1st Meeting, 1st session of the Intergovernmental Working Group on Older Persons (IGWG)

Good morning, Excellencies, distinguished participants. I declare open the first session of the Open-Ended Intergovernmental Working Group for the Elaboration of Legally Binding Instruments on the Promotion and Protection of the Human Rights of Older Persons. Our Working Group The Special Rapporteur on Older Persons, established by Human Rights Council Resolution 58/13, is mandated to elaborate and submit to the Human Rights Council a draft international legally binding instrument on the human rights of older persons with the objective of promoting, protecting, and ensuring the full enjoyment of human rights by older persons. I have the pleasure of welcoming the Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights, Mrs. Awadabo, who is with us this morning to deliver opening remarks. Deputy High Commissioner, you have the floor.

Thank you, sir. Excellencies, distinguished delegates, good afternoon. It is an honor to join you today at the opening of the— of this first session of the Intergovernmental Working Group mandated to elaborate a legally binding instrument on human rights of older persons. This initiative comes at a decisive moment. Across the globe, a profound demographic transformation is underway. Population aging is no longer a trend confined to a few regions. By the late 2070s, the global population aged 65 and older is projected to surpass the number of children under the age of 18 worldwide. This structural shift will have far-reaching implications for our societies, for health and long-term care systems, for labor markets and pension systems, for family structures and care responsibilities, for humanitarian response, and centrally, for the daily enjoyment of human rights by older persons. Currently, ageism and discrimination, violence, neglect, and abuse, inadequate social protection, gaps in health and long-term care, and barriers to meaningful participation remain widespread. These are not isolated issues. They appear across very different legal, economic and cultural contexts, and they point to the same underlying problem: that older persons too often remain invisible in the interpretation, implementation, and enforcement of rights. This is precisely why a dedicated legal instrument on the human rights of older persons is needed. Older persons are already rights holders under the international law of human rights, international law of human rights, but the existing framework was not designed with the specific and cumulative forms of discrimination and exclusion that they experience. As a result, important protection often remains implicit, unevenly applied, or difficult to claim in practice. A legally binding instrument would change this. It would provide older persons and organizations that represent them a concrete legal basis on which to claim their rights, and give states a clear framework around which to build law and policy and services. It would also inform budgetary and programmatic choices, and provide a reference point across different national contexts. By establishing this Working Group, the Human Rights Council entrusted you with an ambitious mandate, bringing us closer than ever to ensuring that older persons are able to enjoy all of their human rights. Our Office stands ready to support this process. We look forward to walking this path together with Member States, civil society, and older persons' organizations in the months ahead. Thank you.

Thank you, Deputy High Commissioner. Thank you. I'm aware of the fact that you have, uh, you had to go. I'll go after your statement. Okay. I'm going to switch to Spanish. Excellencias. Excellencies, Deputy High Commissioner, distinguished colleagues, ladies and gentlemen, at the outset, I want warmly to thank all of you for being here. And warmly welcome those who have— are representing states and national institutions to participate in this first session and the many NGOs who have been supporting this process. Every presence requires a personal and institutional and family-based effort, so your participation is not a mere act of being here but a demonstration of commitment by all of your governments to this process. It is an honor likewise to have with us here today the Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights. Her vast experience in the multilateral system and in promoting and protecting human rights are a reference point for all of us. We thank her for being here with us at this important time and wish her every success in this. We also warmly thank the new Secretary. Many of you know him and his track record in the Office of the High Commissioner. His knowledge of the system and his commitment will provide invaluable support to the development of our work. I thank you. Colleagues, today we're not just inaugurating a session but a process. Which has been awaited for many years by national human rights institutions, states, civil society organizations, and millions of older persons throughout the world looking to the international community to continue strengthening the protection of their rights. The path has not been a short one. It has required patience, perseverance, and ability to build bridges among different partners. This is what makes this moment so important because in multilateral processes they can never arise from improvisation. They require years of work behind the scenes, discussions, and a shared conviction that certain challenges deserve to be addressed hand in hand. The relevant resolution of the Human Rights Council adopted by consensus and with broad support by states has given us a clear mandate. The mandate does not belong only to those who were behind the initiative but to all of us. And this is what It's the strength of the process. I want to thank the ambassadors who have placed confidence in me to lead this intergovernmental working group. I take this up with humility, impartiality, and the conviction that the chair's role is not to lead states to a predetermined conclusion, but to lay the foundations for states to build it, to build through dialogue a result that belongs to everybody. I will also want to express thanks to the core group of Brazil, Slovenia, Philippines, Gambia, and my own country. Over the years, these countries have kept the initiative alive with unflagging perseverance. I thank those delegations and everybody who has contributed to bringing this about. And I also want to thank the Office of the High Commissioner, national human rights institutions, civil society, and particularly the many older persons who are now here in the room and, and following our work from different points around the globe. This is what is the purpose of this negotiation. International treaties are not an academic exercise. They're not merely legal texts. They're instruments designed to improve the lives of people, and this always must be our goal. During this week, we will start formally negotiating. Negotiations are going to require patience, creativity, and long-term long-term vision. No international instrument can be built in a few days. Lasting agreements are those that have mutual respect, the ability to hear one another and to understand before trying to convince. So we have designed a program that makes it possible to hear the large number of— largest possible number of voices. We will hear states. Thank you. We will hear the contributions received in the intersessional period and we will look at the history of the process. Any negotiation has a memory and this must be recognized in order to move forward. We're not here to start once again from zero but to build on the progress already made. Draw on the lessons learned and look at the debates that have helped us to clarify, to hold dialogues based on an understanding of the international human rights system. International mechanisms are facing major challenges: limited resources, increasing demands, the ongoing need to adapt to a world that is changing at great speed. But above all, at this time, we see the greatest opportunities to innovate. We can reflect not only on the content of the future instrument, but also on how we imagine its implementation. We can think about how to build a more efficient, accessible, sustainable mechanism, more prepared in order responsibly and transparently to address the technological tools that are now transforming the ways societies work. Our objective is not just to address the needs of the present, but also to prepare a system that can meet the needs of the future. This is a space to consider together the next steps to take. I understand entirely that many of you want to know how we're going to move forward. That is natural. Any process requires predictability, but it is also clear that no calendar can replace political will and commitment. There must be a commitment, responsibility to use the time and the resources that states have provided so that each meeting provides adequate value and every stage leads— brings us further to fulfillment mandate. Distinguished colleagues, the multilateral negotiations can bring unpredictability. Sometimes they go better, sometimes less so, but it is not possible to abandon ship. We must maintain our course with confidence recalling the goal that brings us together. This goal is to build an instrument that strengthens the dignity, protection, and the rights of millions of older persons globally. This responsibility is too great for any of us alone, but together On the basis of respect, openness, and a genuine will to cooperate, I am convinced that we can achieve the mandate and the human rights— that the Human Rights Council has placed in our hands. And I call on you to start this week with ambition, pragmatism, and hope. The best pages of multilateralism were not written by those who thought the same way. It's possible to think in different ways and to build step by step a shared future. I thank you all. And now we move to agenda item 2. We now move on to the adoption of the agenda and program of work for the first session of the Working Group. The draft program of work for this session has been placed on the webpage of the Working Group. Are there any questions or comments with regard to the draft program of work? I don't see any. Any delegation wishing to take the floor? May I take it that the working group is ready to adopt the agenda and program of work for the first session? I see no objection. It is so decided. As far as the modalities for this working group are concerned, I would like to remind you that the speaking time limit will be 3 minutes for the interventions. That's for the state and international organizations, and asked to arise, raise their name plates to inscribe on the list of speakers. Other stakeholders are requested to confirm their speaking slot at the list of speakers desk in the room 15 minutes before the beginning of the debate. As announced at the organizational session in February 2026, national human rights institutions, civil society organizations, and other relevant stakeholders will have the opportunity to speak at the end of each item or sub-item on our agenda. We will now proceed to a general debate on the structure and guiding principles of a future instrument under item 3 of our agenda and in accordance with our programme of work. I would like to give the floor now to whoever wants to participate. I open— the floor is open and I will give the floor to the distinguished representative of Chile. You have the floor.

Thank you, Chairperson, and congratulations on your election. Chile recognizes the urgent need for a legally binding international instrument that clearly defines the rights of older persons and states' obligations for their effective enjoyment, as well as the strengthening protection thereof. On the basis of our national experience, We propose that the future instrument should involve a paradigm change as seen in Chile with the adoption of the Law on an Active Healthy Life. We believe that the principles and the 15 specific rights in the law provide good practice to be taken into account in defining international treaty. First, this sees older persons as rights holders and active participants in society. Overcoming the paternalistic model that provided assistance and protection. We seek to overcome discrimination against older persons. Chronological age cannot be used to categorize and segregate. This type of discrimination with stereotypes and prejudices erodes intergenerational solidarity and is an obstacle to measures that provide a healthy active life. Furthermore, the Inter-American Convention on the Protection of the Rights of Older Persons shows the right to independence and autonomy with a model that deserves to be replicated and amplified globally. A new legally binding instrument must eliminate places where general normative frameworks have not been enough. Providing friendly societies that guarantee protection against violence, be they institutional, financial, digital, or other. In this context, we note the digital gap and the ethical challenges. For Chile, design and implementation of policies under such a global instrument must directly involve older persons and civil society at every stage of decision-making, guaranteeing that state responses address their needs and their real aspirations. President, Chile reiterates its commitment to the process, a legally binding instrument that will not only establish normative standards where we currently have gaps but will be the central mechanism for raising global awareness, promoting social participation, and ensuring for all true dignity in society. Thank you.

Muchas gracias. I thank the distinguished representative of Chile, and I congratulate you on this new law on a decent life, which can be taken as an example by many other delegations. Thank you. Portugal, you have the floor.

Muchas gracias, señor presidente. Portugal thanks you for putting forward a food for thought paper. We welcome the convening of this first session of the working group, and we wish to reaffirm our strong support to the mandate. Thank you, Mr. Chair, and thank you to the members of the Working Group. Portugal is advancing the human rights of older persons through the recently adopted Statute of the Elderly, preventing institutionalization, abuse, and neglect, supporting integrated care, and promoting autonomy. Mr. Chair, allow me to present a few remarks both on the contents and on the structure of the legally binding instrument. Firstly, on the contents, the instrument should be guided by a clear human rights-based framework that recognizes older persons as full rights holders entitled to the equal enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms on an equal basis with others and without discrimination, while also clarifying areas where further normative development is needed. It should move away from needs-based and medicalized approaches and instead affirm that the barriers faced by older persons stem from social, legal, environmental, economic, and institutional factors that limit the full enjoyment of rights and participation in society. It should also affirm the importance of full, meaningful, and effective participation of older persons and their representative organizations, including through consultation, co-design, and co-decision mechanisms. Secondly, on the structure, the Convention should adopt a clear, coherent, comprehensive framework consistent with the architecture of existing human rights treaties while remaining responsive to the specific protection gaps that continue to leave older persons insufficiently protected. A possible structure, fully detailed in our written submission, could include: 1, a preamble section recognizing ageism as a major cause of discrimination, exclusion, and denial of rights; 2, purpose, scope, and definitions, setting out the object and scope of the Convention, General principles and general obligations of the state parties. Three, a set of civil, political, economic, social, and cultural rights clarifying their application in the context of older age and identifying areas where further normative development is required. And four, implementation monitoring, accountability, and final provisions. Provisions. Sir Chair, let me conclude. Thank you, Mr. President. I agree with you. We still have a long road ahead. Portugal is ready to do its part, and we call on other UN entities, civil society, academia, and other relevant stakeholders to support States in pursuing the mandate Resolution 58/13 gave us. We look forward to engaging constructively in this week's discussion, and I thank you, Mr. President.

