The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) joins the global community in commemorating the International Day of Older Persons with the theme, “Older Persons Driving Local and Global Action: Our Aspirations, Our Well-Being and Our Rights” and 2025 Elderly Filipino Week from 1-7 October, with the theme, “Embracing Age: Living a Life with Dignity and Purpose.”

We honor the vital role of older persons as active contributors to society. They are not only recipients of care and protection but leaders, advocates, and drivers of change whose wisdom and lived experiences shape both local and global action. Their rights and well-being must remain at the core of our collective efforts to advance human dignity and social justice.

The right of older persons to live with dignity goes beyond mere survival. The CHR urges government agencies, civil society, and the private sector to ensure that programs and services for older persons are inclusive, culturally sensitive, and responsive to their distinct needs. We must also guarantee the fulfillment of their right to self-fulfillment and empowerment.

Following the recent disasters that have gravely affected many communities, the CHR underscores the urgent need for disaster preparedness, response, and recovery measures that prioritize older persons along with other vulnerable groups.

The CHR likewise joins the call of human rights advocates worldwide for the passage of a United Nations Convention on the Rights of Older Persons. Such an instrument would provide a stronger normative framework to protect the rights of older persons, address systemic discrimination, and ensure their dignity and participation in all spheres of life.

In upholding the rights of older persons, we strengthen our collective resolve to nurture a humane and inclusive society—one that honors their dignity, amplifies their voices, and values their contribution.