Drafting of the UN Convention on the Rights of Older Persons started recently. The United Nations Intergovernmental Working Group (IGWG) is leading the process, and NHRIs have a key seat at the table. Several ENNHRI members joined and contributed their insights to the IGWG’s first session, which took place in mid-February. ENNHRI was represented by the German Institute for Human Rights.

ENNHRI puts forward its position

In a written contribution before the session and in a statement during it, ENNHRI highlighted the importance of:

• Ensuring meaningful, effective and equal participation of older persons, their representative organisations, NHRIs and civil society throughout the drafting process;
• Transparent and predictable working methods, including accessible information and hybrid participation formats to support effective engagement of all stakeholders;
• A strong, intersectional, human rights-based approach, ensuring the future instrument addresses discrimination, inequality and barriers faced by older persons in practice.

Furthermore, representatives from the Finnish, Greek and Polish NHRIs added their national perspectives and experiences in the context of the meeting. These formed part of the array of insights from NHRIs worldwide, as well as a formal statement from GANHRI, the Global Alliance of NHRIs).

What is coming next?

The IGWG Chair announced the next planned steps of the drafting process during the meeting.

These include a call for written contributions on the framework, architecture and guiding principles of the instrument will be issued. Alongside this, informal regional consultations with Member States, NHRIs and civil society are foreseen.

The next IGWG session will take place in July 2026 in Geneva, with another in October.

ENNHRI and its members will continue contributing through consultations, UN inputs and collaboration with civil society and international partners.

Learn more about ENNHRI’s work on the rights of older persons.