The 19th ASEM Expert Dialogue and Roundtable on the Human Rights of Older Persons: Addressing Protection Gaps and the Need for an International Convention

The 19th ASEM Expert Dialogue and Roundtable on the Human Rights of Older Persons was held on August 21, 2025, bringing together distinguished domestic and international experts, including Ms. Silvia Perel-Levin, former Chair and current Vice-Chair of the NGO Committee on Ageing in Geneva. Ms. Perel-Levin visited Korea to participate in the ASEM Forum on the Human Rights of Older Persons: Present and Future hosted by the ASEM Global Ageing Center on August 20, and despite her busy schedule, she actively joined the roundtable discussions.

On the Korean side, participants included Dr. HyeKyung Lee, Executive Director of the ASEM Global Ageing Center; Dr. Chinsung Chung, Professor Emeritus of Sociology at Seoul National University and member of the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination; Dr. Yeong-Ran Park, Professor of Kangnam University’s Department of Senior Business; Mr. Hyun Se Cho, President of HelpAge Korea; and Ms. Yookyong Park, Deputy Director of the International Human Rights Division at the National Human Rights Commission of Korea. Together, they engaged in in-depth discussions on international efforts to protect and promote the rights of older persons.

Ms. Perel-Levin highlighted findings from a multi-country study on elder abuse conducted with WHO and INPEA, stressing that elder abuse is not merely a matter of violence but a violation of autonomy and rights. She underscored the importance of amplifying older persons’ voices in policymaking through international networks such as the International Longevity Centre Global Alliance, the NGO Committee on Ageing in Geneva, and GAROP.

She further pointed out the absence of a binding international convention on the rights of older persons, citing how older persons are often excluded from reporting processes and data collection. She emphasized that this protection gap makes the adoption of a new international convention both urgent and essential.

In reviewing the political process, she explained that the Human Rights Council in Geneva has achieved important milestones, including the appointment of an Independent Expert in 2013 and the adoption of the first substantive resolution on ageism in 2021. She also noted that consultations led by Portugal and Brazil confirmed the necessity of a legally binding instrument. While over 80 countries currently support this initiative, Germany and France remain cautious due to fiscal concerns.

In conclusion, Ms. Perel-Levin stressed that a convention would not be a mere declaration but serve as a practical implementation guide for governments. Reaffirming that human rights are obligations of states rather than acts of charity, she emphasized the continuing role of civil society in providing evidence, building alliances, and ensuring that the rights of older persons are firmly embedded in the international agenda.