Thank you, distinguished representative of Portugal, for your statement and your contribution to this process and your support. Now I give the floor to distinguished representative of Brazil. You have the floor.

Chair, we are the beginning, middle, and beginning. Tao Antônio Bispo dos Santos Nego Bispo reminds us that the time is cyclical and their age represents not only the years we have lived but also our ways of knowing, life experience, and collective memory. The world is undergoing profound demographic transformation, marked by increasing longevity and the coexistence of multiple generations. Yet, this process exists alongside persistent inequalities. Many social groups still do not reach old age because of vulnerabilities and discrimination accumulated through their lives. This reality underscores the need for human rights-based approach that recognizes the diversity in aging process. With a global population of approximately 1.22 billion people aged 60 and over, it's essential to strengthen cooperation among states, international organizations, civil society, academia, and all other actors committed to promoting and protecting the rights of the older person. The future United States International Convention on the Human Rights of the Other Person represents a historic opportunity to consolidate this shared commitment. The principle of this instrument should constitute its normative foundation, guide its interpretation, implementation, and monitoring. In this regard, Brazil proposed that the convention would opt on the progress already achieved by the International Convention on the Protection of the human rights of the older person, incorporating principles such as dignity, autonomy, independence, equality, and fight against the ageism and multi-forms of discrimination, participation and social inclusion, recognition of the contributions of the older person, acknowledgement of the care as a human right, social protection, safety, and access to justice. Gender equality and the life course approach, intergenerational solidarity, respect for cultural diversity, special attention to those in the situation of greater vulnerability. The primary responsibility of the state is guarantee rights, response to impacts of climate change and forced displacement, and promoting lifelong learning and digital inclusion. Incorporation of these principles will enable the development and comprehensive international instruments capable of guiding legislations, public policies, and monitoring mechanisms aimed to ensure the dignity, autonomy, equality, participation, and safety of the older person, helping to ensure that no one is left behind. Thank you very much.

I thank Brazil. That is a very comprehensive approach to the rights of older persons. South Africa, please.

Thank you, Chair Rapporteur. We welcome the convening of this first session of the Intergovernmental Working Group and commend the Human Rights Council for establishing this important process through Resolution 58/13. This is a timely and necessary step towards addressing a long-standing nomadic gap in the international human rights system. Older persons are not passive recipients of care or charity. They are rights holders entitled to the full and equal enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms. Yet millions continue to face discrimination, abuse, neglect, exclusion, poverty, and barriers to justice simply because of their age. As we often say, a society reveals its true character not by how it treats its strongest members, but how it protects those most vulnerable. If rights diminish with age, then they were never truly rights at all. South Africa therefore strongly supports the elaboration of a comprehensive legally binding international instrument on the promotion and protection of human rights of older persons. We particularly welcome the Chair's food for thought paper which provides a useful and pragmatic basis for our discussions. Its emphasis on not binding from scratch— not building from scratch is very important. In our view, the instrument should build on existing international human rights law while responding directly to the realities of aging. It should include a clear preamble, definitions where necessary, general principles, substantive rights, implementation and monitoring provisions, and final clauses. Such an instrument must be grounded in dignity, equality, autonomy, participation, and non-discrimination, accessibility, accountability, and intergenerational solidarity. It must explicitly address ageism, and recognize that older persons are not a homogeneous group. The treaty should reflect the lived realities of older women, persons with disabilities, rural older persons, those in institutions, and those requiring support. South Africa further believes that the instrument should translate existing rights into concrete obligations for States. It should strengthen access to justice, recognize supported decision-making, and respect for will and preferences. And addresses care as a human rights issue and shared responsibility of families, communities, and the state. It will also give due attention to digital inclusion, health, long-term care, and protection from abuse, neglect, and exploitation. South Africa also supports the Roberts Implementation and monitoring arrangements, including periodic state reporting, independent oversight, and meaningful participation by older persons and civil society. This is an opportunity to ensure that advancing in age never means diminishing in rights. As member states, we should engage constructively and ambitiously so that we can deliver a strong, practical, and truly transformative legally binding instrument for present and future generations of older persons. I thank you.

Thank you, distinguished representative of South Africa. Now I give the floor to distinguished representative of Austria. You have the floor.

Thank you, Chair. Austria aligns itself with the statement to be delivered by the European Union and wishes to add the following in its national capacity. Austria warmly welcomes the first substantive session of the Intergovernmental Working Group on the Human Rights of Older Persons. The establishment of this working group marks an important step towards addressing longstanding gaps in the international human rights framework and towards clarifying how universal human rights apply in older age. We would also like to thank the Chair and the Secretariat for the call for input and for the efforts made to gather views from States, United Nations entities, civil society, older persons and their representative organizations. Austria notes the inclusion of older persons in the program of this session and encourages further efforts to ensure their visibility and participation. Their meaningful participation is essential for the legitimacy and quality of this process. At the same time, we would like to note that the preparation of the first session has been challenging. Substantive documents were made available only at the very late stage. This made it difficult for capitals, experts, and stakeholders to prepare in-depth and to coordinate positions in advance. We would also have welcomed a stronger and more visible participation of national human rights institutions in the panels, given their important role in monitoring and promoting human rights at national level. Austria therefore hopes that this first session will not only allow for a general exchange of views, but will also help us to agree on a clearer roadmap for the next steps. By the end of this week, it should be clear how the Working Group intends to proceed, how inputs will be reflected, and how the process will move towards more structured and eventually text-based discussions. For Austria, the future legally binding instrument should be firmly grounded in the existing international human rights framework. It should not weaken or duplicate existing standards, but clarify their application in older age, serve as a common denominator and central reference point, address normative and implementation gaps, and act as a guiding light for the core human rights of older persons, while providing clearer guidance on the obligations of states. Austria attaches particular importance to dignity, autonomy, equality, and non-discrimination, participation, protection from violence and abuse, access to justice, effective monitoring, and meaningful involvement of older persons throughout the process. We also believe that ageism must be addressed as a structural driver of discrimination and human rights violations. Demographic change is transforming our societies. including in Austria and in Europe. The human rights response must therefore focus not only on ageing as a problem, but on removing the barriers, stereotypes, and discriminatory structures that prevent older persons from fully enjoying their rights. Austria looks forward to engaging constructively throughout this session. Thank you.

Muchas gracias. I must tell you that you may be right in making these observations about the process and some documents that didn't come right on time, but I must remind you that this process took like more than a decade in New York, and as soon as they arrived in Geneva, we moved as fast as we With the idea to keep spending or wasting time, but I mean you have to have also tolerance, patience, and it's the only way that we can actually build up a process like this together. Thank you. Now I give you the floor to distinguished representative Guatemala. Guatemala, please.

Chairperson. We wish to congratulate you on chairing this first session and express Guatemala's support to our work. My delegation welcomes the opportunity to participate in this historic process. After years of dialogue and reflection, we are starting the process of creating a legally binding instrument aimed at strengthening the protection of the human rights of older persons. Our country will participate in constructive spirit and with the firm conviction that aging with dignity must be a guaranteed right for all persons. We believe that the future convention should reaffirm universally recognized human rights and respect the nature of progressiveness responding to the protection gaps facing older persons. The instrument must overcome barriers and forms of discrimination. We emphasize that the inclusion of older women is essential to build a more equitable and inclusive society. In Guatemala, they represent 8.1% of population. The state must recognize their right to dignified living conditions without discrimination or conditions of vulnerability. This process must be based on principles such as equality before the law, social justice, effective access to justice, autonomy, and independence. Free and informed consent, non-discrimination, and social inclusion. It must also recognise the value of care as a shared responsibility, shared between the state, the family, and society. We consider it essential that the process be carried out with the broad participation of older persons themselves, the competent National institutions and civil society. Their experience and contributions are crucial to build a legitimate, inclusive instrument capable of responding to the realities facing our societies. This process, Chairperson, is a pact between generations. Today we begin the construction of a protection framework. Guatemala reiterates its commitment to supporting this process seriously and constructively so that the outcome can provide each older person on behalf of the state and society with the conviction of a truth that they are not alone and their dignity remains intact. I thank you.

Thank you, Guatemala, for your contribution. Guatemala has a very solid national legislation, and there is also a process for the adoption of the Inter-American Convention on Older Persons, which is a very positive thing. It would be very useful if you could ensure that that takes place and continues, but I recognize that your domestic legislation is very solid. Ecuador now, please.

Thank you, Chairperson. My delegation thanks the Office of the High Commissioner for organizing this first meeting of the Intergovernmental Working Group under Resolution 5813. As a co-sponsor of that resolution, Ecuador reaffirms its full support to the mandate to elaborate an international legally binding instrument and hopes that all states, international organizations, civil society, and other relevant stakeholders take advantage of this meeting and this process to mark a milestone in the strengthening of international human rights law. Older persons are holders of all human rights. However, they continue to face specific obstacles to their full exercise. The barriers arising from rapid technological transformation and digitalization generate new forms of exclusion exclusion by hindering access to financial services, payment systems, health insurance, healthcare, public information, and administrative procedures. In addition, there are disproportionate risks of poverty and economic exclusion, the persistence of age-based discrimination in employment, and limitations on the exercise of the right to health, especially in the context of health emergencies, pandemics, Humanitarian crises and natural disasters. With a global population of older persons that will reach approximately 2.1 billion by 2050, as the Deputy High Commissioner stated, an international legal framework that responds to these challenges and strengthens the protection of older persons' rights is essential. Ecuador believes that this negotiation should not begin from scratch, but rather build on the progress already made in international human rights law and existing regional experiences, as well as national experience. As a state party to the Inter-American Convention on the Protection of the Human Rights of Older Persons, we reaffirmed that the future instrument instrument must complement and strengthen the current legal framework, promoting dignity, autonomy, independence, participation, and inclusion of older persons, with specific measures aimed at overcoming the protection gaps that still persist. Finally, Ecuador stresses the importance of guaranteeing the effective participation of older persons and the organizations that represent them, not only during the preparation of the instrument but also in the design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the public policies that States adopt in this area. We reiterate our full support for your leadership, Chairperson, and our readiness to work openly and constructively with all delegations to achieve a strong universal instrument to promote, protect, and guarantee the human rights of older persons. I thank you.

Thank you, distinguished representative of Ecuador, for your contribution and your support to the progress process. The translation didn't come through.

Thank you, Chair. At the outset, I'd like to thank you and the other members of the Core Group for the arrangements made for the session and the documentation circulated last week. The EU looks forward to engaging with the Working Group to address protection gaps and to enhance the respect for, protection and fulfilment of the human rights of older persons. Mr. Chair, the EU remains fully committed to and active in promoting the full enjoyment of all human rights by by older persons without discrimination. We support a human rights-based approach to ageing that recognises older persons as rights holders and active members of society. This includes ensuring meaningful participation, access, accessibility, and inclusion of older persons in all spheres of life, independent living, combating ageism and age discrimination, and addressing all forms of violence, neglect, and abuse, and exploitation. In our statement in February, we shared that, within the European Union, we have a significant legislative and policy acquis benefiting older persons and spanning multiple issues. Meanwhile, in March 2026, the European Commission adopted a Strategy on Intergenerational Fairness, which promotes a long-term intergenerational perspective in policymaking and seeks to ensure a balance of opportunities, rights, and responsibilities across generations. As populations age, it is increasingly important to promote the inclusion and participation of older persons and to address barriers to the full enjoyment of their rights. As the work of this IGWG commences, we look forward to the various discussions and presentations arranged and to the broad, meaningful participation by civil society organizations and Representatives of older persons, including older persons with disabilities and those facing intersecting vulnerabilities, from all regions. We are grateful for the numerous submissions by stakeholders from around the world in response to the call for inputs, on which we can draw upon. You will understand that we need more time to deliberate on the documentation before this session, notably your Food for Thought paper. Having said that, we underline once again that the development of standards relating to the rights of older persons must be based on and fully aligned with the international human rights law, including the CRPD, to which the EU is an early party to alongside its Member States, as well as relevant regional instruments. In closing, Chair, we wish you much success in steering our work this week. In light of demographic trends and looking to the future of our societies, it is crucial to continue to uphold older persons' full enjoyment of human rights and to promote intergenerational fairness. Thank you so much, Chair.

