GAROP members in different regions have found that organising tripartite meetings at national level involving governments, National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs), and older people and NGOs is a very useful way of exchanging expertise and building a common understanding. This contributes to GAROP’s joint work to build political support for a UN convention and to develop content for a convention that will advance the protection of older people’s rights. It also ensures that older people’s voices and experiences are at the heart of the process of strengthening older people’s rights. Once these relationships and dialogue have commenced you can aim to arrange a schedule of regular meetings to build momentum and further enrich your discussions. Check on the official website whether your government and NHRI submitted written inputs to the UN consultation and if so, be ready to comment on these. Member States may also now be in the intergovernmental process of negotiating recommendations on previous areas of human rights considered by the Open-Ended Working Group on Ageing (OEWG) and this is an opportunity to input to those discussions using evidence and resources prepared for previous sessions.

This year, COVID-19 has made it very difficult for meetings to take place in the usual way and many members are organising events online. Whatever approach you take, please take every safety precaution possible and follow COVID-19 safe guidance in your country or area.

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