Thousands of people ask UK Foreign Secretary to champion older people’s rights

Last October, Age International launched an open letter asking the UK public to call on David Lammy, the UK’s Foreign Secretary, to publicly champion the creation of a UN Convention on the Rights of Older Persons – a new international legal framework that would protect older people’s rights across the world.

The open letter has now collected more than 30,000 signatures, and been co-signed by over 35 leading civil society organisations. Today, in central London, Age International and supporting organisations presented it to the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) Human Rights team.

A small delegation attended the hand-in at the FCDO offices, including Age International’s CEO Alison Marshall, Age UK’s CEO Paul Farmer, and representatives from Amnesty International, the National Pensioners Convention, and ADD International. After handing in the letter, the delegation met with the FCDO team to reinforce why a new Convention for older people is vital, and to make clear the growing level of UK public suport.

Watch the video of the letter hand-in below:

"Today’s open letter hand-in sends a clear message from the UK public that older people’s rights must be protected – from Southampton to South Sudan,” said Age International CEO Alison Marshall. “The next step is for the Foreign Secretary to support, publicly, the creation of a new UN Convention on the Rights of Older Persons. The UK has a proud record of championing human rights, and we now look to David Lammy. He has a real chance to make history on this issue.”

Age International and other civil society organisations will continue to press the UK Government to champion the creation of a UN Convention on the Rights of Older Persons, pushing for a future where older people’s rights are fully recognised and protected.