Muchas gracias. I thank the distinguished representative of the European Union for the statement and for the support of the process. And ongoing cooperation. And I now call on Mexico.

Muchas gracias. Thank you, Chairperson Rapporteur, for giving us the floor. Mexico supports the mandate of the Intergovernmental Working Group to achieve a legally binding instrument. We welcome the holding of this first session. With this session, we continue making progress towards our shared objective of an instrument to uphold and protect the rights of older persons in all their diversity. The instrument must transform the way that societies consider aging older persons. Persons are not a burden. They are full holders of rights who actively contribute to cultural, economic, political, social, and community life. We recognize their full autonomy and legal capacity and guarantee their effective participation with the necessary legitimacy and effectiveness within the future instrument. We must We must combat ageism and ensure that older people have decent work, digital access. Mexico believes that the creation, strengthening, and transformation of care and support systems based on human rights, intersectoral, and designed around the gender perspective contribute to the dignity of older persons and recognize their contribution to the well-being of development of societies. This is a crucial aspect of the instrument. It will be essential to consider the existing normative provisions on care and the rights of older persons, including the advisory opinion of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights, the recent resolution of the Human Rights Council on discrimination against women and girls in the context of care, and normative progress in the ILO and other bodies. These frameworks strengthen the obligation of states to move from care-based models to autonomy, dignity, and full participation of older persons in social, economic, and political life. Mexico reiterates its commitment to building a solid instrument that recognizes that dignity and rights are not reduced with age. I thank you.

I thank Mexico. Mexico took the initiative to make progress in its law linked to older persons and created a national instrument for older adults, which is one of the few such institutions, I believe, that exist nationally addressing this issue specifically. Thank you very much for your participation. And I now call on Ireland.

Ireland welcomes the opportunity to participate in the first substantive session of the Intergovernmental Working Group and to advance the development of the general framework and guiding principles for a legally binding instrument on the human rights of older persons. Ireland is committed to promoting and protecting the rights of older persons. With increased longevity and population ageing, older persons are facing an increased risk of age discrimination. Discrimination on the basis of age and ageism is unacceptable. It violates older persons' fundamental rights to equality and human dignity. Ireland welcomes the development of standards that will seek to address and prevent ageism and age discrimination across all domains. We acknowledge that older persons are not a homogeneous group and that the discrimination that they may experience is often intersectional, based not only on age but on other factors such as gender or ethnic origin. The general framework of a legally binding instrument will must affirm the autonomy and agency of older persons and support their full participation in the economy and society. Recognizing that aging is a natural and universal facet of the human condition which is not confined to a specific age cohort, the instrument must present a future-oriented vision for change that is responsive to increasing longevity and diversity of older persons in aging societies. Ireland further underlines its view that any new instrument should uphold the universality and indivisibility of human rights and be coherent with existing human rights commitments, including those set out in the UNCRPD and its Optional Protocol. Ireland looks forward to engaging meaningfully as the drafting process commences. Thank you.

Thank you, distinguished representative of Ireland. I give the floor to distinguished Representative of Togo, you have the floor.

Merci, Monsieur le. Thank you, Chairperson. Togo welcomes the efforts made by yourself, the Secretariat of the Intergovernmental Working Group, and all stakeholders for the holding of this first session in order to develop an international legally binding instrument on the rights of older persons. We attach particular importance to this opening session, which is a milestone in consolidating this progression towards upholding the rights of older persons. We believe that as regards the future instrument, the main international convention on— conventions on human rights provide a relevant framework. We call for a text organized around general provisions setting out the substantive rights, obligations of States Parties, and mechanisms for follow-up and cooperation. We believe that the mechanism of periodic reports and a forum for exchange and cooperation on the rights of older persons are essential. In line with the universities for older persons that Togo organizes nationally, our delegation believes that the future instrument must uphold the dignity, inherent dignity of older persons, equality and non-discrimination, autonomy, full and effective participation in public life, and respect for consent. And the will of older persons. We also call for a human rights-based approach which upholds gender equality and is sensitive to intersecting discrimination, including the rights of persons with disabilities, rural dwellers, and people living in poverty who deserve increased protection. The future instrument must also Provide protection against violence, abuse, neglect, and exploitation, including in the family, institutional, and community frameworks. It must explicitly set out certain specific rights, such as access to healthcare, social protection, justice, housing, adequate standard of living, long-term support, and respect of older persons' dignity. And we must emphasize that participation by older persons themselves in the work and the representation by their associations is central, particularly as regards the functioning of the implementation follow-up mechanism. Togo wishes to support this process and participate actively in the work of this I thank you.

Thank you, distinguished representative of Togo. And I want to highlight something that is extremely important, and he may understand me clearly. Your participation, your message, your statement really has a tremendous significance, and I tell you why. Because there are many, many missions here who does not— they don't count with many diplomats or they are lacking of human resources. On many occasions, for you to have an idea, we have the dilemma of what to attend first, what is the priority. In our case, for example, ambassador covering everything, the LUTO and the disarmament and everything. There are many delegations here that comes with 3 ambassadors, sometimes 2, and a lot of staff. So the fact that delegations like Togo, many others that actually are here giving the speech, giving the statement, I mean, we should— you should really value a lot because it's just that the fact the presence is a message, the message of interest, the message that actually is really committed with the process. And I encourage many other countries that have small delegations to participate actively in this process because it really helps us to see different perspectives. We don't want to have a perspective only from developing countries or from one area, from one region. We want the whole participation, not only NGOs but also from the side of the member states from all regions in the world, and the larger number of of regions and countries participating that will enrich even more and more this process that we just started. Thank you again, distinguished representative of Togo. Now, I give you the floor to distinguished representative of Slovenia. Slovenia has been one of the pillars, if not the pillar, of this process. Please, the floor is yours.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. It is an honour to address you today. As you said, for more than a decade Slovenia has been advocating for stronger protection of the rights of older persons. And this session is a joyous occasion for us. Today we are starting to move from words to action, to setting standards. And we move from aspiration to obligation. Despite the universality of human rights, older persons too often remain invisible, within international legal frameworks. In times of swift demographic changes and an international framework that is uneven in the protection of human rights of older persons and at times blind to their specificities and vulnerabilities, Slovenia firmly believes these gaps and limitations in international human rights law must be comprehensively addressed. While existing treaties proclaim equality and non-discrimination, none contains comprehensive provision addressing ageism. A legally binding International Convention on the Rights of Older Persons will provide what is currently missing: a comprehensive framework of global standards. We need an instrument that will provide a strong legal framework to safeguard dignity, equality, and inclusion of older persons in practice, not just in principle. We see the new LBI as an integral part of the international human rights treaties, thus firmly grounded in human rights. As such, it can also offer a single platform for advocacy and a powerful instrument for accountability. Among general guiding principles, we prioritize non-discrimination, equality, including gender equality, respect for inherent dignity and autonomy, participation and inclusion in society, accessibility, and consistency with existing international human rights standards. The drafting process itself is a vehicle for constructive international dialogue and cooperation. Through it, we can share good practices, learn from diverse legal traditions, and build consensus around principles that reflect our common humanity. We can demonstrate that multilateralism remains capable of responding to emerging challenges with vision, conviction, and solidarity. It is essential that the process ensures active and meaningful participation of all relevant stakeholders, from member states to civil society, national human rights institutions, academia, and most importantly, it must be guided by the voices and lived experience of older persons themselves. They are not merely subjects of discussions, they are agents of change. Older persons from a significantly— form a significantly heterogeneous group. They are rights holders, yet too often perceived as merely social welfare beneficiaries. Mr. Chair, this process should build on the work of the existing and past mechanisms and processes, including the findings of the Open-Ended Working Group on Ageing and the Independent Expert, relevant reports of the Office of the High Commissioner, as well as regional efforts and legal frameworks. We will actively engage in the work of the Working Group, both at formal sessions and beyond. This Working Group offers us all an incredible opportunity to spearhead the transformation of the societal approach in understanding ageing and longevity. We thus invite you all to engage constructively in this endeavour. Thank you.

Thank you, distinguished representative of Slovenia, and I want to mentioned something that is extremely important. When we have the responsibility to mobilize energies and people and processes like this, it's not automatic. And normally there are people behind— not normally, always there are people behind. But there are some people who does more than others. And on this matter, specifically on this matter, many others as well, but in this matter, I want really to highlight the, uh, one of the major pillars in the person of the Ambassador Anita Pivan from Slovenia. She was always there pushing, really keeping this process alive. When everybody was discouraged, she was always there to make others to move on on this process. I mean, if it's someone in Geneva that really deserves all the honor for the reason that we are here today, I can tell you without a doubt that Ambassador Pipan is the person. We owe her a lot as international community. Thank you, Anita. Thank you for everything. Now I give the floor to distinguished representative of Malta. You have the floor.

Thank you, Chair Rapporteur, and I echo your Admiration for the work of Ambassador Pippin. Malta aligns itself with the EU statement. We welcome the first formal session of the Intergovernmental Working Group on Older Persons pursuant to the HRC Resolution 5813. At this working group, as it commences its work, the rights of older persons have reached an important milestone. As mandated by the HRC Resolution 5813, this working group will elaborate and submit to the HRC a draft binding instrument on the human rights of older persons. The Council also mandated that this future instrument would have as its main objective promotion, protection, and to ensure the full enjoyment of human rights of older persons. It is with these considerations in mind that Malta approaches the Working Group sessions. Elaborating a legally binding instrument is a laborious process, and we seek the Chair-Rapporteur's wisdom and patience to guide this process efficiently while at the same time ensuring its integrity. We recognize all States, in particular the members of the Core Group and civil society organizations that have worked tirelessly over several years for this process to reach this point. Malta is proud to have done its part in 1969 at the UN General Assembly, when it raised what at the time was termed protection of the rights and assured the welfare of the aged in Article 11 of the Declaration on Social Progress and Development of 1969. Mr. Chair Rapporteur, the terminology we use at the UN today may have changed and become more inclusive, but our aim remains the same: that of ensuring that older persons have and continue to have their rights protected in full, without any form of discrimination. We see this as a major priority for this Working Group. Mr. Chair Rapporteur, the documents prepared by the Secretariat for this session are important because they set out the general guiding principles of this process. We thank the Secretariat for their work. While we do encourage earlier distribution of documentation for future sessions, to provide enough time for in-depth preparation by delegations. Mr. Chair-Rapporteur, we thank you for circulating the Food for Thought paper, about which we will make more detailed comments under the relevant agenda item. Malta had also submitted a contribution, which is reflected on the IJWG website, in preparation to this process, which also includes various elements which we deem as highly relevant for the eventual legally binding instrument. In our view, drafting such an important instrument not only should include more traditional aspects related to the rights of older persons, but also be able to reflect contemporary challenges perhaps not fully envisaged in earlier years. We consider it expedient that through this process, an eventual instrument will be relevant then as it would be now. We look forward to engaging during this process to formulate a legally binding instrument And through our collective efforts, we hope that in the final determination, older persons' rights will be better protected as rights holders. I thank you.

