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รายงานวิจัยฉบับสมบูรณ์ (Final Report) | 486

discussions held during the eighth session on those areas and to continue building
on them from a normative point of view, in order to exchange views, best practices
and concrete elements, from through a strictly normative and action oriented
approach, in order to enhance the promotion and protection of the human rig hts of
older persons to equality and non-discrimination and to live free from violence,
neglect and abuse.
The representatives of Member States, NGOs and national human rights
institutions actively discussed the normative input. Participants referred to t he
need to define concepts that might be included in the preambular part of a legally
binding international instrument, such as the principles of equality and non -
discrimination. It was mentioned that States should ensure equality under the law
without any discrimination based on age and other intersecting grounds (such as
sex, race, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, gender identity or disabilities). In any
reference to the prohibition of discrimination on the basis of age, careful attention
had to be paid to employment, social protection, health and social care and housing,
among other issues.
With regard to the right to a life without violence, some delegations referred
to the existing international human rights instruments that included such a provision
. Several participants stressed the utmost importance of reaching consensus on the
definition of the right of older persons to a life without violence; all forms of
violence and abuse must be included. Violence in all settings, from care institutions
to th e family context, must be taken into account.
Participants also set clear rules on access to justice for older persons and
remedies for victims. It was mentioned that States should take appropriate
measures to strengthen mechanisms to prevent any form of violence, neglect and
abuse. Participants identified as a normative input criminal justice responses and
sentencing practices, which should reflect the aggravated nature of offences
committed against older persons, who were vulnerable.
Participants noted that the Inter-American Convention on Protecting the Human
Rights of Older Persons contained specific provisions regarding equality and non-
discrimination based on age, as well as the right to a life free of violence of any kind.
The Convention also contained useful definitions for such terms as “older person” and
“age discrimination”.
Participants stressed that the normative approach to violence against older
persons must take into account the special situation of older women and older persons
with disabilities.

The way forward

During the discussion on the way forward, delegations expressed satisfaction
with the development of the previous two sessions and their format of substantive
discussions on two focus areas that directly affect the enjoyment of human rights by
older persons. In my capacity as Chair, I proposed to the members of the Working
Group that it continue to work under that format, fostering substantive discussions on
issues affecting the human rights of older persons.
Regarding the selection of focus areas for the tenth session, to be held in
2019, I reminded members of the Working Group that we had identified a series
of issues or areas that deserve its attention at the seventh session (see
A/AC.278/2016/2, para. 29) and I invited delegations to add more issues to that
list.
In that regard, and following informal consultations with Member States and
observer States conducted at the Bureau level during the intersessional period, the
Working Group made an oral decision to select “Education, training, life-long