An Historic Leap Ahead for the Rights of Older People
 

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has.” 

— Margaret Mead

What stays with me from all the reports on the Human Rights Council’s decision to start drafting a legally binding convention on the Rights of Older People is the remarkable determination shown by civil society in getting us to this point. Focus, passion, perseverance, and strategic thinking have all played a crucial role.

We warmly salute the pivotal role played by GAROP (Global Alliance for the Rights of Older People), established the year after the creation of the UN’s Open-Ended Working Group on Ageing (OEWG). We acknowledge the behind-the-scenes coordination of the Secretariat that has played such a vital role.

To all PIONeers around the world who have contributed to this landmark decision, we salute you. Your efforts have laid the groundwork for a legally binding convention on the Rights of Older People - a monumental achievement made possible by your unwavering commitment.

It’s 2025 - PIONeers Everywhere Rally for Human Rights of Older People

Monday, 14 April

1pm EDT / 6pm BST / 7pm CEST / 7pm SAST / 8pm EAT

Check your time zone here

Every month Moira Allan, our co-founder and international coordinator, hosts an Open House for anyone who wants to find out more about our network. We offer a choice of two sessions to accommodate PION’s global outreach.

Americas, Europe, Africa
Tuesday, 15 April
 1pm EDT / 6pm BST 
 7pm CEST / 7pm SAST

Asia, Australasia
Wednesday, 16 April
 7am CEST / 6am BST 
 1pm SGT / 4pm AEDT

Find your local time. View Time Zone Converter here.

Historic Decision: Recognized as Rightsholder, Older People Around the World Stand Strong

On 3 April 2025, the Human Rights Council of the UN reviewed Decision 14/1 (p.6) made by the Open-Ended Working Group on Ageing. After much debate, Resolution A/HRC/58/L.24 was adopted without a vote. The Council decided to establish an open-ended intergovernmental working group with the mandate of elaborating and submitting to the 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. 

This historic decision signals older people are rightsholders on equal basis with all others in the human family! Pass It On Network thanks and celebrates PIONeers and advocates worldwide who are part of this global movement.

Tune into our 14 April Global PIONeer 50/50 online conversation to learn more and discuss how we can move this forward together! Register here.

Difference between Disability Rights and the Rights of Older People
 

This question has been receiving considerable attention lately. Here are two examples:

Credit: Getty Images/Ruben Bonilla Gonzalo

First example:
Living - and dying - with dignity are both important
Luis Gallegos, an accomplished Ecuadorian diplomat, former ambassador to the United Nations, Chair of the United Nations Institute for Learning and Research, and senior advisor at the Harvard Law School Project on Disability, discussed the potential of and need for a UN Convention on the rights of older people as he reflects on his experience with the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons With Disabilities. Find out more here.

Second example: 
Age and disability are not synonymous 

International researchers from around the world gathered in France for a hybrid examination of this question. The two-day Caplab Metz 2025, organized by SIAGE (Chair for Inclusive Societies and Aging) at the University of Lorraine where the CapDroits community, and its AUVI program Sustaining independent living deliberated on Facing the challenges of disability and ageing: how is international law being appropriated. 

PIONeers Brigitte Borja de Mozota and Moira Allan participated as OLD’UP representatives. 

Moira shared the work underway in the African region and globally through GAROP (Global Alliance for the Rights of Older People) to promote and protect human rights of older people and advocate for a UN Convention for rights of older people. Moira also highlighted that Gertrude Oforiwa Fefoame, member of the UN Committee on Rights of Older Persons with Disabilities, supported a UN Convention on the rights of older people at the 2022 UN Multi-stakeholder meeting on the rights of older persons durting which she said “Age and disability are not synonymous”. Learn more about Ms. Fefoame’s statement here.

Two important stories from our friends at ACAP (Active Ageing Consortium of Asia Pacific)

Firstly, ACAP celebrated its 20th anniversary at the end of March in Fukuoka in Japan. Members from all over the Asia Pacific area attended. The amazing work of the Fukuoka Municipality was highlighted. The municipality, encouraged by the ongoing work of ACAP’s founder, Professor Takeo Ogawa, adopted a policy of making Fukuoka a town to accommodate the 100-year life. As of 2017, the municipality started systematically reviewing every aspect of city life and set out to achieve a symbolic 100 actions to achieve a Healthy Social Model Anticipating the Era of the 100-Year Life. At present they are already at their 130th project and show no signs of stopping. Check out ACAP’s website: Active Aging Consortium Asia Pacific and their YouTube channel.
 

Secondly, a special edition of the ACAP Bulletin, edited by ACAP co-founder and PIONeer, Cullen Hayashida, and find out about the depopulation of Japan and Korea. You will find strategies for reducing depopulation. Although Japan and Korea are world leaders in low fertility rates and high life expectancy, about 40 other countries will soon be in the same boat. We’re keen to Pass On the ideas and learn from each other. 

