Older voices at the centre, not the margins
HelpAge International will be present in Geneva alongside civil society colleagues to ensure that older people are not treated as an afterthought. Together with the Global Alliance for the Rights of Older People (GAROP), we are supporting five older advocates from Bangladesh, Colombia, Kenya, Rwanda and South Africa, bringing lived experience, grassroots knowledge and regional perspectives directly into global negotiations.
Their presence reinforces a simple truth: rights are strongest when they are shaped by those most affected. Older people are experts in their own lives, and their leadership is essential to building a convention that responds to real‑world challenges.
Why this moment matters
Older people are among the fastest‑growing segments of the global population, yet their rights remain systematically overlooked in law and practice. Across countries and contexts, older people face age‑based discrimination, barriers to healthcare and social protection, heightened risks of abuse and neglect, and exclusion from decision‑making that affects their lives.
Existing international human rights frameworks have not consistently addressed these realities. A dedicated UN convention would help close these gaps by establishing clear legal obligations for governments, strengthening accountability, and enabling older people to seek justice when their rights are denied.
From a landmark resolution to real action
The Human Rights Council’s decision in 2025 to establish this working group was widely recognised as a historic victory for older people everywhere. It reflected years of sustained pressure from older people themselves, HelpAge, members of the global network, and civil society allies who have long argued that ageism is a human rights issue.
But resolutions are only the starting point. What matters now is how the convention is developed: who is heard, how transparent the process is, and whether older people’s lived experience genuinely shapes the outcome.
A movement built over decades
This moment has been years in the making. For more than a decade, HelpAge, the global network, and allies have worked collectively to expose gaps in protection and push for a dedicated international instrument.
Civil society advocacy has been instrumental in challenging systemic ageism, amplifying older people’s voices, and demonstrating that a convention is both necessary and achievable.
What success now depends on
As the process moves forward, the priorities are clear. Older people and their representative organisations must be fully and effectively engaged throughout negotiations. Decision‑making must be transparent. And governments must show the political will to translate commitments into enforceable rights.
This is not merely a procedural exercise. It is a test of whether the international community is prepared to recognise older people as rights‑holders, entitled to dignity, equality and justice at every stage of life.
