PRESS RELEASE
Brussels, 9th May 2014
Nomination of new United Nations Independent Expert on older people’s rights
New UN mandate focuses on the rights of older people worldwide
Yesterday, May 8th, the United Nations Human Rights Council appointed Ms. Rosa Kornfeld-Matte (Chile) as Independent Expert on the enjoyment of all human rights by older persons. This is the first time in the history of the international human rights system that specific mandate is given to consolidate an understanding around older persons’ rights and foster the implementation of measures that contribute to the promotion and protection of these rights.
“AGE welcomes this appointment which constitutes a landmark towards a strengthened protection of older people’s rights worldwide. We wish to congratulate Ms Kornfeld Matte for her election in this position and we look forward to working with her to tackle the challenges of older persons in the European Union”, said Ms. Anne-Sophie Parent, Secretary General of AGE Platform Europe.
Ms Kornfeld-Matte has served as the National Director of the Chilean National Service of Ageing and has a long career as an academic, working for 22 years at the Pontificia Unversidad Catolica de Chile where she founded the programme on older people.
Alongside filling the position of the Independent Expert on the rights of older persons, the Human Rights Council appointed yesterday another 18 human rights experts to report on wide range of themes and country situations.
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Useful links
- Press Release of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights: www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=14579&LangID=E
- AGE policy work in the area of human rights and non-discrimination: www.age-platform.eu/age-work/age-policy-work/anti-discrimination
