International standards and principles

Main international instruments

• Universal Declaration of Human Rights
• United Nations Principles for Older Persons
• International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights
• International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
• Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women
• Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination
• International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of Migrant Workers and the Members of their Families
• Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
• ILO Convention no.102 concerning Social Security (Minimum Standards)
• ILO Convention no.128 concerning Invalidity, Old-Age and Survivors’ Benefits

General Comments and Recommendations by UN Treaty Bodies and ILO

• CEDAW, General Recommendation No. 27 on older women and protection of their human rights
• CESCR, General Comment No. 6 on the economic, social and cultural rights of older persons
• CESCR, General Comment No. 14 on the right to the highest attainable standard of health
• CESCR, General Comment No. 19 on the right to social security
• CESCR, General Comment No. 20 on non-discrimination in economic, social and cultural rights
• CESCR, General Comment No. 21 on the right of everyone to participate in cultural life
• CCPR, General Comment No. 18 on non discrimination
• CRPD, General Comment No.1 on Article 12: Equal recognition before the law
• CRPD, General Comment No.2 on Article 9: Accessibility
• ILO, National Floors for Social Protection Recommendation No.202
• ILO, Termination of Employment Recommendation No.166
• ILO, Older Workers Recommendation No.162
• ILO, Invalidity, Old-Age and Survivor’s Benefits Recommendation No.131

UN Policy Instruments

• UN Decade of Healthy Ageing 2021-2030
• UN Secretary General’s Policy Brief: The Impact of Covid-19 on Older Persons, May 2020
• Statement of Support to the UN Secretary General’s Policy Brief: The impact of Covid-19 on Older Persons, May 2020
  Unofficial Spanish translation
  Unofficial French translation
• UN Global Compact on Refugees (A/73/12 (Part II)) NY 2 August 2018 – New York Declaration for Refugees and Migrants GA res. 19 September 2016
• Policy on Age, Gender, and Diversity,  UNHCR/HCP/2018/1, 08 March 2018
• Working with Older Persons in Forced Displacement, NTK Guidance No. 5, UNHCR, 2013
• UNHCR Age, Gender and Diversity Policy: Working with people and communities for equality and protection, by United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), 1 June 2011
• The Protection of Older Persons and Persons with Disabilities, 6 June 2007 (Executive Committee of the High Commissioner's Programme, Standing Committee at its 39th Meeting - EC/58/SC/CRP.14)
• Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing, (2002)
• UNHCR's Policy on Older Refugees, 19 April 2000 (as endorsed at the 17th Meeting of the Standing Committee, 29 February - 2 March 2000), UNHCR Standing Committee
• Older Refugees: Looking Beyond the International Year of Older Persons, 7 February 2000, UNHCR Standing Committee (EC/50/SC/CRP.8)
• The Situation of Older Refugees, 14 August 1998, UNHCR Standing Committee
• Vienna International Plan of Action on Ageing, (1982)

Key UN Resolutions

• Human Rights Council resolution A/HRC/RES/41/12, (2019)
• Human Rights Council resolution A/HRC/RES/33/5, (2016)
• Human Rights Council resolution A/HRC/RES/24/20, (2013)
• Human Rights Council resolution A/HRC/RES/21/23, (2012)
• General Assembly resolution A/RES/70/164, (2015)
• General Assembly resolution A/RES/69/146, (2014)
• General Assembly resolution A/RES/68/134, (2013)
• General Assembly resolution  A/RES/67/139, (2012)
• General Assembly resolution A/RES/66/127, (2011)
• General Assembly resolution A/RES/65/182, (2010)
• ECOSOC resolution E/2010/14, (2010)
• General Assembly resolution A/RES/64/132, (2009)
• General Assembly resolution A/RES/47/86, (1992)
• General Assembly resolution A/RES/47/5, (1992)
• General Assembly resolution A/RES/46/91, (1991) 

Key UN reports

Secretary-General

• Report of the Secretary-General, Follow-up to the International Year of Older Persons: Second World Assembly on Ageing, A/70/185, (2015)
• Report of the Secretary-General, Follow-up to the International Year of Older Persons: Second World Assembly on Ageing, A/69/180, (2014)
• Report of the Secretary-General, Further implementation of the Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing 2002, E/CN.5/2014/4, (2014)
• Report of the Secretary-General, Follow-up to the International Year of Older Persons: Second World Assembly on Ageing, A/68/167, (2013)
• Report of the Secretary-General, Second review and appraisal of the Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing, E/CN.5/2013/6, (2013)
• Report of the Secretary-General, Follow-up to the Second World Assembly on Ageing, A/66/173, (2011) 
• Report of the Secretary-General, Abuse of older persons: recognizing and responding to abuse of older persons in a global context, E/CN.5/2002/PC/2, (2002)

OHCHR

• Report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (A/HRC/49/70)
• Update to the 2012 Analytical Outcome Study on the normative standards in international human rights law in relation to older persons, (2021)
• Analytical study on the rights of older persons in the context of climate change, A/HRC/47/46, and related HRC panel discussion
• Report on the HRC panel discussion on “the rights of older women and their economic empowerment”, A/HRC/46/36, (2020)
• Report of the 2014 Social Forum, A/HRC/26/46, (2014)
• Summary report of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights on the consultation on the promotion and protection of the human rights of older persons, A/HRC/24/25, (2013)
• OHCHR Analytical Paper on Older Persons, (2012)
• Report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, E/2012/51, (2012)
• OHCHR, Human rights of older persons: International human rights principles and standards, Background paper, revised and updated Open-Ended Working Group,  (2011)

UN Special Procedures

• Report on the rights of older persons with disabilities by the Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities, A//74/186, (2019)
• Thematic study on the realization of the right to health of older persons by the Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health, A/HRC/18/37, (2011)
• Report of the Independent Expert on the question of human rights and extreme poverty, A/HRC/14/31, (2010)

Main regional instruments

• African Charter on Human and People’s Rights
• Protocol to the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa (Maputo Protocol)
• American Convention on Human Rights
• Additional Protocol to the American Convention on Human Rights in the Area of Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (Protocol of San Salvador)
• Andean Charter for the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights
• Arab Charter on Human Rights
• ASEAN Human Rights Declaration
• Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union
• Inter-American Convention on the Protection of Human Rights of Older Persons
• African Union Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights on the Rights of Older Persons in Africa