Verbal and online abuse violating human rights of older persons must be stamped out - UN expert

The newly appointed UN Independent Expert* on the enjoyment of all human rights by older persons, Claudia Mahler, urges all governments and the international community to exercise global solidarity and step up action to effectively prevent and protect older persons from physical and psychological abuse, including neglect.

Verbal and derogatory online abuse have profound negative effects on the human rights of older persons.

Verbal abuse often occurs in tandem with mental, psychological, physical, sexual or financial abuse and I urge social media to do their part and at least not enable abuse by propagating messaging that violates human rights of older persons."

* Ms Claudia Mahler (Austria) was appointed by Human Rights Council as the Independent Expert on the enjoyment of all human rights by older persons in May 2020.

Special Procedures, the largest body of independent experts in the UN Human Rights system, is the general name of the Council's independent fact-finding and monitoring mechanisms that address either specific country situations or thematic issues in all parts of the world.