THE NGO COMMITTEE ON AGEING

IT’S ABOUT THE RIGHTS OF OLDER PERSONS !!

The NGO Committee on Ageing remains committed to advocating for an international legal instrument, a convention, to protect the rights of older persons.  The NGO Committee on Ageing participates actively in the Open-ended Working Group on Ageing (OEWGA), which was established by the United Nations General Assembly to consider “the existing international framework of the human rights of older persons and identifying possible gaps and how best to address them, including by considering, as appropriate, the feasibility of further instruments and measures”.

The NGO Committee on Ageing’s Subcommittee to Promote a Convention prepares flyers and talking points, conducts Mission visits in preparation for the OEWGA and also advocates for the rights of older persons at numerous United Nations intergovernmental bodies, such as the High Level Political Forum, the Commission for Social Development, the Commission on the Status of Women, the Commission on Population and Development. 

The NGO Committee on Ageing is also a member of the Global Alliance for the Rights of Older People (GAROP - https://rightsofolderpeople.org/) and is an ex officio member of its Steering Group. 

A convention on the rights of older persons would, among other things:

• View older persons as rights-holders, and not merely an issue of medical rehabilitation and social welfare.
• Codify their rights into one single document.
• Establish a common, global understanding of the definitions and minimum standards of practice.
• Act as an anti-discriminatory tool to challenge prevailing negative stereotypes about old age.
• Improve State accountability and transparency with respect to actions taken for older persons.
• Create societies and environments for all ages, where older persons are also able to contribute, prosper and enjoy their rights.

The 11th session of the Open-ended Working Group (OEWGA) will be held 29 March to 1 April 2021.  For information on the OEWGA, go to “Meetings”.

Watch this space for up-to-date information about preparations leading up to the next session of the OEWGA.

Notifications of events organized throughout the year by the NGO Committee on Ageing will be sent out by email. Watch this space for updates on upcoming events. 

Full list of upcoming and recent events of interest to our members may be found here.

The International Federation on Ageing has organized a meeting to discuss ethical frameworks and planning alternatives for older adults when critical care is not available.

REGISTRATION REQUIRED.

Friday 15th January 2021

The conversation will take place from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. (Eastern Standard Time)
Register for the event here

Flyer Available Here

The International Federation on Ageing has organized a meeting on Friday, 15 January 2021, 7:00 to 8:00 Eastern Standard Time, to discuss ethical frameworks and planning alternatives for older adults when critical care is not available.

UN International Day of Older Persons
Pandemics: Do They Change How We Address Age and Ageing? 

Watch video on the celebration of the 30th Anniversary of the International Day of Older Persons here.

Videos, reports and articles related to COVID-19 can be accessed here.

Useful websites (which also provide links to other useful information):  

https://www.un.org/en/coronavirus

https://www.ohchr.org/EN/pages/home.aspx

https://rightsofolderpeople.org/covid-19-resources-relating-to-older-people/

https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019

World Population Ageing 2020 Highlights: Living arrangements of older persons

Here.

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World Population Ageing 2020 Highlights

Here.

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Population Fact Sheet 2020.

Here.

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Report of the Independent Expert (Claudi Mahler) on Human Rights of Older Persons:  the data gap.  A/HRC/45/14

Here.

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 Report of the Secretary-General transmitting the report of the Independent Expert on Impact of the coronovirus disease (COVID-19) on the enjoyment of all human rights by older persons.  A/75/205

Here.

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 Report of the Secretary-General on Follow-up to the International Year of Older Persons:  Second World Assembly on Ageing.  A/75/218

Here.

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A/74/186, Report of the Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, on older persons with disabilities. 

Here  

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Facts about older women prepared for UNECE Beijing plus 25 review, Geneva October 2019, Section 1: overview: achievements and challenges since 1995. 

Here

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E/CN.5/2020/3, Report of the Secretary-General on affordable housing and social protection systems for all to address homelessness.  

Here

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Report of Expert Group Meeting on “Affordable Housing and Social Protection Systems for All to Address Homelessness”.  

Here

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World Population Ageing 2019, Ten Key Messages.  Here.  Please note that the World Population Ageing 2019 report refers to older persons as 65 and above. 

Here

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A/74/170:  Report of the Secretary-General on Follow-up to the International Year of Older Persons:  Second World Assembly on Ageing. 

Here

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A/AC.278/2019/2:  Report of the Open-ended Working Group on Ageing on its tenth working session.  

Here

For documents related to the 11th session of the Open Ended Working Group on Ageing:  

https://social.un.org/ageing-working-group/eleventhsession.shtml

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A/HRC/41/32:  Report of the OHCHR on activities of the OHCHR, United Nations system and regional organizations to support States’ efforts to promote and protect the human rights of older persons.  

Here

Learn more about the Committee’s mission here.