Dear supporters,
Congratulations to all our supporters - governments have decided to start drafting a new UN convention!
Since our last update here on Human Rights Day on 10th December governments decided in the Human Rights Council in Geneva to start drafting a new United Nations (UN) convention on the human rights of older persons!
In a historic moment, a UN resolution creating a new working group dedicated to drafting a convention was adopted by consensus on 3rd April and with resounding support from governments across all regions.
Thank you for signing our petition and supporting our global campaign to succeed! This milestone is the culmination of many years of advocacy and campaigning by older persons, civil society and other advocates around the world.
As the resolution was adopted Elijah Mwega, founder of KARIKA Kenya and Global Alliance Steering Group member, said ‘This feels like my dream has come true. Our voices have been heard and governments have now recognised at the global level that they need to develop a dedicated UN convention. I stand in solidarity and celebrate with older people around the world who have been pushing for this decision for a long time. We are ready to work with our governments to ensure that this UN convention delivers for older persons everywhere.’
Our Global Alliance will advocate for an inclusive drafting process with the full, meaningful and effective participation of civil society, especially older persons and their representative organisations. We will also be organising a number of activities to help us gather as much input as possible to our proposed content for a new convention.
Please keep in touch and continue to support us!
1. Follow us on social media and check our website for updates about our work and opportunities to contribute and support future campaign initiatives (website, Bluesky, X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, Instagram, YouTube).
2. If you represent an NGO with an interest in working on the human rights of older persons, please consider joining our Global Alliance!
Together we must ensure that the content of this new UN convention is as strong as possible to ensure that we can all Age With Rights!
Thank you,
Global Alliance for the Rights of Older People (GAROP)