Issue 125 – 26, October 25, 2026
Building a Strong UN Convention on the Rights of Older People
The UN drafting process moves to another phase this week, October 26-30. This is GAROP’s opportunity to move from describing the problems to suggesting a legal response. The Global Alliance for the Rights of Older People (GAROP) brings together over 400 civil society organizations (including CURC), working towards a UN Treaty on older people’s rights. October 26–30 meeting is one part of this larger effort. The work ahead will require governments, civil society, and older people to listen to one another and turn lived experience into strong protections.
That is why the United Nations Human Rights Council has taken an important step. In 2025, it agreed to create an intergovernmental working group to develop a draft international agreement on the human rights of older people. This agreement could become a legally binding treaty, also called a convention. Countries that join it would have duties to protect and promote the rights it sets out.
In September 2025, the GAROP Steering Group appointed 13 people to a new Content Working Group, or CWG. Members take part as individuals, rather than speaking for their organizations. The group is accountable to the GAROP Steering Group.
The CWG’s role is to help GAROP members and wider civil society engage with the official UN drafting process in a clear and coordinated way. It has developed accessible ways to gather information, such as community discussions, interviews, surveys, and regional meetings. It has helped turn what people share into clear briefings and practical proposals for the convention.
GAROP and CWG has also worked to build agreement across civil society where possible. The meeting from October 26th to 30th is part of this wider effort to develop a strong convention. A strong convention must be based on the everyday experiences of older people, not only on legal ideas or policy documents. Older people have meaningful role in shaping it, along with the organizations that represent them.
Older people are not one single group. Their experiences differ by age, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, culture, income, location, and many other aspects of their lives. Some may face several forms of discrimination at once. The convention must recognize this diversity and be flexible enough to respond to new challenges in the future.
The treaty’s preamble should say who the treaty will protect, what duties governments should have, and which rights the treaty should include.
Everyone has human rights throughout life. These rights do not disappear as a person grows older. Yet many older persons face unfair treatment, exclusion, or barriers to taking part in everyday life.
Ageism, unfair beliefs, attitudes, or treatment based on age, is common in many societies. It can lead to discrimination and can contribute to violence, abuse, neglect, exploitation, or abandonment. Ageism may also combine with other forms of discrimination, such as racism, sexism, or discrimination based on disability, poverty, migration, or where someone lives.
Existing human rights agreements may apply to older persons, but they do not always clearly address the situations they face. A new treaty could make these protections clearer and help governments respond to the changing realities of longer lives, new technology, environmental challenges, and changing family and community life.
The preamble discussion paper explains why the treaty is needed and the values behind it. The discussion paper suggests that the treaty should:
Affirm that everyone has the same human rights, without discrimination in older age.
Recognize the dignity and worth of every person, regardless of age.
Recognize the diversity of older persons and how different forms of discrimination can overlap and build up over a lifetime.
Include a gender perspective and recognise the role families and communities can play, while respecting each older person’s choices and independence.
Encourage fair and positive views of ageing and stronger participation by older persons in all parts of life.
One proposal is that the treaty should protect people who are denied, or at risk of being denied, equal enjoyment of their human rights because others see them as older. This could include discrimination based on a person’s actual age, perceived age, or age someone assumes they are.
There may not be one age that marks the start of older age for everyone. People can face age-based unfair treatment at different ages and in different settings. A single age limit could leave some people without protection.
This approach would not stop governments from using age rules for specific policies, such as deciding when someone can receive a pension. It would mean that age-based rules should be fair, reasonable, and justified.
Governments could also provide clear information in accessible formats, collect useful data, support research, and ensure that people can make complaints and seek remedies when their rights are violated.
The proposed treaty could cover all human rights, not only health care, pensions, or support services. For example, access to health care may depend on transport, safe housing, enough income, and accessible information. It could also address newer issues, such as digital access, artificial intelligence, climate change, and older persons’ involvement in disaster planning.
The goal is not to create a lower standard of rights for older people. It is to make sure they can enjoy all human rights on an equal basis with others. This includes the right to make choices, take part in society, access services, and seek justice when their rights are violated.
The UN drafting process is a chance to move from describing the problems to agreeing on a legal response. GAROP has developed discussion papers for this purpose.
Discussion Paper: Elements of the Preamble - October 2026
Discussion Paper: State Obligations - October 2026
Discussion Paper: Scope of the Treaty and FAQ - October 2026
Discussion Paper: Catalogue of Rights - October 2026
We encourage you to follow the proceeding live or view when you are able, as each meeting of the 2nd session are recorded. On October 26th will be the 1st meeting, then each meeting will be number numbered in order, of the 2nd session.
1st Meeting, 2nd Session of the Intergovernmental Working Group on Older Persons (IGWG) | UN Web TV .
Follow the Global Alliance on the Rights of Older Persons news updates and information. global-alliance-for-the-
Follow the Intergovernmental Working Group on Older Persons Official page. Second session of the Intergovernmental Working Group on the human rights of Older Persons, 26-30 October 2026 | OHCHR
Follow the Session recording available on UN Web TV.
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