ALONE Submission to the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (UN Human Rights) and the Intergovernmental Working Group on Older Persons
This document is ALONE’s response to the consultation by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (UN Human Rights) and the Intergovernmental Working Group on Older Persons on the development of a legally binding international instrument on the human rights of older persons. It presents ALONE’s analysis and recommendations to support the creation of a comprehensive and effective framework that explicitly recognises older persons as full and equal rights-holders.
The submission is informed by ALONE’s extensive experience supporting older people in Ireland. It addresses the consultation questions by setting out ALONE’s views on the appropriate overarching framework, the core principles required to protect the rights of older persons, and the optimal structure of a future international instrument.
In response to Question 1, ALONE supports a legally binding, human rights–based framework grounded in a life-course and intersectional approach. The document emphasises that human rights do not diminish with age and highlights the need to explicitly address ageism while affirming dignity, autonomy, equality and participation.
In response to Question 2, the submission advocates for strong guiding principles, including participation, accountability, non-discrimination, empowerment and legality. It highlights significant gaps in existing protections, particularly in relation to ageism, abuse and neglect, social protection, health, housing, accessibility and climate justice.
In response to Question 3, ALONE recommends a clear treaty structure aligned with established international human rights conventions, supported by robust implementation, monitoring and accountability mechanisms including reporting obligations, access to remedies, and oversight at international level to ensure meaningful enforcement and real‑world impact.
This was submitted to the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (UN Human Rights) and the Intergovernmental Working Group on Older Persons in April 2026.