Thank you, distinguished representative of Malta. Thank you for your contributions. And I give the floor to distinguished representative of the Russian Federation. You have the floor.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. First of all, we would like to express our appreciation for convening this first session. Which marks the beginning of a long way ahead of intense work and thorough negotiations. We appreciate the opportunity to express our preliminary views and opinions on this important initiative and to underline our sincere commitment to engage constructively to this upcoming process. We strongly believe that the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities could be a good basis and start or guidance for us to start elaborating the text, given the fact that the thematic spheres of both documents are quite close and that the CRPD is the most recent— recently adopted universal document on human rights. The Russian Federation will also be sharing its own best practices and achievements, including those which are contained in our national strategy on this matter. With regard to the core principles of the future Convention, we believe they could be the concepts enshrined in CRPD: respect for the dignity of older persons, their personal autonomy and independence, prohibition of discrimination based on age, full and effective participation and inclusion in society, respect for the distinctiveness of older persons, equal opportunity, accessibility, equality between men and women. Furthermore, additional principles could be drawn from the Charter of Older Persons adopted by Resolution No. 1115 of the Interparliamentary Assembly of the Commonwealth of Independent States in 1998, ensuring a dignified experience, security, and the practical possibility of realizing the full human potential of older persons. Persons, and the 2015 Inter-American Convention on the Rights of Older Persons, which recognized the important role of older persons in society, their self-realization, the principles of solidarity, protection of the family, the responsibility of the state, and the participation of family and society in realizing the rights of older persons. With regard to the structure of the future international treaty, we believe that it would consist of the following elements. Preamble, articles concerning the general provisions such as purpose, definitions, general principles, general obligations, articles disclosing the content of key principles, the content of individual rights, both universal and specific, as well as articles on international cooperation, on implementation at the national level, on conventional mechanisms, a conference of state parties to the international treaty or a potential Committee on the Rights of Older Persons, as well as final clauses. With regard to the substantive content of the document, in addition to the provisions that could be found in the CRPD, we also would like to suggest a few— to make a few suggestions with regard to include or to cover possible rights which could be enshrined in these legally binding documents. Among them, a right to have a guaranteed pension, specific special benefits and other sources of incomes, to receive reliable protection for their savings and incomes, to freely choose their place of residence. During this session, we'll be presenting more inputs for this text, and for the sake of time, just keep it for later discussion. Thank you so much.

Thank you, distinguished representative of the Russian Federation. Thank you for your suggestions and and the contributions for this process. I give you the floor, distinguished representative of Jamaica. You have the floor.

Thank you, Chair. The Jamaican delegation welcomes this opportunity to participate in this first substantive session of the IGWG mandated to elaborate a legally binding international instrument for the promotion and protection of the human rights of older persons. This responds to a longstanding global recognition of gaps in the protection regime for older persons and builds upon years of work under the Madrid International Plan of Action on Aging. Our delegation approaches this process guided by our 2021 National Policy for Senior Citizens, which places strong emphasis on rights, responsibilities, and recognition of older persons' capabilities and contributions. We therefore affirm that the work of this IGWG must center on a comprehensive rights-based approach, ensuring that older persons are protected from discrimination, abuse, exploitation, and neglect, while being empowered to contribute to sustainable development. As Madam Deputy High Commissioner indicated, there is a profound demographic transition underway that is not confined to any particular region. Jamaica is experiencing this rapid demographic shift. Older persons now represent nearly 14% of our population, and this figure is expected to reach closer to 20% by 2030. This demographic transformation demands a global response that strengthens health systems, long-term care, and social protection to ensure older persons can live dignified, independent, and secure lives. With a steady increase in life expectancy and recognizing the vulnerabilities linked to aging, targeted evidence-based and rights-driven interventions would be required. For our part, Jamaica is currently taking steps to enact a comprehensive legislative framework for the care and protection of older persons, which aims to strengthen safeguards and protect the rights of older persons. Regarding principles at CHEAR, Jamaica's position is that the legally binding instrument should be guided by the principles of non-discrimination by age, participation and inclusion, Independence and autonomy, protection from all forms of abuse, violence, and exploitation, access to care, access to justice, and intergenerational solidarity. Regarding structure, we see the instrument being broadly framed by the following sections: a preamble, a statement of principles including those previously mentioned, general human rights obligations for States reflecting a reiteration of the rights to be enjoyed by older persons, monitoring and implementation, as well as final provisions. In closing, Chair, Jamaica stands ready to work with all delegations to ensure that we produce an instrument that meaningfully advances the dignity, rights, and well-being of older persons everywhere. We owe it to current and future generations to ensure that aging is not treated as a vulnerability or burden, but as an integral, respected, and supported phase of life. Thank you, Chair.

Thank you, distinguished representative of Jamaica. Thank you for your contributions, for your suggestions, and the support to this process. And now I give the floor to distinguished representative of Iran. You have the floor.

Thank you, Mr. President. Mr. Chair Rapporteur, Iran welcomes the convening of the first session of the Intergovernmental Working Group. At the outset, we wish to stress that in many cultures, especially in Eastern societies, older persons are respected members of society. They pass on knowledge, wisdom, and experience. Experience from one generation to another. They play an important role in families and communities. Therefore, any future instruments should be based on respect for their dignity and contribution to society. We also reaffirm the value of every human life and reject any approach that weakens the protection of life and the dignity of older persons. Mr. Chair, as we discuss the rights of older persons, we should also recognize the different situations faced by developing countries. Many of these countries have a large younger population that needs jobs, housing, and education, while at the same time they must respond to the growing needs of older persons. With limited national resources, the challenges cannot be addressed without stronger international cooperation. In this regard, we wish to highlight the harmful effects of UCMs, including economic and financial sanctions. Such measures undermine the right to development of affected countries, weaken their health system, and limit their ability to provide adequate health and care services for older persons. They also restrict access to essential medicines, medical equipment, assistive devices, supportive technologies, and other basic goods needed by older persons. As a result, they directly affect the health, dignity, and quality of life of older persons. The future instrument should therefore recognize not only the obligation of states to protect the rights of older persons within their own countries, but also their obligation to refrain from action that harms the rights of older persons in other countries. States should ensure that their policies and measures do not hinder the enjoyment of human rights in either other countries. Mr. Chair, finally, we remain committed to working with all delegations to develop a balanced, practical, and effective instrument that effectively protects the rights and dignity of older persons. Thank you.

Thank you, distinguished representative of Iran. Thank you for your statement. And I give the floor to distinguished representative of the Philippines. You have the floor.

Thank you, Chair. The Philippines reaffirms its support to the mandate of this working group. Population aging is an inescapable global reality. A legally binding instrument codifying the rights of older persons and the corresponding obligations of duty bearers will provide a holistic and rights-based framework to respond to the challenges and opportunities presented by this demographic transition. The Philippines envisions an instrument that unequivocally recognizes older persons as rights holders, not merely recipients of care or charity from the state and society. Its objective should be to empower older persons everywhere so they can live in in autonomy, dignity, and full participation in society. By reaffirming this agency, the instrument will reinforce a fundamental truth that human rights are universal, inalienable, and must be enjoyed all throughout the life cycle. The principle of non-discrimination and intergenerational solidarity should underpin the LBI. They should be complemented by protection and procedural rights and guarantees, including access to affordable, humane, and dignified long-term care and palliative services. In this regard, this— the indispensable role of caregivers must be recognized. The rights of caregivers Particularly migrant caregivers, must also be protected so that they can provide the highest standard of care while preserving their own dignity and well-being. Finally, the Philippines underscores the importance of an inclusive process where civil society, national human rights institutions, and other stakeholders participate meaningfully while upholding the intergovernmental nature of the negotiations. The Philippines will work constructively with all delegations and stakeholders to deliver a robust, effective, and forward-looking instrument for the world of today and of future generations. Thank you.

Thank you, distinguished representatives of the Philippines. Now I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Colombia. Muchas gracias.

Thank you, Chairperson. Congratulations on your election. We support this intergovernmental work. Group and the need for an international legally binding instrument on the rights of older persons. We welcome this first negotiating session. The international instrument must be based on general principles of international human rights law, including human dignity, universality, equality, and non-discrimination, indivisibility and interdependence of human rights. It is crucial to incorporate progressiveness and non-regression, encouraging states to expand the rights of older persons. These principles must make it possible expressly to address ageism, which is a form of structural discrimination aggravated when it also involves ethnic origin, gender, or disability. The 5 pillars of the United Nations on the basis of— for older persons: independence, participation, care, self-realization, dignity overlap with co-responsibility of the state, the family, and the community. The development of regional systems such as the Inter-American System for Older Persons adapted by our country in 2000 2022 could be useful. We also believe it is essential to incorporate accessibility and reasonable accommodations guaranteeing access to physical environments, technology, and services overcoming barriers to full participation. The instrument must recognize the legal capacity of older persons on equal footing and their right to decide for themselves. We note the relevance of making care a human right with co-responsibility and recognition of unpaid care incorporating progressive deinstitutionalization of community-based care. Thank you. In conclusion, we reiterate our readiness actively and constructively to participate in negotiations, trusting that this will lead to progress on a solid, comprehensive, transformative instrument that meets the current needs and ensures that all older persons may fully exercise their rights in autonomy and free from all forms of discrimination. I thank you.

Muchas gracias. I thank Colombia and I have to mention that 2 weeks ago we also still had inside this process our colleague Ambassador Gayon who left us so suddenly. And I want to draw everybody's attention to the fact that this process is one that is to transform lives when we seek to transform the lives of millions of people. It is important to take into account urgency, the urgency of this process, and at the same time make sure it is solid and has sound foundations. At the same time, we have to address the need for Rapid solutions, and this is my tribute to our excellent colleague. We are all aware of the need to work together hand in hand in order to ensure that this process may be achieved as. soon as possible. We thank you. With that, I thank you and I give the floor to Indonesian.

Mr. Chair, we wish to join others to congratulate you on your appointment as chair reporter of this working group. We count on your leadership in guiding this working group's deliberations in accordance with Human Rights Council Resolution 58/13. Indonesia recognizes older persons as right holders, defined by our national law as those aged 60 years and above. Their rights on equal basis with all other Indonesian citizens are legally protected, including inter alia their access to healthcare, employment, education, and social protection. Ensuring older persons' welfare is our development priority, which is increasingly urgent as we are entering an aging society. Indonesia is now home to nearly 35 million older persons, projected to reach 65 million by 2045. In response to this demographic transition, we are in the process of amending our law on older persons' welfare, reflecting our sustained and adaptive measure to further advance their fundamental rights. For us, their wisdom, knowledge, and experience continue to foster our families, communities, and national resilience and remain an important source of guidance for all present and future generations. Mr. Chair, Indonesia believes that the elaborations of a draft LBI on older persons should not be pursued as a merely symbolic exercise but must serve these 3 main principles. First, it must genuinely address real normative gaps in international human rights law, grounded in empirical needs and the lived experience of older persons. Second, it must avoid unnecessary duplications of established principles and provisions applicable to all persons under existing international human rights instruments. Third, it must be consensus-oriented, anchored in universal human rights while taking due account of national circumstances, legal systems, cultural contexts, and local specificities. We also underline the need to carefully consider the practical implications of any future implementation and monitoring arrangement of the LBI. Creating undue additional burdens for states must be avoided, particularly amidst the ongoing UN liquidity constraints and reform efforts. Any proposal for a separate reporting mechanism should be carefully assessed, including the possibility of utilizing the existing treaty body mechanism. Mr. Chair, applying a balanced and consensual approach in this process is crucial to ensure a broad ownership and avoid polarization among member states. Indonesia's commitment to advancing the rights of older persons is firm, and we stand ready to engage in good faith in the work of this council— of this working group. I thank you.

