Dr. Mamadou Tangara, Minister of Foreign Affairs & Gambians Abroad
By Ramatoulie Jawo
The Gambia has co-led the successful adoption of a landmark resolution at the United Nations Human Rights Council, setting the stage for a legally binding international treaty aimed at protecting the rights of older persons.
In a press statement issued by the Permanent Mission of The Gambia to the United Nations in Geneva, it was announced that The Gambia, in its capacity as a member of the Human Rights Council, played a pivotal role in facilitating the adoption of the resolution at the Council’s 58th Session. The initiative was undertaken in collaboration with Argentina, Brazil, the Philippines, and Slovenia.
The resolution establishes an Open-Ended Intergovernmental Working Group (OEIGWG) tasked with drafting an international legal instrument focused on the promotion and protection of the human rights of older persons.
Adopted by consensus on 3rd April 2025 and co-sponsored by more than 70 Member States, the resolution marks a significant milestone in global efforts to address longstanding protection gaps affecting the elderly population.
According to the statement, the move follows the conclusion of the UN General Assembly’s Open-Ended Working Group on Ageing, which, after 14 sessions of inclusive dialogue, recommended the creation of such a treaty.
“As a State Party to the African Union Protocol on the Rights of Older Persons, The Gambia regards this initiative as a continuation of its national and regional commitments to promoting and safeguarding the rights and dignity of older persons,” the statement reads.
The process will now advance to the United Nations headquarters in New York, where Member States will begin intergovernmental negotiations on the draft treaty.
The Gambia reaffirmed its commitment to engage constructively and in good faith throughout the negotiation process, emphasizing its dedication to advancing the global human rights agenda through multilateral cooperation.