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Campaign for older people

We need your help

Add your voice to our campaigns and show decision-makers that the UK public cares about the rights of older people worldwide.

Age International campaigns for the rights of older people around the world, amplifying older people's voices and working in partnership with them to influence policy and practice.

"Older people have rights like everybody else in the country. They have needs and rights that need to be observed. They also need to be listened to and they have the right to receive appropriate medical attention."

Felista, 61, Kenya

Why we campaign

Around the world, older people are denied their basic rights simply due to their age. They're excluded from work, healthcare, education, and left behind in emergencies. Some even face violence and abuse. 

Globally, more than 1 billion people are over the age of 60. This age group is growing rapidly and by 2050 is expected to double to 2.1 billion, with 80% of older people living in low and middle-income countries.

Everyone has the right, not just to survive, but to thrive as they grow older. Yet older people's needs and rights are consistently overlooked by governments and decision-makers, despite the global population ageing rapidly. Without action, older people will continue being invisible, undervalued, and unheard. 

We're campaigning to change this. By calling on UK leaders and decision-makers to take action, we hope to ensure that older people are not overlooked in the UK Government's international work and policy. We strive to protect older people's rights and amplify their voices on the issues that matter to them - from older women's rights to climate justice.

When you add your voice to our campaigns, you add weight and momentum to our cause. Together, we can make a difference for older people worldwide.

Campaigning for a Convention on the Rights of Older Persons

Over 30,000 people signed our open letter calling on the UK Government to champion the creation of a United Nations Convention on the Rights of Older Persons. In 2025, following decades of advocacy, the campaign for a Convention reached a key milestone.

Learn more about the campaign for a Convention

Creating lasting change

Beyond our UK campaigning work, we also help create lasting change for older people in several other ways. 

Through our partnership with HelpAge International and the HelpAge global network, we provide support and services that directly address older people's needs and rights in low and middle-income countries. And we provide training and resources to older people themselves to campaign for their own rights in their communities. 

We also work together to help policymakers at local, national and international levels better understand the challenges affecting older people and how to address them. And we work alongside other humanitarian and support agencies to ensure that their work takes into account the lived realities of older people.

Here in the UK, we advocate directly with the UK Government and other decision-makers through our policy and research work. We try to ensure that the voice and experience of the many inspirational older activists we work with are heard by decision-makers. 

Learn more about our work

Our programme work played a significant role in influencing the Zanzibar government to be the first state in East Africa to introduce a universal social pension.

Take action for older people's rights

To learn more about our campaigns and hear about opportunities to get involved, please contact us via email:

campaignsteam@ageinternational.org.uk

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Photos: MegNewts / Age International

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