HRC60 advocacy-related information and guidance for NGOs
The Human Rights Council’s 60th session will take place from 8th September – 8th October 2025. This session will be one of particular interest to GAROP due to the presentation of the UN Independent Expert’s report and the renewal of the UN Independent Expert’s mandate. 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
The Programme of Work for the 60th session is now available here on the official website. The Interactive Dialogue with the UN Independent Expert on older persons’ rights is currently scheduled to take place on Wednesday 17th September as part of Item 3.
A Drafting Team made up of GAROP members are currently working on a joint consensus statement to be presented on behalf of our full network at the 60th session.
You can also view the ‘Sched’ for more information about all events taking place around the HRC60: Human Rights Council 60 Session: Schedule.
International Day of Older Persons event in Geneva
The NGO Committee on Ageing Geneva is organising a side event to mark the International Day of Older Persons entitled ‘From Resolution to Convention: Uniting for the Rights of Older Persons’ on Friday 26th September from 13:00-15:00 CET in Room V, Building A, at the Palais des Nations, Geneva. Online participation will also be possible.
Registration for in person attendance at the event is now open on Indico.
The concept note, programme and access details will be shared here soon.
Virtual briefing for NGOs
GAROP is organising a virtual briefing on Thursday 21st August from 2-3pm CEST for NGOs who want to follow and/or engage directly with HRC60 to discuss our shared objectives, advocacy messaging, and coordination. This briefing is only open to NGOs and interested NHRIs.
Click here to register for our virtual briefing.
Click here to view the programme.
Practical information for NGOs wishing to participate in HRC60
Please check the official website for detailed guidance and instructions about NGO participation. The information is being continually updated so check that the information is clearly for the HRC60 (and not HRC59).
GAROP has also prepared a presentation specific to HRC60 with information and links that any NGO wishing to participate may find useful.
If you are planning to attend the HRC60 in person, or register to make a video statement, you can prepare by ensuring that your organisation’s ECOSOC Geneva delegations are up-to-date and that you have a personal Indico account set up. You can also inform the GAROP secretariat about your plans (info@rightsofolderpeople.org) so that you can receive further updates and coordinate with other NGOs planning to participate.
Oral Statements
NEW! The online system to register for oral statements for HRC60 will open on Tuesday, 2 September at 14:00 (Geneva time – CEST) through the new system “EVENTS”: https://events.ohchr.org. There is a Step-by-step guide on the submission of Oral Statements on the new online registration platform “EVENTS”. You must be accredited and registered for the 60th session in order to make an oral statement. NGOs can also co-sponsor other NGOs’ statements through the online registration system even if they are not making a statement of their own.
The official UN page has more information including a Technical Guidelines for creating your unique account in the EVENTS platform.
Side events
Registration of requests for NGO Side Events for HRC60 will open on Monday, 11 August 2025, at 12:00pm CEST, until Monday, 18 August 2025, at 12:00pm CEST. NGOs with ECOSOC consultative status can submit requests for side events. Any new information and deadlines will be added to this webpage but you should also check the official page for more information.
Written Statements
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.
Other information
List of NGOs with accreditation at UN in Geneva you may wish to connect with
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