Rights of Older Women, All Women, and Girls

The 69^th session of the Commission on the Status of Women (March 2025) marked the 30^th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and the Platform for Action. This Declaration adopted by 189 countries is centered on women's empowerment and gender equality. The session reviewed achievements made over the 30 years, identified the gaps that still exist, and recommended a thematic plan of action for 2026 to 2029. It is gratifying to see specific reference to older women in this plan as a result of the advocacy by older women and their representative organizations.

Our Cameroon PIONeer, Paulette Metang, recent elect to the Steering Group of the Global Alliance for the rights of Older People, was one of these advocates. Paulette was present in Beijing when the Declaration was adopted 30 years ago and has attended every Commission on the Status of Women since, including this 2025 session.

Paulette stated that older women are not included in the gender equality agenda and empowerment despite being strong contributors to their families and communities. During an intergenerational panel, Paulette urged all governments, including Cameroon, to implement gender responsive social protection to alleviate older women poverty.  She emphasized that older women must age with rights and not be left behind.

You can find the “Multi-year program of work of the Commission on the Status of Women” and other CWS69 outcome documents here.

Thanks to PIONeer José Gricar

Our PIONeer José Gricar, the driving force behind the Professors Emeriti Network, based in Slovenia, is a consummate communicator. By clicking here you will have access to the full set of 16 videos from the Standford Center’s Longevity Project’s Century Summit V held earlier in the year and covering a wide variety of subjects including 5 Generations in the workplace; Too young or too old?; Challenges faced by women of all ages; Comfortable in our own skin – can the beauty industry lead the way?; The university as an intergenerational hub?; Elderspeak in the healthcare; and Rewriting the script - where we go from here. 

This link will also give you access to Standford’s Longevity Project, videos and podcasts and many other resources helping to shape the 100-year life.

Playing Out – Cheer Dancing, Ping-Pong - Whatever Makes You Feel Joyful

Figure 1 This troop of Cheer dancers aged from 34 to 84 enchanted to attendees of the 20th anniversary dinner of ACAP (Active Ageing Consortium of Asia Pacific) held in Fukuoka, Japan. They’ll be heading to the United Kingdom in September to compete in an international competition.  Happier dancers I’ve never seen!
 

Top marks to Peter Gray PhD, research professor of psychology at Boston College, for advocating “playing out” instead of “working out”. The only way most of us are going to exercise more than we do, he says, is if we come up with ways to have fun while exercising, finding anything that gets us moving and leaves us wanting more rather than less.

He backs his claim with research from Copenhagen on health benefits from different forms of exercise. The study compared the life expectancy of people who engaged regularly in specific forms of physical activity during their leisure time. The major finding was that people who played tennis or badminton as their primary exercise lived on average five years longer than those who jogged and 7.5 years longer than those who worked out at a health club. Those who worked out at a health club lived, on average, only 1.5 years longer than those who by self-reports engaged in no regular exercise (Schnohr et al., 2018). Find out more here.

The Lost Art of Connecting Across Generations with Marc Freedman

America has never been so age diverse and Marc Freedman, believes this to be an incredible opportunity. He explains why on Tulaine Montgomery’s "Say More" podcast. 

A wise old person was once a curious young one – Unknown 

Four Principles to Guide Communication in Challenging Times 

Don’t rebut; reframe. Stay proactive—lead with your values and solutions, not your critics’ arguments. See 3 others here.

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21-24 April 2025 -  Orlando, Florida
American Society on Ageing
Early Bird registration is now open for On Aging 2025! 

30 April 2025 - Live Webinar, 8 am EDT/2 pm CEST 

Get Intentionally Intergenerational with Jacynth Bassett
Register Here.
 

24-27 April 2025 – Riga, Latvia
EURAG Council meeting 

10-12 September 2025
IFA’s 17^th Conference 

Cape Town, South Africa, is the IFA’s choice for its 17^th Conference on with a pre-conference event on 9 September. A variety of themes from Connecting Ageing and the Economy, Building Capacity in Low/Middle Income Communities to Improving Practice through Digital Technologies, and Human Rights (Ageism / Abuse). 
Submit abstracts

13-15 October 2025 - Anaheim, CA

International Council on Active Aging (ICAA) Conference

Proposal deadline: Friday, 31 January 2025. (11:59 pm Pacific Time).

The conference is for professionals, not older consumers. 

https://icaaconference.icaa.cc/call_for_presentation.php 

20-21 October 2025 - Cannes, France

18th edition of the SilverEco & Ageing Well International Festival 
Applications open participation, awards, and speaker opportunities. Learn more.