UN Conventions – Rights of Older Persons

With over 2 billion people expected to be aged 60 and over by 2050, it is important that decisive action is taken to safeguard the rights and dignity of our older population, both here in the UK and globally.

Older people across the world are facing significant challenges, from age discrimination to inadequate access to healthcare and social services, and too many are vulnerable to abuse and neglect. The current international human rights framework does not provide sufficient protection for older people, and we must push for stronger, more comprehensive measures to address these critical gaps.

I support the call for a new UN Convention on the Rights of Older Persons. A dedicated global legal framework to protect the rights of older people would be a historic step forward in the fight against ageism and for all the reasons you set out.

I have written to David Lammy MP, the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, on this issue. The ongoing discussions within the UN Human Rights Council present an important opportunity for the UK to champion this cause. I will continue pressing Mr Lammy to use his influence to ensure this issue is prioritised at the highest levels.

We are at a defining moment where the action we take now could set the course for a future where the rights of older people are universally recognised and respected.

I will continue to advocate for the rights of older people.