Issue 110 – 26, July 26, 2026
GAROP Leads our Discussion
This week, July 13-17, leaders from around the world will meet to discuss and develop a UN Convention (Treaty) on the Rights of Older Persons. They will decide on the best ways to protect older persons’ rights and make sure that everyone, no matter their age, can live with dignity and equality.
The Global Alliance for the Rights of Older People (GAROP) is leading the effort to create this plan. They organized and talked with 411 organizations of which CURC is a member and listened to almost 200 older people from different countries. These conversations helped them understand what older people need and want.
As people around the world live longer, it is important to make sure that older people are treated fairly and with respect. To do this, many organizations and countries are working together to develop a new international agreement, a UN Convention (Treaty), that will protect the human rights of older persons.
Our main goal is to make sure that older people can enjoy all their human rights equally. This means fighting against unfair treatment, discrimination, and stereotypes based on age, ageism. We want older persons to have the freedom to make their own choices, participate fully in society, and live with dignity.
TheUN Convention will be a comprehensive document that covers many important rights, such as the right to be free from violence, access healthcare, participate in society, and have independence. It will also emphasize that aging is a natural part of life and that society should respect and support older persons.
The UN Convention should include many important areas, such as:
Protection from violence, abuse, neglect, and exploitation.
Access to healthcare, social services, and support.
The right to work, own property, and have financial independence.
Freedom from discrimination and unfair stereotypes about aging.
Participation in decisions that affect their lives, at home, in their communities, and in government.
Protection of their privacy and personal autonomy.
Support for mental health, social connections, and combating loneliness.
Special protections for older persons in emergencies, conflicts, and disasters.
Respect and Dignity: Every older person should be treated with respect, kindness, and fairness.
Equality and Non-Discrimination: No one should be treated unfairly because they are old or look a certain age. The treaty will require countries to eliminate age-based stereotypes and practices that hurt older persons.
Full Participation: Older persons should be involved in making decisions about their communities, policies, and society. Their voices matter.
Legal Rights and Equal Access: Older people should have the same rights as everyone else, such as the right to own property, work, and access services, and these rights should be protected by laws.
Addressing Ageism: The treaty will push countries to eliminate stereotypes and discrimination that make older people feel devalued or invisible.
Older people are often ignored or unfairly treated. They may face violence, neglect, or social exclusion. The new treaty aims to change that by setting clear rules for countries to follow. It will help create a world where older persons can live with independence, dignity, and full rights.
The UN Convention (Treaty) will include ways to check if countries are following the rules. Older people, their organizations, and human rights groups will be involved in monitoring progress. Countries will need to report on what they are doing to protect older persons’ rights, and experts will review these reports to ensure accountability.
This UN Convention (Treaty) is a big step forward because it focuses on protecting older persons’ human rights worldwide. It aims to change social attitudes and laws that unfairly treat older people. By working together, countries can create a world where everyone, no matter their age, can enjoy their human rights fully.
CURC fully supports the Conceptual Framework, the joint consensus position prepared by, The Global Alliance for the Rights of Older People (GAROP) 6 July 2026 6 July 2026.
Read more - Kopie von GAROP Joint consensus position
Watch (9am EST Monday July 13th)) - 1st Meeting, 1st session of the Intergovernmental Working Group on Older Persons (IGWG) | UN Web TV
The 2026 ITUC Global Rights Index
Every year, the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) releases a report called the Global Rights Index. This report looks at how well workers’ rights are protected in different countries. This is the 13th time the report has been published, and it helps us understand the challenges workers face everywhere.
The Index is a survey that scores 151 countries based on how they respect workers’ rights. Countries are rated from 1 to 5+, with 1 being the best and 5+ being the worst. The score shows how free and safe workers are to organize, protest, and bargain for better conditions.
This year’s report shows that workers’ rights are getting worse in many places. Here are some of the most shocking facts:
Violations of free speech and the right to gather increased by 5%.
There was a 6% rise in violent attacks against workers.
Attacks on civil liberties, like arrests and detentions of workers and union leaders, went up by 3%.
This means that increasingly, governments and businesses are cracking down on workers and trade unions. In many countries, leaders of unions are being arrested or attacked simply for speaking out or protesting.
Countries are also using new technology to control workers. They monitor workers’ activities, discipline them, and silence protests. Many governments are not talking or consulting unions when changing laws about workers’ rights.
In Europe and the Americas, workers’ rights are being challenged. Both regions had their worst scores since 2014. Countries like Argentina and France are especially at risk because of the growing influence of far-right political groups. These groups often threaten workers and unions, making it harder for workers to stand up for themselves.
The report says that what we’re seeing is part of a bigger problem. Wealthy people and powerful leaders are working to weaken democracy. They focus on making profits and paying fewer taxes, which makes life harder for most people. Workers’ voices are being silenced, and wealth is being concentrated in the hands of a few rich people. This makes inequality worse and makes it harder for workers to get fair treatment.
Despite these problems, the report also shows that trade unions are still the largest democratic force for workers. Unions organize workers, fight for fair wages, and protect rights. When workers unite and campaign together, they can push back against attacks and help build a fairer, more equal society.
Understanding the Index
The Index rates countries based on how well they respect workers’ rights.
- A rating of 1 means workers’ rights are generally protected.
- A rating of 2 means there are repeated violations.
- A rating of 3 means violations happen often. (Canada has a rating of 3)
- A rating of 4 shows systematic violations, where rights are being seriously harmed.
- A rating of 5 or 5+ means there are almost no rights for workers, often because of war or chaos.
Workers’ rights include the freedom to join unions, bargain for better pay and conditions, strike if needed, and speak freely. When these rights are violated, workers cannot stand up for themselves or improve their lives.
The 2026 Index makes it clear that workers’ rights are under threat in many countries. But it also shows that unions and workers can make a difference. By organizing and standing together, workers can defend their rights and help create a more just and fairer world.
Read more - global_right_index_2026_en_v2.