United Nations independent expert on the enjoyment of all human rights by older persons Claudia Mahler on Monday began her 11-day visit to Bangladesh focusing on older persons’ rights in specific contexts, including emergency situations related to climate change and forced displacement. Mahler is visiting Bangladesh (from 7 to 17 November) at the invitation of the government of Bangladesh and will hold discussions in Dhaka, Rangpur, and Chattogram with government representatives, UN presences, civil society organisations working with older persons, academics and older persons. “Ageing population in Bangladesh is fast growing, becoming one of the emerging issues that has been gradually increasing challenges on health services, family relationships and social security,” she said on Monday. Mahler will present a full report of her visit to the Human Rights Council in September 2023, according to her office. Also read: COP27: UN experts for complete integration of human rights standards, principles into negotiations As of 2019, more than 13 million people living in Bangladesh were aged over 60, representing 8 per cent of the country's total population. “The 2013 National Policy on Older Persons and the Maintenance of Parents’ Act resulted from this fast-growing age group. I look forward to learning more about the implementation of the policy and the law,” she said. The independent expert will assess areas of concern such as social security and protection, age discrimination and ageism, abuse and violence against older persons, their living conditions, including housing arrangements and access to adequate health services, and their meaningful participation in the labour force and in public and political space. The expert will hold a press conference at the end of her visit on November 17 to share her preliminary observations. Mahler (Austria) was appointed by the UN Human Rights Council as Independent Expert on the enjoyment of all human rights by older persons in May 2020.

Lockdown measures resulted in increases in gender-based violence and higher risks of violence, abuse and neglect of older persons confined with family members and caregivers globally, said a UN expert on Monday.  Violence, abuse and neglect of older persons have been brought into sharp focus during the COVID-19 pandemic.  To mark World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, Claudia Mahler, the Independent Expert on the enjoyment of all human rights of older persons, said distressing reports from care homes in different parts of the world showed neglect, isolation and lack of adequate services, including healthcare, social and legal services.  READ: Brac to work on protecting employees from exploitation, abuse "Older persons must not be left behind when seeking redress and remedies," she said in a statement.  The UN expert urged States to adopt a binding international human rights instrument, as well as national legislation and measures, to ensure access to justice for older persons with full respect of their autonomy.  "This should include the provision of legal aid, dedicated counselling and support services, diverse and age-appropriate formats to share information about rights and legal complaints mechanisms, reduction or exemption of litigation fees, and improved accessibility.” Despite widespread alarm over the situation of older persons during the pandemic, she said the challenges and barriers to seek effective redress and remedies have received little attention.  On the contrary, some disturbing practices were reported with care homes being given immunity from civil liability for COVID-19 related deaths and putting in place contractual clauses that waive the right to file a court case and make arbitration the only option for alleged abuse or mistreatment.  READ: Another abused woman returns from KSA with baby boy Elsewhere, older persons and their families expressed despair and frustration with the lack of transparency and responsiveness to complaints raised with aged care services providers. These developments undermine older persons’ access to justice and to an effective remedy. Older persons are rights holders whose dignity and rights do not have an expiration date in later life, said the UN expert.