The inclusion and participation of older persons in society and the recognition of their contributions to society, culture, the economy and politics is vital for improving the quality of life of older persons. For this reason, on 14 December 1990, the United Nations General Assembly designated 1 October the International Day of Older Persons. As the population ages, societies experience an increase in discrimination based on age, with older persons often being an overlooked population group. In particular, the COVID-19 pandemic, which has exposed a number of shortcomings, has accentuated the problem.

For over a decade, Slovenia has been contributing to the debate on the human rights of older people and has been striving for increased protection of the human rights of older people at the global level. Besides that, it actively participates in co-chairing the cross-regional Group of Friends of the Human Rights of Older Persons in Geneva and in the UN Open-Ended Working Group on Ageing in New York.

Slovenia calls attention to the importance of addressing the rights of older people through international bodies and independent mechanisms for human rights protection. At this year’s 51st session of the UN Human Rights Council, Slovenia, together with Argentina and Brazil, presented a resolution to renew the mandate of the UN independent expert on the enjoyment of all human rights by older persons. For a number of years, Slovenia has been making efforts to introduce the protection of rights of older persons into the international legal framework, but the broadest possible consensus of the international community has to be reached first.

Furthermore, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs took part in the 21st Festival for the Third Age, held in Ljubljana from 27 to 29 September, which seeks to raise awareness of the human rights of older persons, and the importance of active ageing and an inclusive society.