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Thank you, Chair!

I have the honour to speak on behalf of the European Union and its Member States.

The Candidate Countries North Macedonia*, Montenegro*, Serbia*, Ukraine, the Republic of Moldova, Bosnia and Herzegovina* and Georgia, as well as Armenia, Andorra, and San Marino align themselves with this statement.

We thank the President of the General Assembly for convening this meeting and we appreciate the opportunity to discuss how to better promote and protect the human rights of older persons.

The EU would also like to express its appreciation for the Open-Ended Working Group and its Decision 14/1, cofacilitated by Portugal and Brazil, containing recommendations on gaps in the protection of the human rights of older persons.

As the global population ages, a growing number of older persons face barriers to the full enjoyment of their human rights — including cases of age discrimination, limited access to healthcare, social security , and social exclusion. We remain dedicated to the promotion and protection of human rights of older persons and we welcome the growing support that could be gathered at the Human Rights

Council in Geneva in this regard. The EU acknowledges the recent adoption by the UN Human Rights Council of Resolution 58/13 which created a “working group for the elaboration of a legally binding instrument on the promotion and protection of the human rights of older persons”, bringing forward one of the recommendations contained in Decision 14/1.

We underscore that combating ageism, age discrimination and violations of older persons’ rights is a challenge that requires cross-sectoral collaboration, anchored in international human rights standards and aligned with the goals of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

The EU promotes policies to enhance lifelong learning, digital inclusion, and age- friendly environments, and through our European Care Strategy advocating for accessible long-term care and improved working conditions for carers. These are crucial to fostering active ageing and social equity, providing actionable frameworks for global adoption. Addressing such changes on a global scale is essential. To this end, the EU is committed to partnering with UN agencies, such as WHO, and civil society to share best practices and advance global ageing frameworks.

Intergenerational dialogue and meaningful participation of representatives of older persons ensure that all voices are heard and no one is left behind. By fostering intergenerational understanding and mutual respect, we can break down harmful stereotypes, strengthen social cohesion, and ensure that ageing is embraced as a collective experience, not an individual burden. For this reason, an EU Strategy on Intergenerational Fairness is being prepared to map out how we can strengthen communication between generations and ensure that interests of present and future generations are respected throughout our policy and law making.

We call on all Member States to ensure civil society has safe and meaningful spaces for participation at every stage of policy development and implementation.

The EU remains firmly committed to empowering older persons, promoting their well-being and encouraging their full participation in society and looks forward to engage constructively in the intergovernmental process.

In light of growing evidence that scientific innovation in the field of ageing can prevent multiple chronic diseases, extend healthy lifespans, and reduce global healthcare pressures, we call for increased investment and international cooperation in research and integrated care to maintain functional ability, reduce the burden of age-related diseases, and shift from reactive treatment to healthspan promotion, thereby mitigating the societal and economic impacts of ageing, in line with the objectives of the Sustainable Development Goals and the UN Decade of Healthy Ageing.

As populations age across the globe, we must ensure that our societies are inclusive, respectful, and empowering for people of all ages. Protecting the human rights of older persons is a crucial step toward a just, equitable, and sustainable future. The voices of older persons must be heard, their contributions recognized, and their rights fully realized. Let us work together—across sectors, generations, and communities—to create an inclusive world where aging is not a disadvantage, but a valued part of the human journey.

Thank you.

* North Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, Albania and Bosnia and Herzegovina continue to be part of the Stabilisation and Association Process.