The UN Secretary General has proposed two key measures to improve the protection of older people’s rights.

At the forthcoming UN Commission for Social Development, which meets in New York on 3 February, UN Member States will decide on whether to adopt the following:

1. For the CSD to set up a working group that will meet yearly to discuss the issue of older people’ rights violations and how they can be acted upon.

2. To make the theme for the second 10 year review of the implementation of MIPAA and the CSD meeting in 2012: “Empowerment, protection and promotion of human rights for older persons”.

Next step in the fight for rights

“Both of these recommendations are important steps in getting the international community to recognise that older people are being discriminated against all over the world” says Bridget Sleap, Rights Policy Advisor with HelpAge International. “We hope they will lead to international and national action so older people everywhere can enjoy all their rights including those to health, social security and freedom from violence”

Taking action

HelpAge International will be mobilising many of its Age Demands Action partners across the world to lobby their governments to support these recommendations. We’ve also mobilised our Global Ambassadors, two of whom met with government ministers in Brazil and Ghana last week.

Henry Matthews, campaigns coordinator at HelpAge, adds:

“You can use your influence to convince your government to support the Secretary General’s recommendations too. Do this by adapting the standard letter available to download here. Just insert the name and address of your local Member of Parliament or parliamentary representative and send it off before 25 January. We would be grateful if you would email campaigns@helpage.org with a copy of the letter you send.”