Thank you. Thank you, distinguished representative of Indonesia. And I give the floor to distinguished representative of Thailand. You have the floor.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Thailand joins you and other colleagues in expressing our appreciation to Ambassador Anita Papan of Slovenia for her leadership in this process and welcomes the convening of the first session of the Intergovernmental Working Group on the Human Rights of Older Persons. Thailand advocates for a human rights-based approach as the overarching framework with regard to the structure and guiding principles of the future international legally binding instrument. We view that this framework should adopt a similar approach taking in the development of the CRPD, it must shift the paradigm by transforming the status of older persons from mere recipients of welfare and protection to empower them as rights holders. To ensure consistency and reduce duplication, Thailand views that the structure of this new instrument must align with relevant existing frameworks Particularly the Madrid International Plan of Action on Aging, the Sustainable Development Goals, and the UN Decade of Healthy Aging. Regarding the core principles of the future instrument, Thailand believes that the following elements should be central to our deliberations. First, holding human dignity, autonomy, self-reliance, and equality alongside efforts to reduce ageism. Second, ensuring comprehensive income security for an adequate standard of living and promoting preparation for the pre-aging population. Third, guaranteeing the right of older persons to live with their families, communities, and societies by supporting community-based care, promoting aging in place, and ensuring caregivers' rights and protections. Fourth, securing the right of age-friendly primary care, prevention— preventive health screenings, long-term care, and palliative care. Fifth, protecting older persons during humanitarian situations, disasters, and emergencies. Sixth, fostering the right to participation, lifelong learning, and digital literacy. And 7, ensuring the right to adequate housing and supportive environments through the concept of universal design. Mr. Chair, we share your view that this cannot be achieved by one country alone. Thailand remains steadfast in our commitment to working constructively with all members and stakeholders to ensure the full and equal realization of human rights for all the persons. Thank you.

Thank you, distinguished representative of Thailand. I give the floor to distinguished representative of Iraq. You have the floor.

Thank you, Chair. Iraq wishes to express its appreciation for the efforts to hold this first session of the Open-Ended Working Group on Older Persons in line with Resolution 58/13. We took note of the results and recommendations of the Working Group on Aging and relevant reports, as well as participation of countries, relevant stakeholders, and the President's paper on enriching the debate. We hope all these efforts will enrich the discussions, given that the paper includes consensual elements in line with the program of work. Chair Iraq is fully aware of the importance of the working group's discussions, given that human rights treaties do not cover issues of older persons directly, and we see also an increase in the number of aging and an increase. In normative gaps and protection. We call for also drafting that complement gaps in existing treaties and while focusing on the right to difference in national capacities and reinforcing international cooperation and exchange of expertise while taking into account specificities of countries, while supporting the family at the cornerstone for the protection of the rights of older persons and their dignity. This meeting should focus on agreeing to a clear work methodology and a framework in order to better use time and resources and prepare well to good and organized negotiations in order to achieve tangible progress away from repeating discussions and cumbersome procedures. We should use a constructive, consensual language and refrain from controversial, controversial languages in order to reach a text that reinforces our common goal, which is to provide sustainable protection for older persons. In closing, we forward to work with all delegations within a spirit of partnership in line with the agreed-upon program of work. And thank you, Chairperson.

Thank you, distinguished representative of Iraq. If you could please send in advance the, uh, your statements to the interpreters to speeches@un.org. That will help a lot for the benefit of everybody so that your statement will be clearly translated. And the other thing is that I haven't received any complaint by the interpreters yet, but I mean, if you could please slow down the statements, that could be really wonderful as well. Please. Thank you. Now I give the floor to distinguished representative of Uruguay.

Thank you, Chairperson. Uruguay reiterates its support for the negotiation of this international legally binding instrument on the human rights of older persons and welcomes the work done over the 2 decades. We seek inclusive participation in this process with significant participation by older persons in their full diversity throughout the process and participation by young people. We seek structural transformation based on international human rights law with the development of a universal instrument. This is a milestone in strengthening the protection of older persons, overcoming legislative gaps and providing clarity and guidance to states in their obligations. This instrument must be based on the premise that older persons enjoy all human rights and fundamental freedoms on an equal footing with others. Age does not justify restrictions on the enjoyment of rights. Uruguay believes that dignity and autonomy must be the axis of this future instrument. Personal autonomy, equality before the law, the right to take decisions on one's own life, full participation in society, access to adequate support, and the right to a life free of violence, discrimination, and abuse. The instrument must address current and emerging challenges that particularly address— face older persons, including armed conflict, digital transformation, digital gap, and climate change. It is crucial to incorporate the gender perspective and an intersectional approach, noting that older persons are not a homogeneous group. And that many of them face intersecting forms of discrimination, particularly older women, older persons with disabilities, Afro-descendant persons, indigenous persons, persons living in poverty, and persons in institutions. The future instrument must complement existing human rights treaties, overcoming gaps. Complementing the Inter-American Convention on the Rights of Older Persons, which is a valuable basis for development of international standards. We reiterate our commitment to constructively building this instrument to ensure that it is solid, universal, and based on dignity, autonomy, and equality for all older persons. I thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Uruguay. Thank you for your valuable contributions to this process. May you have a long—

Thank you, Mr. Chair. The translation didn't come through. And congratulations on your guiding voices. It's a pleasure to work under you. Germany aligns herself with the statement given by the European Union. In our national capacity, we also would like to thank the organizers for convening this crucial meeting to begin the substantial work of drafting a legally binding instrument on the promotion and protection of the human rights of older persons. Germany assures you to work constructively towards achieving this new instrument, and we welcome very much the active participation of the numerous civil society organizations we see in the room, the national human rights institutions, and the representatives of older persons. Germany has stated its opinion on the structure and guiding principles in answering the question sent out by OHCHR to prepare this session. As for guiding principles, I'd like to point out that the universality of human rights is the main principle that must prevail. The standards and norms included in the new legally binding instrument should be derived from the International Rights Archive and develop this Rights Archive. Thank you. Human rights have no age limit. Where specific rights already exist in the Human Rights Archive, the exact texts of existing rights have to be taken to a new legally binding instrument in order to avoid contradiction and confusion regarding the content and interpretation of rights by treaty bodies. No existing norm may be weakened. That includes the Human Rights Archive as well as the ILO standards for for social and labor rights, which complement the human rights acquis as universally agreed standards. This has been pointed out in our organizational meeting in February. The principle of intergenerational fairness should be incorporated into the new binding instrument as a guiding principle. As concluded by the Open-Ended Working Group on Aging, the principle of non-discrimination is especially the explicit ban on age discrimination and ageism in the field of human rights, must be the core principle of the new legally binding instrument. We think that CRPD must be a central guiding framework. A new legally binding instrument may not fall behind the widely agreed standards of this core international convention, which is the youngest internationally binding instrument. The structure should follow the standards of preamble recalling and reaffirming all existing treaties, scope definitions, general principles, and we think we should be very creative on a monitoring instrument. We need— think monitoring is essential, but we have to be creative to invent a mechanism which does not overburden the UN system and the parties to the new instrument. I would also like to draw your attention to the MIPoB process, which gives us underlying language. Germany will host the next UNECE Ministerial Conference, and we think that the negotiations in this room will be reflected in the conference. And furthermore, I would join the voices pleading for an earlier distribution of the papers to be better prepared for these meetings. Thank you so much.

Thank you, distinguished representative of Germany. The same response that I gave to the Austrian. I give the floor to distinguished representative of Dominican Republic. You have the floor.

Thank you, Chairperson. Dominican Republic welcomes the holding of the first session of the Working Group and congratulates you on your election. Our country participates as a member of the Group of Friends and the co-sponsor of the resolution that was at the basis of this process, noting that aging is one of the major contemporary challenges. The future convention must be based on clear principles for interpretation and implementation, including inherent dignity of the person, autonomy, independence, equality, and non-discrimination on the basis of age, full effective participation in society, accessibility, intergenerational solidarity, and recognition of the diversity of older persons. We support a structure which, without starting from zero, draws on the experience of other human rights treaties, incorporating the provisions that have shown themselves to be effective to ensure the protection of vulnerable groups while responding to specific challenges facing older persons. My country considers it crucial for the future instrument to have follow-up mechanisms that are effective, interdependent, and accessible, promote effective dialogue with states, and facilitate the exchange of good practice. Our commitment to this agenda has historic roots. The International Day of Older Persons on 1st of October internationally was an initiative of my country within the United Nations. Reflecting our sustained commitment to dignity and the rights of older persons. Internationally, we have strengthened the public policies for older persons through the work of the National Council for Aging Persons, the implementation of social protection programs, and the protection of active aging. My country therefore reiterates its readiness constructively to participate in flexible fashion seeking consensus within this process. I thank you.

I thank the Dominican Republic. Representative of Nigeria.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Nigeria reaffirms its support for the working group and reassures you of our continued cooperation as we begin this first substantive session. My delegation welcomes the opportunity to begin this important process and believe we all— we already have a good foundation regardless of the different Yes. While there may be differences between views on the form of future instrument it may take, or indeed whether one is required, there is broad recognition that other persons are entitled to the full enjoyment of their human rights and fundamental freedom. The task before us, therefore, is to ensure that our discussions remain practical and focused on finding solutions that will make a real difference in the lived realities of older persons. For Nigeria, this discussion extends beyond law and policy. It is also a development issue. As people live longer and our societies continue to evolve, it becomes imperative to strengthen healthcare, social protection, long-term care, and other support systems that enable older persons to live in dignity, independence, and security. In this regard, we believe any future instrument should recognize that in many societies, particularly in Africa, the family remains the primary and natural source of care and support for older persons. It should therefore strengthen the role of families, encourage community-based support, and implement and complement the efforts already being made by states. Nigeria also considers it important that this process builds on existing international human rights law while carefully addressing any identified gaps in a manner that commands the broadest consensus among member states. Finally, Nigeria looks forward to engaging constructively throughout this process in a spirit of dialogue, cooperation, and consensus with a view to developing an instrument that is practical, implementable, and responsive to the realities and needs of the old persons. I thank you.

Thank you, distinguished representative of Nigeria. Now I give the floor to distinguished representative of Namibia. Yeah, that's right. Representative of Namibia? Probably he's not in the room. I give you the floor to distinguished representative of United Arab Emirates. You have the floor.

Chair, we welcome the launch of the work of the Working Group on the Rights of Older Persons, which is going to develop an instrument on the rights of older persons. We congratulate you, Chairperson, for assuming the chairmanship of the Working Group. We are committed to the rights of older persons and their empowerment. This instrument is important for reinforcing international cooperation and developing a legal framework that keeps abreast with demographic transformations and meets the needs of societies in a comprehensive manner. The instrument should be based on the UN Charter, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and the relevant instruments. While focusing on the UN principles on older persons and Madrid International Aging Work Plan, while taking into account different legal systems of various countries. The success of the instrument hinges on resting on various principles, including human dignity, non-discrimination, independence, and decision-making, participation, inclusion, and tapping into the experience of older persons, solidarity between generations, and supporting family as a cornerstone for society while providing protection against violence, neglect, and exploitation, and everything that compromises the dignity of older persons. We should ensure access to healthcare in a comprehensive manner, while ensuring access to services, information, and empowering older persons to tap into technology and digital services and to lifelong learning, providing them with social protection in line with national legislations. We call for a clear structure of the instrument that includes preamble reflecting goals, general provisions, and clear definitions that are agreed upon and general principles together with the rights of older persons and implementing mechanisms for follow-up, international cooperation and monitoring while adopting indices to evaluate progress taking into account the various national resources. We call for recognition of the role of the family, society, private sector and the academia and the media in supporting older persons without compromising the responsibility of the state and reinforcing the rights of older persons. In closing, we call for the instrument to respect sovereignty and the legal and cultural social systems of countries, taking into account the existing UN commitments. And thank you, Chair.

