As a major development in the promotion of international human rights, the UN Human Rights Council (HRC) has commenced an intergovernmental process to develop an innovative international treaty on the rights of older people. On April 3, 2025, it was announced that this historic move marks a considerable win for human rights advocates and civil society organizations that have long advocated for improved legal protections for aging populations globally.

The resolution was adopted by consensus at the Geneva-based Human Rights Council. It represents a renewed impetus and commitment to multilateralism at a moment when global cooperation is under increasing attack. Significance of the proposed treaty The proposed treaty is significant in that it seeks to remedy long-held deficiencies in the international human rights framework that has not necessarily taken into consideration the unique needs and vulnerabilities of older persons.

Daily Violations of Older Populations

Older persons globally continue to face widespread and often systemic human rights violations. Such as but not limited to:

• Violence and mistreatment that are physical, such as abuse in homes and in care homes

• Discrimination based on age in employment, health and social services

• Make them socially and politically excluded, denying them a voice in policy-making

• Limited access to health care and support services, especially in low-income and rural areas

• Limited or no access to social protection like pensions and disability benefits

• Over-Exposure to Climate Change, Lack of Access to Climate Change Solutions

•  Overlooked in humanitarian responses, victimisation in armed conflict zones

Despite these pressing issues, international law has not produced a binding regime tailored to safeguard the rights of older people. Although there are numerous human rights treaties, none address this expanding population specifically.

Years of Advocacy Lead to Breakthrough

This marked breakthrough follows years of tireless advocacy by older people themselves and several civil society groups. The Global Alliance for the Rights of Older People (GAROP), an international coalition of more than 400 organizations, including Human Rights Watch, is leading these efforts. GAROP has played a leading role in the movement for the recognition of the rights of older people that began in 2011.

This latest development draws from the conclusions of the UN’s Open-Ended Working Group on Ageing, which convened 14 meetings over more than a decade. The Working Group, therefore, recognized there were significant protection gaps and concluded that the drafting of a new treaty was a necessary and urgent way forward in 2024.

“The UN Human Rights Council’s landmark decision to pursue an international treaty on the rights of older people is a victory not only for older people but for everyone,” Bridget Sleap, senior researcher on the rights of older people at Human Rights Watch, said at the time. “Support from states for this treaty, which is the hallmark of the multilateral human rights system, is something to celebrate.”

Key Countries Champion the Cause

Five countries (Argentina, Brazil, Gambia, the Philippines, and Slovenia) were instrumental in driving this initiative through the Human Rights Council. These countries have shown leadership by hearing the voices of older people and answering the call for legal reforms that are critical.

Their support is a sign that increasing awareness that aging populations are a worldwide fact of life. As life expectancy rises and birth rates drop, an increasing number of countries are experiencing profound transformations in their demographics. With this comes the responsibility of ensuring that older people live with dignity, free from abuse, neglect and discrimination.

What’s Next?

The first gathering of the new intergovernmental working group is provisionally due to be before the end of 2025. All UN member states, together with civil society representatives and older people themselves, will be involved in the drafting process.

This process must be inclusive, transparent, and based on the lived experiences of older people in all geographical areas and of different backgrounds. The working group will not only have to prepare the legal text, but work to ensure that the voices of older people are heard and respected at every step along the way.

Bridging the Gap in Human Rights Protections

As it stands, older people have to turn to general human rights treaties for protection. Although these tools are helpful, they tend not to take into account the particular circumstances and kinds of discrimination that older people experience. International treaties and agreements about civil, political, economic and social rights typically do not incorporate age-specific provisions.

Each erase some of these gaps: the proposed treaty would contribute to closing them by:

• An explicit ban on discrimination based on age

• Ensuring equal access to justice, health care, and social services

• Requires meaning protections during humanitarian crises and armed conflicts

• Encouraging the engagement of older individuals in public and political life

Value of Caretaking, and Community Systems

Such a treaty would also help guide national governments seeking to craft laws and policies that adhere to international human rights standards. It would establish a legal standard by which abuses can be challenged and responsibility held.

A Legal Pivotal Point for Human Rights

For many, the Human Rights Council’s action is a turning point. It is culmination of decades of activism and dialogue and a recognition of the growing consensus that human rights should be respected for all the ages of a person’s life — from childhood to old age.

“Human rights are for the life that you lead and rights in older age should be assured as in any stage of the life that we live,” Sleap said. “Ageism, age discrimination and the violation of older people’s rights deserve the same level of attention and protection in the system of international human rights as any other rights abuses.”

Putting Knowledge into Action

The road ahead is still long. The process of drafting a treaty is a complex and politically sensitive one, taking often years to complete. Yet hope is at least stirring as the momentum from this latest UN decision shows real change may be just over the horizon.

The world now has an opportunity — and a responsibility — to embed the rights of older people into binding international law. In doing so, it will reaffirm a basic tenet: every human being, no matter their age, is entitled to live with dignity, security and respect.

Amidst an evolving world facing the challenges of an aging population, this treaty could be a pillar of international human rights law — to cement the understanding that older people are not a neglected issue, but rather valued members of society who deserve to be empowered and protected.