UN Independent Expert joins Special Hearing on Older People’s Rights

Claudia Mahler, UN Independent Expert on the enjoyment of all human rights by older persons, today joined a Special Hearing in Parliament. The Hearing highlighted the urgent challenges older people face worldwide, including daily violations of their rights, exacerbated by climate change and humanitarian crises.

(L-R: Rachael Maskell MP, Claudia Mahler, Jan Shortt, Alison Marshall, Professor John Williams, Ken Bluestone).

Bringing together parliamentarians, older people, experts and advocates, the hearing explored how best to strengthen the protection of the rights of older people in the UK and globally. A key focus was the historic decision earlier this year, of the United Nations Human Rights Council, to begin drafting an international legally binding human rights instrument on the rights of older persons.

Older people are discriminated against in all parts of the world, subject to ageism and abuse – and that limits their ability to lead lives with dignity and respect. To date, international human rights law has failed to articulate clearly how people’s rights should be protected in later life.

In her evidence on the UN process to create a Convention, Claudia Mahler, UN Independent Expert, said:

"A Convention will help to reframe attitudes towards older people, and combat ageism and age discrimination. It will create legal certainty as to how older people’s rights should be applied, clarify the responsibilities of governments regarding the protection of older people’s rights, and provide a powerful accountability tool."

Rachael Maskell MP, Chair of the APPG on Ageing and Older People stated:

"This Special Hearing was an important opportunity to provide stakeholders and Parliamentarians with an updated assessment of what is now required to further strengthen the protection of older people’s rights. The UK holds a distinct global role in promoting and advancing human rights, and it is essential that the protection of older people’s rights is recognised and embedded as a core part of this commitment."

This Special Hearing was convened by the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Ageing and Older People and the Parliamentary Human Rights Group, with support from Age UK and Age International. Chaired by Rachael Maskell MP, Co-Chair of the APPG on Ageing and Older People, the Hearing provided an updated assessment of what is needed to strengthen the protection of older people’s rights, both within the UK and internationally.

Drafting of the new UN Convention on the Rights of Older Persons is expected to begin in 2026 through an Intergovernmental Working Group set up by the Human Rights Council.

Alison Marshall, CEO of Age International, stressed the importance of UK leadership in this process:

"It is essential that the UK Government lends its full support to this Convention to ensure that the experiences of older people in the UK and internationally are reflected. This includes supporting the participation of older people who otherwise could be marginalised from this drafting process."

The Special Hearing also heard evidence from: Jan Shortt, General Secretary of the National Pensioners Convention; Rhian Bowen-Davies, the Older People’s Commissioner for Wales; Professor John Williams, Chair of Age Cymru; Alison Marshall, CEO of Age International.