HRC58 advocacy-related information and guidance for NGOs
The HRC58 will take place from 24th February to 4th April 2025. NGOs must have UN ECOSOC consultative status to participate in the HRC session itself. We will also share information here about how non-ECOSOC accredited NGOs can participate and engage around the session.
Programme of Work
GAROP’s priority is for members to reiterate our call that the HRC should respond to the General Assembly resolution 78/324 adopted (with oral amendments) on 13th August 2024 and establish an inter-governmental working group to start drafting a UN convention. GAROP members are working on a joint consensus statement to be presented on behalf of our full network at the 58th session.
GAROP and NGO Committee on Ageing side event
GAROP and the NGO Committee on Ageing Geneva are working with the main sponsor, Argentina to organise a side event entitled ‘Lived Experiences, Collective Advocacy: Towards an International Legally Binding Instrument on the Rights of Older Persons’ on Thursday 13th March from 14:00-15:00 CET in Room XXIV at the Palais des Nations, Geneva.
Click here to find out more and access the materials. This page will be continually updated.
Practical information for NGOs wishing to participate in HRC58
GAROP and the NGO Committee on Ageing Geneva jointly organised a virtual briefing on 5th February from 2pm-3:30pm CET for NGOs and NHRIs wishing to participate in or follow developments at the 58th session. Access the presentation slides from the briefing here. You can also check the official website for detailed guidance and instructions about NGO participation.
NEW! The online oral statement registration platform for the 58th session is: https://ngoreg.ohchr.org. The NGOREG system will begin accepting registrations for oral statements by NGOs on Tuesday 18th February at 2 pm CET. NGOs must have ECOSOC consultative status to register to make an oral statement in person or by video. It is advised that you log in to your ECOSOC account now and make sure that all of your Geneva accreditations and designations are fully up-to-date well before the oral registrations open to ensure that your registration goes smoothly and without delays.
If you are planning to attend the HRC58 in person, or register to make a video statement, please contact the GAROP secretariat (info@rightsofolderpeople.org) so that you can receive further updates and coordinate with other NGOs planning to participate.
NEW! NGOs in consultative status with ECOSOC may submit NGO Written Statements through the online registration platform “EVENTS”, which is accessible at the following link: https://events.ohchr.org. The deadlines vary depending on which item in the programme of work you are submitting statements for. Check the official page for more information.
Registration of requests for NGO Side Events for HRC58 opened on Thursday, 16 January 2025, at 12:00 pm (noon), Geneva time – CEST and the deadline is Thursday, 23 January 2025, at 12:00 pm (noon), Geneva time – CEST. NGOs with ECOSOC consultative status can submit requests for side events. Check the official page for more information.
Other information
List of NGOs with accreditation at UN in Geneva you may wish to connect with
View the presentation below by Lisa Majumdar, Advocate and Representative to the UN – Geneva for Amnesty International (pending) about engaging with HRC sessions (taken from the GAROP virtual briefing about HRC57 on 22nd August).
Who to follow on X (formerly Twitter)
@GAROP_Sec | The Global Alliance for the Rights of Older People (GAROP)
@IE_OlderPersons | UN Independent Expert on the enjoyment of all human rights by older persons (Dr. Claudia Mahler)
@NgoAgeing | NGO Committee on Ageing – Geneva
@UN_HRC | UN Human Rights Council
@swiss_un | Permanent Mission of Switzerland to the United Nations Office at Geneva, President of the Human Rights Council in 2025
@TareqMdArifulI1 | H.E. Amb. Tareq Md Ariful Islam, Permanent Representative of Bangladesh to the United Nations Office at Geneva, Vice-President of the Human Rights Council in 2025
@BangladeshUN1 | Permanent Mission of Bangaldesh to the United Nations Office at Geneva, Vice-President of the Human Rights Council in 2025
@UNHumanRights | The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (UN Human Rights)
@volker_turk | UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (Mr. Volcker Turk)
@NadaNashif | United Nations Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights (Ms. Nada Al-Nashif)
@ISHRGlobal | The International Service for Human Rights