On behalf of the Global Ageing Network (GAN), Marcus Riley offered the written input below to the Open-Ended Working Group on Ageing 13th session. GAN is an international community of leaders in ageing services, housing, and long-term care with a shared purpose of paving the way to improve access, affordability, and best practices so that older adults everywhere can lead healthier, safer, and more independent lives.  

Honourable Chair and Distinguished Delegates, 

I am pleased to present this statement on behalf of the Global Ageing Network, and we are pleased to strongly endorse the joint statement to this session by the Global Alliance for the rights of Older People. 

We look forward to meaningful contributions to this 13th session of the Open-Ended Working Group on Ageing and in we eagerly anticipate engagement from member states to the meetings this week. The inputs in advance of this session from civil society, NHRIs, the independent expert and reports from the multi-Stakeholder meeting on rights of older people and the review of the Madrid international plan of action on ageing, provide compelling evidence of the violations of the human rights of older people and the impact such violations continue to have across every region of the world.  

This session will examine access to health services and social inclusion. Our member organisations, with and on behalf of older people, confront daily systemic barrier to older people being afforded the right to proper health services and the right to fully participate in society. Such barriers must be torn down.  

Torn down through a legally binding international convention that will codify the rights of older people everywhere serving as a vital tool for both protection and empowerment.  

The Age with Rights Global Rally convened last month was supported by people across the world affirming the need for action in the interests of older people.  This participation and support to age with rights is beyond a groundswell, it demonstrated the will of the people globally and the need for action. Now.  

Accordingly, we ask you to act, now, on the stated purpose of this working group and fully commit to a process of creating and implementing a convention…it is not only a moral responsibility to do so it is an economic, political, and practical imperative as our world ages together. 

Thank you