IFA/GAROP Series

Time for a UN Convention on the Rights of Older People!

3 February 2021

This is the first in a series of two webinars in preparation for the 11th Session of the UN Open-Ended Working Group on Ageing (OEWG), which will take place from 29 March – 1 April 2021.

This webinar is an opportunity for those interested or active in advocacy for the human rights of older people to learn more about activities underway locally and at the United Nations. It explores the following topics:

• Update about the Open-Ended Working Group on Ageing
• What difference will a UN convention make for older people and for governments, particularly in the context of COVID-19?
• The importance of national advocacy and civil society mobilisation

Webinar Recording | Presentation Slides

Moderator
Dr. Kiran Rabheru, Chair of the Global Alliance for the Rights of Older People, this webinar features interventions from the following expert speakers:

Panelists
Ms. Amal Abou Rafeh, Chief of the Programme on Ageing at UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs
Mr. Craig Mokhiber, Director of the New York Office of the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights
Mr. Naraidoo Gava (Vijay) Naraidoo, Director of Droits Humains Ocean Indien (DIS-MOI)

Learning from Civil Society Engagement in other International Human Rights Processes

13 March 2020

This webinar provides an opportunity for those advocating for the human rights of older people in the UN OEWG process to learn lessons from other UN human rights processes. With contributions from experts in the human rights of people with disabilities and the women’s rights movement, this webinar explores the following shared issues: How has civil society coordinated and engaged in these other human rights processes, particularly in the drafting and negotiation of key human rights instruments? How were the organizations of people with disabilities and women’s organizations involved in these processes that directly affect their human rights? What are the key lessons that civil society can learn from these experiences in engaging with the OEWG process?

Webinar Recording | Presentation Slides

Moderator
Ken Bluestone (Chair, GAROP)

Panelists
Ferdous Ara Begum (Former member of the CEDAW committee and Board Member of HelpAge International)
Tina Minkowitz, Center for the Human Rights of Users and Survivors of Psychiatry

National Advocacy Ahead of the 11th Session of the UN Open-Ended Working Group on Ageing

20 January 2020

Civil society, advocacy leaders and NGOs play an important role in shaping the debates that will happen at the 11th session for the Open-Ended Working Group on Ageing. For this reason, this webinar aimed to:

• Provide information for all NGOs engaging in the UN Open-ended Working Group on Ageing (OEWG) process at the national level;
• Focus particularly on what national advocacy NGOs can do to influence their governments ahead of the 11th OEWG session in April and;
• Include updates and insights from a UN perspective and concrete examples of national advocacy from GAROP members.

Webinar Recording | Presentation Slides

Moderator
Nena Georgantzi (Human Rights Officer, AGE Platform Europe and GAROP Steering Group member)

Panelists
Denise Hauser (Human Rights Officer, Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights)
Elie Mugabowishema (President, NSINDAGIZA Organisation Kigali, Rwanda)
Heidrun Mollenkopf (Board Member, German National Association of Senior Citizens’ Organization (BAGSO))

The Right to Work and Access to the Labour Market in Older Age

Webinar Recording | Presentation Slides

Moderator
Nena Georgantzi (AGE Platform Europe and GAROP Steering Group member)

Panelist
Consuelo Moreno (Fundación Oportunidad Mayor, Chile)

Access to Justice in Older Age

23 August 2019

Access to Justice is one of the new areas of older people’s human rights that will be discussed at the 11th session of the Open-Ended Working Group on Ageing in New York from 6-9th April 2020. The UN will soon call for written submissions on this topic, which will play an important role in shaping the debates that will happen at the 11th session.  Strong civil society response to this consultation is vital.

This webinar explored some of the key issues and barriers around access to justice in older age. It also offered some tips and support on how you can prepare high-quality substantive inputs to the upcoming UN consultation.

Webinar Recording | Presentation Slides

Moderator
Susan Somers (INPEA and GAROP Steering Group member)

Panelist
Bill Mitchell (Townsville Community Legal Service, Australia)