NHRCK Hosts International Discussions on the Promotion of Older Persons’ Rights at the UN
- Side event at the 58th UN Human Rights Council/GANHRI Annual Meeting and GANHRI Working Group on Ageing meeting -
The Chairperson of the National Human Rights Commission of Korea (NHRCK), Ahn Chang-Ho, participated in the 2025 Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions (GANHRI) Annual Meeting held in Geneva, Switzerland, from March 10 to 12, 2025.
Recognizing that the Republic of Korea has officially entered a super-aged society, where over 20% of the population is aged 65 or above, the NHRCK hosted a side event on older persons' rights as part of the 58th UN Human Rights Council and the 2025 GANHRI Annual Meeting on March 10. Additionally, on March 13, Chairperson Ahn chaired the first in-person GANHRI Working Group on Ageing session in three years in Geneva.
□ First GANHRI Working Group on Ageing Side Event at the UN Human Rights Council
On March 10, Chairperson Ahn Chang-Ho co-hosted a side event during the GANHRI Annual Meeting and the 58th UN Human Rights Council in collaboration with the Permanent Missions of the Republic of Korea, Slovenia, the Philippines, and Georgia to the United Nations in Geneva as Chair of the GANHRI Working Group on Ageing.
The event, titled “NHRIs at the Forefront: Strengthening Cooperation with States and Civil Society in Advancing a Convention on the Rights of Older Persons,” attracted approximately 120 participants, including representatives from national human rights institutions (NHRIs), Geneva-based missions, and civil society organizations.
Opening remarks were delivered by Chairperson Ahn Chang-Ho and Claudia Mahler, UN Independent Expert on the Enjoyment of All Human Rights by Older Persons. The discussions centered on the need for an international convention on older persons' rights and the role of NHRIs in this process, emphasizing the importance of multi-stakeholder engagement.
The event concluded with closing remarks by Anita Pipan, Slovenia’s Permanent Representative to the UN in Geneva.
□ First In-Person Meeting in Three Years to Lead Discussions on Older Persons' Rights
On March 13, the GANHRI Working Group on Ageing convened its first in-person session since 2022 at the International Conference Centre Geneva, chaired by the NHRCK.
Attendees included representatives from six GANHRI Working Group on Ageing member institutions, including the Republic of Korea, Poland, Georgia, the Philippines, El Salvador, and Egypt, as well as the GANHRI Secretariat, UN Independent Expert on Older Persons’ Rights, and the Global Alliance for the Rights of Older People (GAROP). The presence of 18 additional observer institutions reflected a growing interest among NHRIs in advancing older persons' rights.
A key focus of the meeting was strategizing the role of NHRIs within the UN Human Rights Council framework to promote and protect older persons' rights. This included an in-depth discussion on a draft resolution on ageing, set to be presented at the 58th UN Human Rights Council.
□ Commitment to Leading Global Human Rights Efforts
As a GANHRI member institution and Chair of the GANHRI Working Group on Ageing, the NHRCK reaffirmed its commitment to fostering global cooperation and dialogue on older persons' rights. Moving forward, the NHRCK aims to strengthen partnerships with NHRIs and international organizations while continuing to lead discussions on ageing-related human rights issues at the international level.
