By George Ozalla
The Executive Secretary of the National Human Rights Commission, Tony Ojukwu, has called for accelerated action toward the adoption of a legally binding international instrument dedicated to the protection of the rights of older persons.
Ojukwu made the call in Geneva, Switzerland, at the February 2026 session of the Intergovernmental Working Group on Ageing. The meeting was convened by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights during the Human Rights Council proceedings.
According to a statement signed by Fatimah Agwai Mohammed, Director of Corporate Affairs and External Linkages at the Commission, the NHRC chief drew attention to the discrimination, neglect and violence still experienced by older persons across societies and stressed the need for the international community to move decisively toward establishing a binding global framework that guarantees dignity, equality and protection for ageing populations.
The statement said Ojukwu aligned with stakeholders advocating clearer conceptual understanding of ageism and broader national consultations to strengthen the drafting process. He emphasised that collaboration among National Human Rights Institutions, civil society organisations, older persons and youth groups would be essential to building ownership and credibility for the proposed convention.
Reaffirming Nigeria’s human rights commitments at both national and international levels, he proposed that the Working Group adopt Rules of Procedure drawing from the Open-Ended Working Group model, with appropriate adjustments to guide its mandate. He also suggested that friendly states or designated experts be tasked with preparing a draft text of the instrument to serve as the basis for consultations and negotiations ahead of the July 2026 meeting.
The statement further conveyed his position that National Human Rights Institutions and civil society actors must remain central to the process as society’s conscience, while hybrid meetings should form part of the Working Group’s methodology to ensure meaningful participation of older persons and other relevant stakeholders.
He maintained that any emerging framework must reflect the enduring human rights principles of inclusion and participation, insisting that older persons be directly involved in decisions that affect their lives.
