Free In-Person Seminar – A UN Convention on the Rights of Older Persons: Why We Need It; What Should It Say and When Will It Happen?

Over the next 25 years, the proportion of the population who are older people will increase dramatically. The UN Human Rights Council is considering whether to start drafting a UN Convention on the Rights of Older Persons. This seminar will discuss what a convention for older people can add to the human rights legal framework, what should be in it, and what it would mean for older people’s lives in the UK and internationally. Please note we will have BSL interpreters for this event.

After the seminar, there will be a small drinks reception and opportunity for networking.

Speakers

Ken Bluestone, Policy Lead, Age International
Ken leads Age International’s policy and influencing work in the UK and internationally on issues affecting older people in low and middle-income countries. Ken’s work focuses on government relations, parliamentary work, research, and building relationships with stakeholders who have a policy interest in ageing and international development, with a particular emphasis on the rights of older persons. Ken has worked in policy and influencing for over 25 years with a wide range of NGOs, including: ACORD, CIIR, VSO and The Water Dialogues. He was previously Chair of the Global Alliance for the Rights of Older People (GAROP), as well as maintaining leadership roles within the NGO sector.

Bridget Sleap, Senior Researcher, Human Rights Watch
Bridget Sleap is a senior researcher on the rights of older people at Human Rights Watch. Previously, she was a senior rights policy adviser at HelpAge International where she led the organisation’s research and advocacy on the rights of older people at the UN and national levels, including on ageism and age discrimination, autonomy and independence, and the rights of older people in responses to the COVID-19 pandemic. She also previously worked as a research manager at the University of Bath and on HIV and AIDS related projects at International Family Health and the Panos Institute.

Laura Mills, Researcher, Amnesty International
Laura Mills is a researcher at Amnesty International focusing on older people and people with disabilities in armed conflict and emergency situations. At Amnesty International, she has extensively documented the situation of older people and people with disabilities during and after armed conflict, including in Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Ukraine. Before joining Amnesty International, she was a researcher at Human Rights Watch, where she worked on civil and political rights, disability rights, older person’s’ rights, and health across many countries. From 2012 to 2018, she was a foreign correspondent for The Associated Press and The Wall Street Journal, based in Moscow and Kyiv.

Professor John Williams, Chair, Age Cymru and Professor of Law, University of Aberystwyth
Professor John Williams is Emeritus Professor of Law having enjoyed a long and distinguished career at Aberystwyth University between 1975 and 2018, primarily researching into the human rights of older people. During his career Professor Williams focused on the impact of the law in terms of older people accessing health and social care. He also undertook extensive research on older prisoners, the design of care homes, international law and ageing, and domestic abuse and older people. In addition, he advised a number of national bodies including the National Assembly for Wales on the drafting of the Social Services and Well-being Act, and the Welsh Government’s Safeguarding and Protection Advisory Committee on safeguarding guidance and regulations. He was a member of the United Nations Expert Group Meeting on Human Rights of Older People, provided evidence to the joint House of Lords and House of Commons Committee on the draft Mental Incapacity Bill, and between 2017 and 2020 was a member of the Commissioner for Older People Northern Ireland’s statutory review of Dunmurry Care Home and its treatment of older people.

Bethan Harris, Barrister, Garden Court Chambers (Chair)
Bethan is co-convenor of Garden Court Chambers’ Community Care Team. She practises in community care law, social housing, Court of Protection and related public law. She is an editor of the Community Care Law Reports and a member of the panel of counsel to the Equality and Human Rights Commission. She was shortlisted for Legal 500 Barrister of the Year awards in 2023 and 2024. She speaks regularly on Welsh language media on human rights law issues.

Reserve your in-person ticket
In-person tickets are limited to the capacity of the venue. After you have completed the form, we will be back in touch to confirm whether a place is available at this event.