Lifting everyone up: Why a UN Convention on the Rights of Older Persons matters
In April 2025, the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva agreed to begin drafting a UN Convention on the Rights of Older Persons. The Convention is an opportunity to lift everyone up, ensuring people of all ages can live and age with dignity. It will set a legal framework to uphold older people’s rights and drive change around the world.
This new briefing from Age International and Age UK sets out what to expect from the process of creating a Convention, why the involvement of older people is crucial, and the role the UK Government can play in ensuring their meaningful participation.
"We have laws talking about children and women but there is none for older people. Older people deserve to be treated better and laws that recognise their rights would help address that."
Download the briefing paper
Published: 2026
Author: Ken Bluestone, Age International
Pages: 11
About the briefing paper
The briefing paper outlines why the rights of older people matter and how a Convention on the Rights of Older Persons would make a difference to older people around the world. It also explains what the Convention is likely to contain, and the process and key milestones for drafting it.
The paper highlights how the Convention on the Rights of Older Persons will only succeed if older people are meaningfully involved in its drafting and implementation. The UK Government must involve older people directly in its engagement with the process.
It is high time for a UN convention that guarantees the rights of older people, promotes a human rights approach that emphasizes their autonomy and dignity, and challenges ageism.
Progress on the campaign for a Convention
The campaign for a UN Convention on the Rights of Older Persons reached a key milestone in 2025.