The UN Decade of Healthy Ageing is based on the human rights approach, which addresses the universality, inalienability and indivisibility of the human rights to which everyone is entitled, without distinction of any kind – including those related to age. This is why the mandate of the UN Independent Expert on the enjoyment of all human rights by older persons is crucial for the work to transform the world to be a better place to grow older. It serves as a constant reminder to UN agencies and Member States that older persons and the human rights they are entitled to must always be considered in the global commitment to leave no one behind.
Claudia Mahler’s work as the UN Independent Expert has been transformative in ensuring that all older people remain part of our work to achieve the 2030 Agenda. As part of her mandate, Claudia Mahler has produced reports presented to United Nations decision making bodies on the impact of COVID-19 on the human rights of older persons, on older women and the gender perspective on older age, and on older persons deprived of their liberty. These reports, produced through a process of extensive consultation including with older people themselves, have been influential in shaping the nature of the global debate on ageing. However, her report on ageism and age discrimination presented to the Human Rights Council has been the most influential of all, resulting in the first substantial resolution made by the Council on the issue.
Claudia Mahler has transformed the nature of the UN Independent Expert mandate, leveraging minimal resources and staff to maximise the impact and influence of her work towards protecting the human rights that all older people are entitled to enjoy. Never forgetting those who are in danger of being left behind by also working together with other UN Independent Experts to address the intersectionalities of disadvantage, Claudia Mahler is a driving force that encourages all of us to foster healthy ageing.