Several initiatives at the level of the United Nations (UN) offer us momentum to help strengthen the rights of older people worldwide. Find out how you can get involved.
Age with Rights Campaign
In the course of September 2023 two high level UN meetings will discuss the rights of older persons, namely, the 54th UN Human Rights Council session in Geneva and the 78th UN General Assembly in New York. These are key moments to advocate in favour of a UN convention on older people’s rights. To do so, we encourage you to record and disseminate short video messages that will contribute to the Global Alliance for the Rights of Older People (GAROP) Age With Rights Campaign.
The Permanent Representative of Portugal and the Permanent Representative of Brazil, have been appointed as the two Co-facilitators of the UN Open-Ended Working Group on Ageing’s (OEWGA). They will lead the intersessional work up to the 14th session of the OEWGA in 2024. The Co-facilitators have issued a questionnaire (available in English, French and Spanish here) for all stakeholders to complete by 24th November 2023.
The outcome of this intersessional process will impact on the rights of older people worldwide. Active participation of NGOs and Member States is crucial to ensure its success.
Urge your government to answer the OEWGA questionnaire
The Global Alliance on the Rights of Older People (GAROP) has prepared template letters for you to adapt and use to write to your Foreign Ministry and Permanent Mission to the UN in New York. The letter is an invitation to reply to the UN questionnaire and take part in the second briefing by UN bodies that will take place on 8th September.
On 1st October we will commemorate the International Day of Older Persons. The 2023 theme is: Fulfilling the Promises of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights for Older Persons: Across Generations. This will be a key moment to generate commitments to strengthen the protection of the human rights of current and future generations of older persons around the world.
