Growing Ageing Population - 60+ Years
NEWSFLASH!!
Commemoration of the 35th United Nations International Day of Older Persons (UNIDOP)
"Older Persons Driving Local and Global Action:
Our Aspirations, Our Well-Being, Our Rights"
Was held on Wednesday, 1 October 2025
The 2025 United Nations International Day of Older Persons served as a platform for older persons to share their aspirations, advocate for their well-being, and call for the full enjoyment of their human rights.
This year's commemoration, themed "Older Persons Driving Local and Global Action: Our Aspirations, Our Well-Being, Our Rights,” took place in-person at the United Nations Headquarters in New York City ECOSOC Chamber.
In addition to being held in person, the event was broadcast live on UN WebTV.
This year’s event recognized and supported the transformative role that older persons play in driving action at both local and global levels. Grounded in the Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing and recent demographic trends, the commemoration spotlighted older persons as experts, advocates, and change-makers in fields such as health equity, financial well-being, human rights, and community resilience. The programme featured a keynote address and a moderated panel discussion that drew on lived experiences and regional insights to promote inclusive policy dialogue. Particular emphasis was placed on advancing human rights, strengthening legal protections, eliminating age-based discrimination, and promoting inclusive, intergenerational, and age-friendly environments that ensure the dignity and full participation of older persons in society.
The Human Rights Council will begin drafting an international legally binding instrument to protect the rights of older persons in 2026. The Global Alliance for the Rights of Older Persons (GAROP) will ensure civil society participation in the deliberations. Upcoming events include the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly, the World Summit on Social Development, and the Commission on the Status of Women. Read More...
Useful websites:
- More information under “Rights of Older Persons” on this website.
- Global Alliance for the Rights of Older People (https://rightsofolderpeople.org/)
- United Nations, Division for Inclusive Social Development, Programme on Ageing Section: (https://social.desa.un.org/issues/ageing).
- Work of the Open-ended Working Group on Ageing (https://social.un.org/ageing-working-group/).
- Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (https://www.ohchr.org/en/topic/older-persons).
- Independent Expert on the enjoyment of all human rights by older persons (https://www.ohchr.org/en/special-procedures/ie-older-persons)
- World Health Organization (https://www.who.int/health-topics/ageing#tab=tab_1)
WHY DO WE NEED A CONVENTION? WATCH TWO VIDEOS from Amnesty International:
“The Forgotten Convention”
“Age Loud”
- Also, refer to Why we need a convention to promote and protect the rights of older persons.
- Access our Newsletters here: https://ngocoa-ny.org/resources/newsletters/
RECOMMENDED EVENTS
Action on Ageing: Evidence, Policy, Practice
Reflections on the 17th International Federation on Aging Global Conference
Thursday, November 6, 2025 10:00 - 11:30 am EST
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87523781609?pwd=3PlBYcy4p7ewloLUQhtvgaFGLRKffh.1
Meeting ID: 875 2378 1609 Passcode: 761879
Ageing of the Oppressed - A Pandemic of Intersecting Injustice
Editor: Silvia Perel-Levin
Read More here…
Find purchase information here…
Ageing of the Oppressed: A Pandemic of Intersectional Injustice explores what it is like to grow older with accumulating and intersecting discrimination. It condemns ageism and other "isms." Despite its visibility during the COVID-19 pandemic, ageism is not a new phenomenon but one that has been ignored for too long by policymakers and the general population. The negative language used to describe population ageing adds fuel to the fire by filling people’s minds with ageist images that permeate all levels and sectors of society. We should all be recognized as full human rights holders, no matter our age, ability, disability, gender or sexual orientation, race, or socio-economic or any other status. This book combines theoretical models and academic essays by top experts with the real-life experience of older persons and activists. It is a must-read for advocates for human rights; policymakers; service providers; students of social and health sciences, the humanities, and law; and anybody willing to challenge assumptions and practices. The proposed UN Convention on the human rights of older persons will be a step forward to providing older persons with a remedy for daily and often life-long oppression.
Annual report of the Secretary-General to the General Assembly - the topic for this year refers to intergenerational solidarity across public policy domains, highlighting opportunities and challenges for current and future generations of older persons (https://undocs.org/A/79/157)
Reports of the Independent Expert on the enjoyment of all human rights by older persons on:
- Future generations of older persons (https://undocs.org/A/79/167)
- Legal capacity and informed consent (https://undocs.org/A/HRC/57/42)
- Violence against and abuse and neglect of older persons (https://undocs.org/A/HRC/54/26)
- Visit to Peru (https://undocs.org/A/HRC/57/42/Add.1)
Report of the Open-ended working group on Ageing at its 14th session (https://undocs.org/A/AC.278/2024/2)
Documents submitted to the Open-ended Working Group on Ageing at its 14th session, 20-22 and 24 May 2024 (https://social.un.org/ageing-working-group/fourteenthsession.shtml)
Report of the OHCHR – Summary of the multi-stakeholder meeting on the human rights of older persons (https://undocs.org/A/HRC/52/49)
Report of the OHCHR – Normative standards and obligations under international law in relation to the promotion and protection of the human rights of older persons (https://undocs.org/A/HRC/49/70).
Report of the Secretary-General on Fourth review and appraisal of the Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing, 2022, (https://undocs.org/E/CN.5/2023/6)
Report of the Open-ended Working Group on Ageing, 12th session: (https://undocs.org/A/AC.278/2022/2)
Joint letter from the three NGO Committees (New York, Geneva, Vienna) to UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs and to UN Women, expressing concerns about lack of references to older women, here: Letter on gender snapshot
Reports on ageing issues prepared by various entities of the UN system can be found in the list of entities under “Resources/Key International Documents on Ageing”
Learn more about the Committee’s mission here.