UN Convention “transformational for generations to come”
Published on 01 October 2026 08:05 AM
Today, as the world marks International Day of Older Persons, Age International is calling on governments to protect older people’s rights and ensure their voices are at the heart of a new United Nations (UN) Convention on the Rights of Older Persons.
This call comes as the drafting process for the new Convention gathers pace. Also today, Age International and Age UK are joining forces to publish ‘All our rights: Hearing from older people across the world’, a new report which brings together the lived experiences and views of older people in the UK and around the world.
Taking place each year on 1 October, the UN has designated the International Day of Older Persons as a day to raise awareness of the challenges and opportunities arising from population ageing, highlight the contributions of older people, and mobilise families, communities and stakeholders to address the difficulties they face. As the global population ages, with one in six people worldwide expected to be aged 60 or over by 2030, strengthening the rights of older people is becoming ever more critical.
Most older people today live in low and middle income countries, and the majority are women. Human rights should apply equally to all people, regardless of their age, gender, ethnicity, status in society, disability, religion, sexuality or where they live in the world. However, in numerous cases, existing laws are failing to ensure older people’s basic needs are met - from healthcare and housing, to financial security and freedom from discrimination. In the UK, Age UK’s recent analysis found that 38% of older people in the UK are partially or totally digitally excluded – leaving them locked out of essential services such as finance and healthcare.
“Every person of whatever age must be treated equally, so any right that is afforded to any individual of whatever age must be afforded to older people.”
In May 2026, Age International and Age UK invited older people in the UK and internationally to join the global conversation and answer the question, ‘What rights matter as we grow older?’.
Today’s new report by Age International and Age UK shares some of the initial responses. Older people speak out on a range of issues, including:
- Being treated with dignity, equality and respect.
- Accessing health and social care without discrimination.
- Having financial security.
- Having basic needs met – housing, warmth, safety.
- Being heard and included in decisions.
- Digital exclusion and loss of choice.
“… What matters most to me is the right to live with dignity without being pushed into hardship or neglect. I want access to basic healthcare that is within reach, support when I cannot meet my daily needs, and reliable social protection …”
‘All our rights’ highlights how a new UN Convention on the Rights of Older Persons will address the shortcomings in existing legislation, by ensuring rights at all ages are protected in practice. The Convention drafting process is now underway, with governments due to meet at the second session of the International Governmental Working Group on the Human Rights of Older Persons, taking place in Geneva from 26-30 October 2026.
Age UK and Age International insist that it is essential the Convention reflects the voices and lived experiences of older people in the UK and worldwide, embracing the ‘Nothing about us, without us’ principle.
Alison Marshall, Age International CEO, said:
“A new UN Convention on the Rights of Older Persons will be transformational for older people today and for generations to come. But older people must be meaningfully involved in shaping it. Their involvement will not only drive forward the process of creating a Convention, but also ensure it delivers real change in people’s lives.
As the UK and other governments draft the UN Convention on the Rights of Older Persons, the message from older people worldwide is clear – we want all of our rights protected.
Everyone should benefit from having their rights protected as they grow older. The new Convention will be a win for us all.”
Caroline Abrahams, Age UK Charity Director, said:
“There is a lot to do in the UK when it comes to recognising and protecting older people's rights. Our population is ageing, but many of our systems are slow to adapt. The end result is that older people are too easily excluded from activities and services they need to live well.
The ageism that is embedded in our society, and the rapid pace of technological change, only increase the challenge. A clear and robust UN Convention could help enormously. It will cut through the noise that obscures older people's rights and interests, giving older people a platform to have their voices to be heard.”
All our rights
Turn to our new voices report to find out what older people from across the globe, including the UK, have to say about what rights matter to them.