Momentum continues to build toward what could become the first legally binding international treaty dedicated to protecting the rights of older persons. Following the inaugural meeting of the United Nations Intergovernmental Working Group on the Rights of Older Persons in Geneva, the Global Ageing Network convened members and partners from around the world to examine what was accomplished, what comes next, and how organizations across the ageing sector can help shape the convention.

Moderated by Marcus Riley, Chairman of BallyCara and a Global Ageing Network board member, the webinar featured leaders from the NGO Committee on Ageing, Geneva; the Global Alliance for the Rights of Older People (GAROP); the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA); and the NGO Committee on Ageing, New York. Together, these organizations play complementary roles in advancing the convention—from supporting negotiations within the United Nations system and coordinating civil society advocacy to ensuring that providers, advocates, and older persons have meaningful opportunities to help shape the final document.

A Historic Turning Point

During the webinar, Alejandro Bonilla Garcia, Chair of the NGO Committee on Ageing, Geneva, explained that the current drafting process builds on more than two decades of international work on ageing. Efforts that began with the Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing in 2002 continued through the UN Open-ended Working Group on Ageing, which documented gaps in the protection of older persons’ human rights. Earlier this year, the United Nations General Assembly established the Intergovernmental Working Group to move beyond identifying those gaps and begin drafting a convention to address them.

He described the transition as moving “from reflection to construction,” noting that governments are no longer debating whether a convention is needed. Instead, they are beginning the work of determining what it should include. Discussions in Geneva reflected growing consensus around principles such as dignity, equality, participation, and non-discrimination, as well as a shared commitment to build on the existing international human rights framework.

A Shared Effort

The Global Alliance for the Rights of Older People is coordinating civil society engagement and helping organizations develop shared recommendations for the convention. Ellen Graham, GAROP’s Secretariat Coordinator, emphasizing “the role of civil society has shifted from advocating for a convention to helping shape its content,” she said, emphasizing that coordinated advocacy will strengthen the sector’s influence. She also noted that ensuring broad global participation remains a priority, particularly by addressing barriers that have limited participation from some regions, including parts of Africa.

The Global Ageing Network will continue engaging its members throughout the drafting process, ensuring providers’ perspectives and the experiences of older persons inform the convention as consultations continue.

Why It Matters

Amal Abou Rafeh, Chief of the Programme on Ageing Unit at UNDESA, said the convention represents an opportunity to fundamentally change how governments view ageing.

Rather than treating older persons as “beneficiaries of charity,” she urged governments to recognize them as “holders of enforceable rights.” Healthcare, housing, long-term care, and social protection, she explained, are the means through which those rights are realized, they are not substitutes for them.

She also pointed to encouraging signs that ageing is becoming more fully integrated into the broader international agenda. While the Sustainable Development Goals show greater recognition of ageing in areas such as poverty and social protection, she noted that issues including violence, abuse, disaster risk reduction, and climate change still require greater attention. The inclusion of ageing in the recent High-Level Political Forum Ministerial Declaration, she said, reflects growing recognition of these issues across the United Nations system.

Looking Ahead

The drafting process is expected to continue over the next two years. Following the July launch of negotiations on guiding principles, Member States will begin structured negotiations later this year, followed by consultations involving governments, experts, national human rights institutions, civil society organizations, and older persons. Those discussions will inform draft text before negotiations move to a zero draft and article-by-article review in 2027.

If ultimately adopted and ratified by Member States, the convention would establish the first legally binding international framework dedicated to protecting the rights of older persons, providing a foundation for future laws, policies, and services around the world.

Closing the webinar, Dr. William Smith, Chair of the NGO Committee on Ageing, New York, encouraged organizations to remain engaged throughout the process by building national support and strengthening collaboration across generations, reminding participants that “the youth of today are the older people of tomorrow.”

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