HelpAge International

We are at the UN in Geneva, where the first official session of the Intergovernmental Working Group on the Rights of Older Persons is taking place.

This week, Member States will discuss the modalities, methodology, and working arrangements that will guide the drafting of a future legally binding instrument on the human rights of older persons. HelpAge International, GAROP, and civil society organisations are taking part with a clear message: the future instrument must tackle ageism, address intersectional discrimination, recognise older people as rights-holders, and establish strong commitments to protect their rights.

Representing HelpAge are Tanja Venisnik, Rights Adviser, alongside HelpAge-supported campaigners Dr Rosy Pereyra, President of the International Longevity Centre in the Dominican Republic, and Arif Shamim, former Director of Social Welfare in Pakistan. Also pictured is Ken Bluestone, Policy Lead at Age International, a member of the HelpAge global network

Stay tuned this week as we share updates and key outcomes from the session.

HelpAge global network member Cadena Foundation/ Cadena International has mobilised quickly to support communities affected in Venezuela, delivering emergency relief items, healthcare, psychosocial support, search and rescue assistance, and inclusive needs assessments to ensure older people are not left behind. Their response is helping address urgent needs while supporting recovery and resilience in the weeks ahead.

Read more about CADENA’s emergency response: https://ow.ly/EOU650ZlpKV