Thank you for your contribution, distinguished representative of United Arab Emirates. Now give you the floor to distinguished representative of the Gulf Cooperation States. You have the floor.

Shukran. Thank you, Mr. Chair. I deliver this statement on behalf of the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf. We welcome the start of the Intergovernmental Working Group on adopting a legally binding instrument on the human rights of older persons. In this context, we would like to congratulate you, sir, on your presidency of the working group, and we wish you all success. Thank you. Mr. President, the holding of this first session is an essential step in an important international track through which we want to deal with existing gaps in the protection of the rights of older persons while reaffirming the importance of their status and role. We believe older persons are important elements of the society. They are a pillar and social memory of the society. They are mandate rights holders, not only beneficiaries. Therefore, we believe that it is useful to be guided by a number of basic issues, including: first, the instrument must remain a tool to enhance the rights of older persons and protecting these rights; second, that it be based on the principles of dignity, humanity, equality, non-discrimination based on age, as well as reaffirming the importance of protection from all forms of violence, including digital violence. Third, it must enhance access to all basic rights such as health care and supportive services. The GCC is very keen on the implementation of the instrument. Ambition is not alone or is not sufficient. We must make sure it is implementable and can make a real difference. Therefore, the instrument must be clear in scope and commitments. It must take on board the various national experiences, the national legal systems, as well as the specific specificities of states. Any balanced approach must recognize the role of the family, society, and intergenerational solidarity, as well as support and empowerment in a manner that complements the responsibility of the state. Protecting these rights must be complementary and inclusive between all legislations and public policies. We look forward to a constructive negotiation based on cooperation and openness. We look forward to working with you and all delegations. Thank you.

Thank you, distinguished representative of the GCC. Now I give the floor to distinguished representative of France. You have the floor.

Chairperson, France thanks the Presidency of the United Nations for organizing this first session of the Intergovernmental Group on Older Persons. France reiterates its commitment. It aligns with the European Union statement. It reiterates its commitment. The indivisible and interdependent nature of human rights and multilateralism. The future instrument should be part of the universal framework of human rights to reaffirm that older persons are rights holders without distinction or restriction, and they enjoy the full enjoyment of those rights on an equal footing. France recognizes that demographic and social aging creates specific situations of vulnerability and invisibilization or discrimination which have not been sufficiently addressed to date. The future instrument must therefore strengthen the recognition of older persons as actors in their life course, taking into account the diversity of age-related situations at the intersection with gender, disability, social or geographical origin. France believes that a clear, legible, progressive architecture is an essential condition for the effectiveness and ownership of the future instrument. It should be based on the identification of shared fundamental principles to make it possible to reaffirm existing rights and fill the gaps identified. In particular, the principles of respect for dignity, autonomy, and agency, equality and non-discrimination, participation and inclusion, protection against violence and maltreatment, abuse and neglect in all their forms, including institutional ones, effective access to rights including justice, social protection, healthcare, long-term care, and palliative care. Particular attention must be paid to definitions to arrive at definitions that are flexible enough to take into account the diversity of national contexts, in particular with regard to the concept of older persons. France stresses the importance of an appropriate accountability mechanism that guarantees the effectiveness of the instrument while taking into account the difficulties encountered by the treaty system and preserving the capacity of states to implement the provisions in a progressive and sustainable manner. In the context of the United Nations UNAT initiative, it is essential to propose avenues for reform in favor of a more effective and functioning multilateral system for the benefit of all populations. Finally, France attaches great importance to the participation of the people concerned, should also result in making the Convention accessible and providing clear information on it for older persons and their companions. I thank you.

Thank you, distinguished representative of France. I give the floor to distinguished representative of Greece. You have the floor.

Mr. Chairman, Greece aligns with the statement delivered by the European Union. We thank you for convening this substantive session with the Governmental Working Group. We believe that a legally binding instrument as envisaged in our mandate can contribute decisively to promoting and protecting the human rights of older persons internationally and nationally. Such an instrument should be firmly grounded in the existing international human rights acquis. It should not substitute or weaken that framework, but clarify how it applies to older persons and close identified protection gaps. To this end, we believe it should rest on a human rights-based approach built around a common core of principles: dignity, autonomy, equality, prohibition of discrimination on grounds of age and other prohibited grounds, the fight against ageism, promotion of active aging, participation, accessibility, independent living, and the avoidance of institutionalization. Older persons must no longer be viewed through the lens of care or welfare, but recognized as holders of rights on an equal footing with all others. The instrument should also integrate a gender perspective throughout. Follow-up is essential to the credibility of this instrument. An established architecture already exists at the international level along the lines of the core UN human rights treaties. We are mindful of legitimate concerns regarding overlap with existing mechanisms, the administrative burden placed on states, and resource constraints, and remain ready to consider relevant proposals provided effective monitoring is preserved. At the national level, the instrument could itself provide for independent monitoring and coordination mechanisms such as focal points within competent ministries, a coordination body, and of course independent oversight entrusted to national human rights institutions or other independent authorities. This new instrument must therefore be ambitious yet realistic, animated by spirit of consensus bridging the diverse perceptions of our plural international community without retreating from what has already been achieved in the field of human rights. Cooperation with national human rights institutions and civil society, including with organizations representing older persons, will remain essential, and we warmly welcome their engagement. To conclude, we look forward to engaging actively in this work. We thank you, Mr. Turban, for a very helpful food for thought document, and I can assure you of our full support. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Thank you, distinguished representative of Greece. Now I give the floor to distinguished

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Sweden aligns itself with the EU statement and would like to add the following remarks in our national capacity. Sweden welcomes the work to strengthen older persons' enjoyment of human rights. Ageism and age discrimination are serious issues that we are committed to addressing, both internationally and at home. As this working group now turns to its first substantive discussions, we would like to emphasize 3 points. First, any new standards developed under this process must be firmly grounded in and fully aligned with existing international human rights law, including the CRPD. The rights of older persons are already protected under existing human rights framework, and our shared responsibility is to ensure that this framework is implemented effectively in practice. The most pressing gaps for older persons today are in implementation and enforcement, and these will not be closed by new instruments alone. The work of this group should therefore reinforce, not duplicate, what is already in place. Secondly, Sweden welcomes that the discussions this week are framed under the heading, not building from scratch. We attach great value to the work already carried out by the Open-Ended Working Group, the UN Independent Expert, the human rights treaty bodies, and regional human rights mechanisms. Guiding principles such as dignity, independence, participation, and non-discrimination should remain at the heart of our deliberations. Thirdly, the strength of this process will depend on the meaningful participation of older persons themselves, their representative organizations, and broader civil society. Sweden echoes the call, nothing about us without us. We encourage the Chair and the Secretariat to ensure timely circulation of preparatory materials, including opportunities for inputs and transparent working methods. At the national level, strong emphasis is placed on strengthening security, participation, and independence for older persons. Recent measures include continued investment in the Early Care Initiative, Sorry, the Elderly Care Initiative to reinforce knowledge within municipally funded healthcare and elderly care and reinforce access to medical expertise and healthcare. It also includes a new Social Services Act with a preventive and knowledge-based orientation, language proficiency requirements for staff in elderly care, and protected professional titles for nursing assistants. We also keep regular dialogue with organisations representing older persons through the government's Committee for Pensioners. Mr. Chair, Sweden will follow the work of this group constructively and look forward to engaging with all member states, experts, and civil society. Our common goal must be tangible improvements in life, dignity, and full enjoyment of human rights by older persons everywhere. Thank you.

Thank you, distinguished representative of Sweden. We fully agree with the fact that older persons should participate in all the panels and in all these different formats in the process. I think they are the stars of this process, and that's why we need their testimony in every format that this process can take place. And now give the floor to distinguished representative of Cabo Verde.

Thank you, Chairperson. Welcome to holding this first session of the Open-Ended Working Group on the Human Rights of Older Persons. We reaffirm our commitment to the promotion and protection of their rights and to the adoption of an international legally binding instrument to ensure their full realization. In the face of the world's rapidly aging population, it is essential to enable older persons to live in dignity, independence, security, and participate fully in family, community, and economic life. In Cabo Verde, older persons play a fundamental role in the cohesion of families and communities. The country has adopted important public policy instruments including the National Charter for Older Persons, the National Strategic Plan for Active Aging and the Health of Older Persons, and the National Care System. These policies aim to promote active, healthy, and dignified aging by strengthening long-term care, day centers, rehabilitation, caregiving, Caregiver training, and integrated care for people aged 65 and over in a situation of dependency. At the same time, efforts are being made to expand the coverage of the non-contributory social pension, improve access to primary healthcare and essential medicines, and strengthen community-based services for older persons. We recognize, however, that significant challenges remain. Many older people still live in precarious housing conditions, have insufficient incomes, face difficulties in accessing specialized care for chronic and degenerative diseases, and suffer from isolation, abandonment, and loneliness, especially in rural areas and less positive— less populated islands. Thank you. Violence, abuse, and neglect of older adults also remain a concern. Cabo Verde considers as priorities, therefore, the strengthening of the national system of care and long-term care, the gradual expansion of the social pension and a rise in its value, the adoption of a specific legal framework for the protection protection of the rights of older persons and other measures. The future international instrument should enshrine the principles of dignity, autonomy, equality, participation, and non-discrimination on the basis of age. It should also establish clear obligations of states in the areas of social protection, health, long-term care, and access to justice while encouraging effective mechanisms for monitoring and international cooperation, taking into account the special needs of small island developing states. Protecting the rights of older persons is an imperative of justice, intergenerational solidarity, and sustainable development. Cabo Verde reaffirms its readiness to contribute constructively to this process with a view to the adoption of a strong, inclusive international convention. I thank you.

Muchas gracias, distinguida representante.

Thank you, Chair, for giving me the floor, and I'd like to thank you for your leadership. Canada is encouraged by the February meeting and by the active and constructive engagement of States, older persons, civil society, and national human rights institutions to date. Canada supports an approach grounded firmly in international human rights law and in the recognition that older persons are rights holders entitled to the full and equal enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms. The outcome of the work of this working group should build on existing human rights obligations while clarifying how those rights apply in older age to address persistent gaps in protection and implementation. Canada places particular emphasis on the full, meaningful, effective participation of older persons themselves in all their diversity, including Indigenous peoples, as well as civil society organizations. Canada also supports an intersectional approach. Older persons are not a homogeneous group. Experiences of aging are shaped by factors such as race, gender, social class, ethnicity, disability, and other factors. Such an approach is essential to understanding and addressing the multiple and intersecting forms of discrimination that older persons may face. Our discussions should affirm principles of dignity, equality, and non-discrimination, autonomy and independence, accessibility, inclusion, participation, and accountability. Canada also welcomes further discussion on areas where older persons continue to encounter barriers. These include access to healthcare and support services, long-term care, housing, housing, work, protection from violence, abuse and neglect, digital inclusion, and emergency preparedness. We know that recent experiences, including the COVID-19 pandemic and climate-related disasters, have underscored the need for rights-based approaches that ensure older persons are not left behind. As the working group begins its work, Canada welcomes the opportunity to exchange views on what implementation monitoring mechanisms could look like in the current challenging fiscal context. With respect to the program of work, Canada encourages the working group to continue to adopt a clear, realistic calendar and effective working methods, and in doing so, we encourage drawing upon the substantial body of work and agreed outcomes developed through the open-ended working group on aging. Thank you.

