people everywhere to Stand Up for Human Rights: www.standup4humanrights.org.