Our international policy work

The European Union

Age UK has a long history of working in Europe. Decisions taken in Europe have the power to change older people’s lives. The Employment Equality Directive approved in the year 2000 tackled age discrimination in employment and training across the European Union (EU). A new directive – the Equal Treatment Directive – is currently being discussed by EU Member States in the Council of Ministers and would address age discrimination in the provision of goods and services.

More recently, the EU launched Europe 2020, an ambitious political agenda to strengthen Europe’s economies. The strategy recognises the importance of demographic change, life-long learning and employment in later life. It has the potential to help lift many older people out of poverty.

As the world’s largest aid donor, the European Union also has the power to achieve significant change for older people in developing countries. To act more effectively in this role, however, the EU must recognise ageing as a cross-cutting issue across all areas of development policy.

Age UK knows that working collaboratively across Europe is essential to influence European policy. This is why Age UK actively supports AGE Platform Europe, a network of around 150 organisations of and for people in later life across all 27 EU member states.

Age UK also recognises the important role played by members of the European Parliament. As directly elected representatives of European citizens, they play a vital role in developing legislation and influencing policy across Europe. The Lisbon Treaty increased the decision-making powers of the European Parliament.

Global Ageing

Demographic change is a global phenomenon: by 2050, there will be more people aged 60 and over than aged 14 and under; and the most rapid increase in the 60+ population is occurring in the developing world.

Older people across the globe are particularly at risk from poverty, ill-health and the effects of emergencies. People in later life often suffer discrimination and violation of their rights.

We have produced a series of policy and briefing papers on ageing & development, health, emergencies and rights.

UN Convention on the Rights of Older Persons

Age UK is working in partnership with organisations across the world towards a convention on the rights of older persons. Older people lack visibility under international law and a convention would help them realise their rights.

This global collaboration of organisations has produced  Strengthening Older People's Rights: Towards a UN Convention, a resource for promoting discussion, launched at the UN commission for social development in New York in February 2009.

In November 2010, the UN General Assembly agreed an open-ended Working Group to strengthen the protection of older people’s rights. The group will begin to meet in Spring 2011. This is important for understanding better the needs and rights of older people and how international law can be improved.

Age UK’s next steps are to strengthen the international movement to advocate for a convention and bring the dialogue home to the UK and the rest of Europe. 

Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing

More than 160 UN Member States adopted the Madrid Plan of Action on Ageing (MIPAA) in April 2002. MIPAA pledged that older people should have the right to an equal share of aid and development resources; be included in national and international development policies; and be included in discussions and programmes aimed at tackling poverty.

Although it's not a legally binding treaty, MIPAA was endorsed by the UN General Assembly and therefore the member states that endorsed the plan have a moral and political obligation to ensure its implementation.

During the five-year review of MIPAA in 2007, the voices of poor older people were barely heard, despite the promotion of a participatory approach within the review. Age UK is continuing to monitor the impact of MIPAA at a local, national and international level and will participate in the MIPAA review meetings in 2012.

The Millennium Development Goals

The Millennium Development Goals (MDG) were established by world leaders in 2000 with targets to tackle poverty and address development by 2015. While the MDGs have specific targets on children and women, they fail to mention age, ethnicity and disability.

Already nearly 100 million people over the age of 60 are living in extreme poverty and this number is increasing as the proportion of the population in developing countries over 60 rises. Interventions aimed at achieving the MDGs must respond to the intergenerational nature of poverty and to rapid population ageing.

A United Nations (UN) Review Summit took place in September 2010 to review progress towards the MDGs. The Summit made little reference to older people and there is real potential that the needs of this vulnerable group will remain unaddressed.

To achieve the MDGs, older people’s poverty must be tackled more effectively and consistently. This means governments and humanitarian donors must give greater recognition and commitments to this vulnerable group.