Thank you, distinguished representative of Canada. And now I give the floor to distinguished representative of the Czech Republic.

Thank you, Mr. Chair, rapporteur. The Czech Republic aligns with the EU statement. The Czech Republic welcomes the establishment of the Intergovernmental Working Group and stands ready to engage constructively in its mandate. The future instrument should bring clear added value to to the existing international human rights framework while clarifying age-specific gaps in protection. Its work should be guided by a clear human rights-based approach inspired by the CRPD. Age should never constitute a barrier in access to human rights and freedoms. Older persons should be recognized first and foremost as rights holders. Not merely as beneficiaries of care, welfare, or protection. The prohibition of age-based discrimination should be explicit, while also recognizing that older persons are not a homogeneous group and may face multiple and intersecting forms of discrimination. We consider autonomy, dignity, legal capacity, and respect for personal will and preferences to be central issues for future discussions. Supported decision-making and safeguards against abuse should be promoted while avoiding approaches that treat older persons as passive objects of protection. References to available resources may guide the progressive realization of rights, as in the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, but must not weaken immediate obligations. In particular, non-discrimination, protection from violence and neglect, access to justice, autonomy, and informed consent should not be made dependent on budgetary considerations. Cross-cutting issues including gender equality, disability, rural and urban divides, digital exclusion, institutional care, poverty, social isolation, and the situation of older persons requiring support should be carefully addressed. National and cultural diversity may be relevant for implementation, but it must not be used to relativize universal human rights standards. The Czech Republic attaches particular importance to meaningful participation of older persons and their representative organizations throughout the process. Finally, the Czech Republic believes that the Working Group should proceed in an inclusive, transparent, and evidence-based manner. I thank you.

Thank you, distinguished representative of the Czech Republic. I now give the floor to distinguished representative of India. You have the floor.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. India welcomes the first session of the IGWG on older persons and appreciates efforts of the Chair in this regard and look forward to working under your leadership. As we begin these deliberations, we are reminded of a fundamental truth. We are here today because of the foundation laid down by our older generations. We owe our present progress to the foundation laid down by our older generations, a principle of gratitude and intergenerational solidarity that is deeply rooted in India's civilizational ethos. India is home to over 135 million older persons, a number projected to rise to nearly 300 million by 2050, representing about 20% of the population. This demographic transformation underscores the need for robust national frameworks and strengthened international cooperation. Guided by this imperative, India has put in place comprehensive measures to ensure that older persons lead empowered, dignified, healthy, and self-reliant lives. India has taken a number of steps to ensure welfare of older persons, and we are happy to share, share them. While drafting the legally binding instrument, IGWG may take clues from those positive measures taken by India. Having reviewed the chairperson's draft, we welcome the flexibility in defining senior citizens within the national context and the emphasis placed on national and cultural diversity. However, we recommend taking cautious steps when, when translating any non-binding obligations from existing human rights treaties into binding commitments. Mr. Chair, in conclusion, India looks forward to engaging constructively in the deliberation of this working group to advance the well-being of older persons. We emphasize that any outcome of this process must be consensus-driven, firmly respecting the sovereign, legal, and socioeconomic context of member states while promoting inclusive and intergenerational societies. I thank you.

Thank you, distinguished representative of India. Certainly you have quite a lot of experience with so many inhabitants with the already older persons. Now I give you the floor to distinguished representative of Belgium. You have the floor.

Thank you, Chair Rapporteur. Belgium aligns itself with the statement delivered on behalf of the European Union. Belgium attaches great importance to the promotion and protection of the human rights of all persons, including older persons, and to the principle of non-discrimination. Discrimination throughout the life course. As our societies age, it is essential to ensure that older persons are fully recognized as right holders entitled to the full and equal enjoyment of all human rights. Belgium continues to engage constructively in the discussions of this open-ended intergovernmental working group and during ongoing efforts to examine how the international protection of the human rights of older persons can be further strengthened. As we are developing our approach to a new legally binding instrument, we consider that any future legally binding instrument on the human rights of older persons must be based and fully aligned with international human rights law and relevant regional instruments. Existing instruments, including the ICCPR, the ICESCR, CRPD, and CEDAW, already provide an important normative basis for the protection of older persons and should be used more effectively to integrate an age perspective throughout their work. Important opportunities exist to further mainstream the rights of older persons across the treaty body system, ensuring that age-related dimensions are addressed in a more systemic, visible, and consistent manner. Furthermore, Belgium wishes to emphasize the importance of the principles of equality, non-discrimination and participation. Older persons may face multiple and intersecting forms of discrimination, and any future instrument should take an inclusive and intersectional approach. Belgium also underlines the importance of mainstreaming a gender perspective throughout the work of the Working Group and in the development of any future standard-setting process. Lastly, Belgium wishes to reiterate the importance of a meaningful and effective participation of older persons, the organizations representing them, and civil society more broadly. Chair Robert Turd, Belgium looks forward to engaging constructively in the discussions of this session and reaffirms its commitment to advancing the dignity, autonomy, equality, and human rights of older persons. I thank you.

Thank you, distinguished representative of Belgium. I give the floor to distinguished representative of Gambia, you have the floor.

Thank you, Mr. Chairperson. The Gambia congratulates you on your election as Chair Rapporteur for this first session of the Intergovernmental Working Group on the Human Rights of Older Persons. We are confident that under your distinguished leadership, this process will be conducted in an inclusive, transparent, and forward-looking manner. As a member of the cross-regional core group which presented Human Rights Council Resolution 58/13, The Gambia attaches particular importance to the successful implementation of the mandate entrusted to this Working Group. Accordingly, we assure you of our full support and cooperation as you guide the Working Group through this important session. We also thank the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights for its contributions towards the convening of this session. The adoption of Resolution 5813 marked a decisive step in the international community's efforts to address the longstanding protection gaps affecting older persons. Through that resolution, the Human Rights Council has provided a clear direction for us to begin the onerous task of shaping an international legally binding instrument that is comprehensive, rights-based, and responsive to the lived realities of older persons in all regions of the world. Mr. Chairperson, the growing demographic transformation worldwide is not only transforming the composition of our populations, it carries with it profound human rights implications that cannot be ignored. In spite of the invaluable and varied roles played by older persons in our societies, many of them continue to face discrimination, exclusion, violence, and systemic rights abuses, leading to barriers in accessing healthcare, jobs, social protection, and other essential services. At the national level, the 1997 Constitution of The Gambia broadly protects the rights of all persons, while the Women's Act works to protect older women from negative cultural norms. The Gambia has also ratified the AU Protocol on the Rights of Older Persons in 2024 to protect older persons from discrimination and guarantee their rights. Family and community-based support systems remain central to the care and inclusion of older persons in The Gambia. These systems reflect deeply rooted traditions of solidarity, responsibility, and respect. However, migration, economic pressures, and changing family structures mean that social support networks cannot be a substitute for effective public policy and normative frameworks. Even though existing international human rights instruments apply to older persons, it goes without saying that the protections offered by them remain fragmented, leaving a big normative gap. Important issues germane to older persons, such as age discrimination, inadequate social protection, the exercise of free and informed consent, and the protection from abuse require clearer and more comprehensive treatment. In this regard, the future instrument must lead the way in driving a paradigm shift of the view of older persons as rights holders, not merely as recipients of care, welfare, or charity. It must also recognize and address the diversity of older persons by taking into account their status and experiences, such as gender, disability, economic circumstances, immigration status and place of residence. The drafting of the future instrument represents a unique opportunity to also respond to the realities of an increasingly digitalized world and its impact on the rights of older persons. Digital technologies can strengthen older persons' access to information, healthcare, social protection, and public services. However, growing reliance on digital platforms must not create new forms of exclusion. The instrument should therefore promote equal and affordable access to digital technologies, participation in their design, and ensure that essential public services remain accessible to older persons through appropriate non-digital alternatives. In our view, the instrument must also recognize the valuable role played by families and communities, while reaffirming that states retain primary responsibility to respect, protect, and fulfill the human rights of older persons. Finally, The Gambia supports the view that the guiding principles of the instrument should reaffirm the rights of older persons to dignity, equality, and non-discrimination. As well as participation. Mr. Chair, The Gambia supports a transparent and inclusive process that ensures meaningful participation of older persons, national human rights institutions, civil society, and relevant international and regional organizations. In this regard, we hope that this first session will provide clear direction on the structure, guiding principles, substantive content, monitoring arrangements, and timelines for the elaborations of the instrument. The program of work before us offers a useful basis for advancing these discussions in a focused and constructive manner. Therefore, The Gambia stands ready to work closely with all delegations and stakeholders to advance a legally binding instrument that is practical, inclusive, and responsive to the rights and lived realities of older persons. Thank you very much.

Thank you very much. Thank you, distinguished representative of The Gambia, and I want to take this opportunity after we had the chance to listen carefully what the different delegates and members of the core group like the Philippines, Slovenia, Brazil, and now The Gambia— I want to really highlight the coordinated work that we had done in the core group for this resolution. So thank you all, and thank you, Gambia, also for your participation. It really was extremely useful, and your experience that was actually taken into account like the other members of the core group. Now I give the floor to distinguished representative of Japan. You have the floor.

Japan places great importance on promoting and protecting the human rights of all persons, including older persons, and on upholding the principle of non-discrimination throughout the life course. In this regard, the universality of human rights must remain the guiding principle of our discussions as we reaffirm that older persons are rights holders who, without any discrimination, are entitled to the full and equal enjoyment of all human rights fundamental freedoms. Recognizing that the human rights of older persons intersect with a range of issues including gender, health, disability, and socioeconomic and cultural factors, an intersectional approach is essential. Japan also emphasizes that a solid foundation for protecting and promoting the rights of older persons already exists in the form of core human rights treaties, namely the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights Rights, the International Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights, the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women. We expect that the discussions of the IGWG will build on these human rights treaties and be conducted in a manner that ensures consistency with them. The IGWG plays an important role in advancing constructive discussions On the rights of older persons, including their dignity, full participation, accessibility, and health, Japan stands ready to participate in these discussions in a constructive manner. I thank you.

Thank you, distinguished representative of Japan. Y ahora doy la palabra a la dignidad representante del Reino. I call on Spain.

Thank you, President. Spain aligns with the statement by the European Union and appreciates the work of the Syntagma Metalworking Group. Spain reaffirms its firm commitment to the elaboration of a future international convention on the home and rights of older persons, which guarantees the right to age with health, dignity, and well-being. We hope that this session will contribute to laying the foundations for a legally binding instrument. That places older persons as active subjects of rights and protects their dignity, autonomy, equality, inclusion, and full participation in decision-making processes. We reiterate the need for these deliberations to incorporate in a cross-cutting manner the gender perspective, the recognition of diversity in sexual orientation and gender identity, as well as an intersectional approach including the disability dimension in order to ensure full inclusive protection free of all forms of discrimination against older persons. It is also essential to recognize and address ageism as a structural form of discrimination that affects the enjoyment of rights. In this sense, intergenerational dialogue and solidarity are essential elements to combat ageism and strengthen social cohesion. It is also essential that the support and care required in the most advanced stages of life be articulated from an approach centered on the person as a holder of rights and on respect for their autonomy. The incorporation of this perspective together with the other dimensions indicated will allow this Convention to provide a comprehensive and adequate response to the challenges and opportunities associated with the increase in life expectancy and the ages of aging of our societies. We welcome the renewed momentum to strengthen the global framework for the promotion and protection of the rights of older persons in light of the achievements of the Madrid International Plan of Action on Aging, and we highly appreciate the broad interregional support and active participation of civil society in these efforts. You can count on Spain to continue advancing in this process. I thank you.

