Four steps towards a UN convention on the rights of older people

Come on a journey…. Country in Asia-Pacific NGO focusing on health Based in the capital city Started in programmes Now do some policy and advocacy work Want to advocate for a new convention on the rights of older people

FAIR guidelines Search: FAIR guidelines HelpAge https://www.helpage.org/newsroom/latest-news/new-advocacy- guidelines-launched-for-a-un-convention-/

1.1 Find out who is responsible Talk to my contact in the Ministry of Health Ask a friend who works for a human rights organisation Ask for their help to introduce me to the people they identify See page 4

Human rights adviser to Minister of Justice 1.2 Find out who to persuade Minister of Justice Human rights adviser to Minister of Justice See pages 4-5

1.3: Find out the Government’s current position See page 5 for where to look Ask groups involved in International Day of Older People Check links to country information sheets http://bit.ly/2Tma1HN

1.3: Find out the Government’s current position See page 5 for where to look Ask groups involved in International Day of Older People Check links to country information sheets http://bit.ly/2Tma1HN No position expressed to date

See pages 6 - 7

1.5 Make your plan Introduce myself to human rights adviser to the Minister of Justice at event on SDG 16 2. Read Step 2 on Argue your case (just in case) 3. Print hand out for government 4. Ask about the government’s position 5. Suggest a further meeting

Government has not considered its position Not aware of the process Not convinced older people think their rights are an important issue Happy to meet again

See page 9

Meeting with the older people’s group in our health project Meeting with the older people’s group in our health project. Use questions from page 9 Write up responses and have a feedback meeting with older people Ask group to identify five older people to meet the human rights adviser to the Minister of Justice Preparation meeting with five representatives Meeting between older people and human rights adviser to the Minister of Justice Adviser sees it’s important but wants to know how it will affect national laws and policies

Offer to do a short paper as a reason to meet adviser again See page 12 Offer to do a short paper as a reason to meet adviser again Focus on health Ask my friend in the human rights organisation for advice to get started Share a draft with the older people’s group

Prepare paper; share with the older people’s group Ask two older representatives to come to the meeting; prepare together beforehand Have a second meeting with the human rights adviser Adviser is happy with input and says she’ll discuss it with her Minister Older people want to do more and decide to campaign around IDOP, 1st Oct Minister attends IDOP event but makes no commitments

Goal: Raise issue with government representative responsible Indicator Event Date Comment Meetings with government to discuss older people’s rights Initial contact with human rights adviser to Minister of Justice August Clarify government position Willing to meet Meeting of older people with human rights adviser to Minister of Justice Sees importance Willing to meet again Follow up meeting with human rights adviser to Minister of Justice September Happy with input on laws Agrees to speak to Minister IDOP event October Minister attends Minister makes no commitment See page 23

Met goals but We invited the Minister to the IDOP event without asking her to commit to anything Set new goal

See pages 6 - 7

Use new HelpAge report for 11th OEWG as the reason for older people to meet Minister/adviser again Ask Minister to work with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to send instructions to diplomats for the 11th OEWG session

Thank you! bsleap@helpage.org