Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he took to join other UN member states in calling for a convention on the rights of older persons at the Eleventh Session of the Open-ended Working Group on Ageing.

The UK is clear that human rights are universal and is committed to protecting the human rights of all persons, including older persons. The UK recognises that there can be barriers to the enjoyment of human rights associated with certain characteristics, including age, and we know that older persons often face serious human rights issues in many parts of the world. We welcome the UN Open Ended Working Group on Ageing's efforts to help deepen understanding of these important issues.

At the Eleventh Session of the Working Group, we set out that the UK is supportive, in principle, of a multilateral instrument dedicated to the rights of older persons. We will continue to work closely with Parliamentarians, academia, civil society and national human rights institutions, to draw on their expertise and ensure that our approach to this issue takes account of their views.