I thank Spain for your support and your contribution. The Deputy of Kenya, you have the floor. Distinguished representative of Kenya is in the room. I call on Cuba. You have the floor.

Thank you, Chairperson. Cuba supports the mandate of the Intervenient Mental Working Group. An international legally binding instrument on the rights of older persons is needed. In an international context where practically all countries of the world are seeing a rise in the number and the proportion of older persons, the numbers show that from the 1970s the global population of people over 65 has reached over 2,000 million. Cuba is seeing a high level of aging amongst population at the end of 2024, 5.7% of Cubans were over 60, meaning we are one of— we have the oldest population in Latin America and the Caribbean. We're addressing this with a rights-based approach and social policy. Our 2019 Constitution and the Family Code and other legislation recognize the dignity, autonomy, And strengthen population of older— protection of older persons. In practice, this means tangible efforts to protect the rights of older persons. These efforts are hindered by the impact of the blockade implemented by the USA, stepped up with the energy blockade, and this is particularly hard on older persons in terms of impact, particularly people with chronic diseases and who need long-term care. President, Cuba considers that the future international legally binding instrument should have specific features. It should be based on the principles of the United Nations Charter. It should be based on universality, indivisibility, interdependence, and interrelatedness of human rights. It must recognize that older persons are full rights holders on an equal footing with others. 4, it must emphasize the central role of social protection policies for older persons. 5, it must reflect the obligation of states not to impose unilateral coercive measures on states which affect the implementation of the future legally binding instrument. 6, it must include a cap chapter on technical assistance and cooperation to include the effect— to ensure the effective implementation of the future instrument. Cuba will contribute constructively to the work of this first session and reiterates its support. I thank you.

Muchísimas gracias. I thank Cuba for its contribution to the process. I would like I would like to ask the audiovisual team to address the issues with the microphone of Cuba. And I would like to ask Cuba if you could use a different microphone. It was possible to hear you, but there were some— there was some extraneous noise on the microphone. Thank you. But yes, we did hear you. Thank you. I give the floor to distinguished representative of Georgia. You have the floor.

Chairperson, Excellencies, dear colleagues, Georgia welcomes the first session of the Intergovernmental Working Group on the Human Rights of Older Persons. As a co-sponsor of Human Rights Council Resolution 5813, we are honored to to take part in this important process. Yes, the world is aging rapidly. Growing life expectancy is a remarkable achievement, but it also brings a clear responsibility. We must ensure that living longer means living with dignity, security, freedom, and a meaningful place in society. This is why the time to act is And discrimination based on age in a direct and meaningful way. At the same time, the instrument should respect national, social, and cultural diversity while ensuring that such diversity does not become a reason to weaken it. To emphasize the alignment with our common objectives, let me say that at the national level, Georgia remains strongly committed to advancing the rights, dignity, and independence of all persons. Through our National Strategy for the Protection of Human Rights for 2022-2030 and the National Human Rights Action Plan, we are working to strengthen their participation in public life, improve access to social and healthcare services, prevent violence, expand mental health and psychological support, promote digital inclusion, and enhance the quality and continuity of care. Important is that these efforts reflect our conviction that principles have real value only when they are translated into policies, services, and visible improvements in people's daily lives. Ageing is a journey that, with good fortune, each of us will one day make. The legal framework we shape today will influence how we, our families, and future generations grow older. So Georgia stands ready to engage constructively in building a strong, practical, and lasting instrument. Thank you, distinguished representative of Georgia. Thank you for your contribution and your support. And I give you the floor to— one thing that I want to say, that I also want to thank Georgia and many other member states that actually were supporting the resolution and I think it's something really very important to highlight. And now I give the floor to distinguished representative of Qatar. You have the floor.

Thank you, Chairman. We align ourselves with the statement made by the GCC. We believe that our work has reached an important step at this point towards an international legally binding agreement to protect older persons as rights holders and not as persons who simply deserve care or protection. The State of Qatar welcomes the participatory approach which allowed older persons to take part in these negotiations, and we hope that this instrument will meet the hopes of all. The State of Qatar would like to reassert the need for this instrument to rest upon and be inspired by human rights, which are included in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the 2 international human rights covenants. The State of Qatar is of the view that the instrument should take into consideration the specificities of the lives of persons as they advance in age, taking into consideration that human rights are indivisible and mutually strengthen each other. We should also recall that older persons are rights holders of all rights on an equal footing with all other people, taking into consideration specificities that are attached to aging. The State of Qatar takes into consideration and recalls the interaction with the economic situation as well. Older persons must have some space which allows them to be autonomous and to fully and meaningfully contribute to social life. The right to health is guaranteed in Qatar. As is the right to participate in social life, autonomy and dignity are guaranteed as well, and this is what must be protected and incorporated in this instrument. We should also guarantee them protection against exploitation, as the risks of vulnerability are greater, whilst guaranteeing digital service and access to new technologies as well. It is essential. We should recall that we should ensure that precautions are taken when choosing the terminology. We should take into consideration the cultural diversities and the specificities of the traditions wherever they prevail. Qatar hopes that our efforts will be successful And we are engaged to constructively cooperate in this effort. We are convinced that we have made a major step towards the same. Thank you, Chairman.

Thank you, distinguished representative of Qatar. Thank you for your contribution, your statement. And I give you the floor to distinguished representative of Algeria. You have the floor.

Thank you, Mr. President. Algeria wishes to welcome the holding of this first session of this Working Group and appreciate your leadership in guiding our work. For my country, protection of older persons is not merely a theoretical concept. It constitutes a national obligation deeply rooted in our constitution and our civilizational values. Our experience is backed by pioneering legislative framework which established We established a protective model based on the triptych of national, family, and intergenerational solidarity. Our legislation makes maintaining older persons within their family environment a cardinal principle and firmly criminalizes abandonment and abuse while guaranteeing baseline of economic resources and free healthcare. Mr. President, regarding the guiding principles, Algeria insists that any future treaty must not deal with the issue of older persons in isolation. The text must imperatively recognize the central role of the family as a fundamental unit of protection and social cohesion. However, to be fully effective, the general framework of this future instrument must demonstrate flexibility. It must be able to realistically adapt to national specificities, including different levels of socioeconomic development, institutional capacities, and the legitimate resource constraints of each country. In this regard, my delegation wishes to express certain concern regarding the potential duplication with existing international treaties, which already provide universal protection for human rights. We must ensure that we do not unduly increase the reporting burden that already weighs heavily on the administrations of developing countries. Furthermore, we call for caution against the risk of concept expansion, which could jeopardize the consensus and is possible for the universal ratification of this text. This is why we reaffirm that a holistic structure must place economic and social rights on an equal footing with civil and political rights. While relying on the principles of progressive realization and international cooperation. Developing countries must be supported through technical assistance in the respect of their national sovereignty. Algeria will continue to engage constructively in this debate to build a consensual and implementable institution— instrument. Thank you.

Thank you, distinguished representative of Kenya— excuse me, of Algeria. I'm going to give you the floor to distinguished representative of the State of Palestine. You have the floor.

Thank you, Mr. Chair-Rapporteur. The State of Palestine congratulates you on your appointment and assures you of our full support in carrying out your mandate. We thank you for your efforts in guiding this important process and for the food for thought paper prepared to facilitate our discussions. We welcome this first session. The State of Palestine believes that the structure and guiding principles of the future legally binding instrument must reflect its center purpose, to ensure the full and equal enjoyment of all human rights by older persons and address the specific protection gaps they face. The instrument should, should be grounded in human dignity, equality, and non-discrimination, autonomy and independence, participation, inclusion, and accessibility. It must recognize older persons as full rights holders and active agents and ensure their meaningful participation and that of their representative organizations throughout its elaboration, implementation, and monitoring. It must also recognize that age does not operate in isolation. Intersectional, multiple, and cumulative discrimination should therefore be addressed across this instrument, as age may intersect with disability, sex, displacement, and other circumstances, creating distinct barriers to the enjoyment of rights. For the State of Palestine, The lived reality of older Palestinians demonstrates why these principles must be reflected throughout the instrument. Under prolonged foreign occupation and amidst Israel's ongoing genocide, older persons face repeated forced displacement, starvation, denial of medical care, and the destruction of essential, essential systems of support. Age compounds these violations, particularly for persons with disabilities or reduced mobility, Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, Rapporteur, international human rights law and international humanitarian law continue to apply and provide essential protections to the older persons in all circumstances. Yet the existing framework remains fragmented and does not comprehensively articulate the specific age-responsive measures required to ensure the full and equal enjoyment of these rights. The future instrument must therefore build upon and reinforce existing international law without diminishing existing protections. It must articulate clear age-responsive obligations applicable in all circumstances, including situations of risk, armed conflict, foreign occupation, and forced displacement. Its structure must be comprehensive, bringing together clear principles and General obligations, substantive rights, and effective provisions on implementation, monitoring, accountability, and remedies. The State of Palestine stands ready to engage constructively towards an instrument that places older persons at the center of this architecture. Thank you.

Thank you, distinguished representative of the State of Palestine. Thank you for your contribution. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Turkey.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Türkiye welcomes this opportunity to contribute to the discussion on the structure and guiding principles of a legally binding instrument on the human rights of older persons. Turkey considers that the future legally binding instrument must reaffirm that older persons are entitled to the full and equal enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms. Building upon the existing international human rights framework, it should provide greater clarity on the application of universally recognized human rights in the context of aging, thereby strengthening their effective implementation, and addressing the persistent protection and implementation gaps that older persons continue to face. Its added value should therefore lie in reinforcing the realization of existing human rights through enhanced legal clarity and implementation, rather than the creation of new rights. In this regard, Türkiye believes that the future instrument must recognize older persons as autonomous right stakeholders. Human dignity is to serve— I'm sorry. Human dignity is to serve as the overarching principle of the instrument, while equality and non-discrimination should constitute its core foundation. The instrument also needs to reflect a life course approach, recognizing the cumulative impact of inequalities throughout life and promoting active and healthy ageing. Particular importance should also be attached to the role of families, communities and intergenerational solidarity. While fully respecting the autonomy and preferences of older persons, the instrument should promote supportive environments that foster inclusion, social cohesion and community-based support. With regard to its structure, we consider that a clear and coherent architecture will be instrumental in ensuring the effectiveness of the instrument. A framework comprising a preamble, definitions, general principles, general obligations, substantive provisions, and implementation and monitoring mechanisms would provide a sound basis for both interpretation and implementation. Finally, while establishing common international standards, the instrument needs to retain sufficient flexibility to allow implementation in accordance with different national legal systems and national circumstances. Mr. Chair, Turkey stands ready to engage constructively and in the spirit of partnership as we move forward. I thank you.

Thank you so much for your statement and your support, distinguished representative. Excellencies and distinguished ladies and gentlemen, this is the last speaker that I could accommodate according to the time that we have for today. And this brings us to the end of this meeting, and we will resume our work tomorrow at 10 AM to continue with the general debate. And I would like to let you know that if at any point during the meeting I'm unable to chair, and with your permission, my Deputy Permanent Representative Sebastián Rosales will take over. And I really appreciate your understanding. I hereby declare closed the first meeting of the first session of the Open-Ended Intergovernmental Working Group on the Human Rights of Older Persons. Thank you.