The UN Open-Ended Working Group on Ageing is the forum that actively discusses older people's human rights. Its mandate is to identify human rights protection gaps in existing international frameworks and recommends how to address them, including whether additional instruments are needed. This Working Group consists of UN organizations, 193 UN Assembly member countries, civil society, [...]
Some public policymakers see the mainstreaming of the older person and aging into existing human rights instruments as the way forward. The approach is inclusive in its intent, and action can happen immediately. Yet would mainstreaming, as an alternative to a dedicated UN Convention, bring about the full enjoyment of human rights by older [...]
Rally for the Rights of Older People There is a global movement centered on human rights in older age. This movement is growing with strength. Older people, non-government organizations, academia, private organizations, and national human rights institutions are rallying for the rights of older people. Their voices and activism activities are national, regional, and [...]
Soroptimist International and the Global Alliance for the Rights of Older People organized a virtual rally for the human right of older women in rural communities in March 2023. This Rally was part of the 2023 Global Rally campaign and a parallel side event of the 67th Session of the NGO Committee on the Status of Women. More [...]
BC Community Response Network and Age Knowble organized a virtual rally for the human right of older Canadians in February 2023. This rally was part of the 2023 Global Rally campaign. More than 150 people registered for the session. Of those who attended, a good majority were older people. Stories of Inequities The panelists shared stories of [...]
United Nations (UN) Conventions A UN convention is an international treaty that binds countries once adopted at the UN General Assembly and ratified back home in the country. Countries with ratified treaties report their implementation progress to the UN Human Rights Council for peer review. This review process encourages global dialogue and establishes accountability. It [...]
Afraid to go out – No Public Washrooms! “I am afraid to go out to out. There are no public washrooms. I can not control my bladder like I used to”, said an older gentleman at a recent consultation. I saw a few other resigned looks of helplessness when I scanned the virtual room. [...]
ASEM Global Ageing Center (AGAC) is a Korean-based organization that promotes and strengthens the human rights of older people through policy research, education, and dialogue. AGAC engages policy and human rights experts globally in their work. In October 2021, I was honored to be a keynote speaker at AGAC’s Civil Society Talk. I presented [...]
Leading up to the 11th session of Open-Ended Working Group on Ageing Working Group, there are a number of global dialogues on the rights of older persons and advocacy for a convention on the rights of older persons. Find out what the buzz is all about: Paving the Way to OEWGA11 in Conversations with [...]
When 85-year-old Charles goes for lunch with his daughter, he feels invisible. The waitress asks his daughter what he wants to eat. Charles feels frustrated and powerless as if his voice has been snatched from him, without permission. This is just a small example of what aging without voice and choice means for older [...]
