As governments prepare to meet in Geneva for the first session of a newly established U.N. working group on the human rights of older persons, Khaled Hassine, secretary of the Intergovernmental Working Group, is helping guide a process that could shape future international protections for aging populations. In this interview, Secretary Hassine discusses the significance of the Human Rights Council’s new mandate, how governments and civil society will contribute to the negotiations, and what success would look like as Member States consider the possible development of a dedicated international legal instrument on the rights of older persons.
AARP: To start, could you briefly describe your role as Secretary to the Intergovernmental Working Group on the Human Rights of Older Persons—and what a “secretariat” does in practice for this process?
Khaled Hassine: As Secretary of the Working Group, I lead the Secretariat team that supports the Chair and the Core Group, to facilitate the intergovernmental process, and to ensure its smooth functioning in accordance with the relevant Council resolutions and UN rules of procedure. Of course, as Secretariat we are also the interface for all other stakeholders, most importantly national human rights institutions and civil society. We provide neutral and impartial support to this State-led process. While the process is informed by the contributions of all stakeholders, including civil society, national human rights institutions and older persons themselves, the direction and content of the negotiations are conducted by and consequentially remain in the hands of Member States.
AARP: This is a new mandate from the Human Rights Council—what makes this moment significant for the human rights of older persons globally?
KH: This marks the beginning of a new intergovernmental normative process established by the Human Rights Council to consider the elaboration of an international legally binding and dedicated instrument on the human rights of older persons. It provides Member States with a dedicated forum to examine how international human rights law can better promote and protect the human rights of older persons, while drawing on the experience and expertise of a wide range of stakeholders from across the world.
AARP: As the Working Group prepares for its first session in July 2026, what are the main objectives or priorities for the session?
KH: The first session marks the beginning of the Working Group’s substantive work under its mandate pursuant to HRC res. 58/13. It is intended to provide Member States and stakeholders with an opportunity to exchange initial views on the overarching framework, guiding principles and possible structure of a future international legally binding instrument on the human rights of older persons. The session will also consider the broad range of written submissions received from States and other stakeholders, explore how existing international and regional standards and expertise may inform this genuinely new process, and initiate discussions on issues that will help shape the Working Group’s future programme of work. Overall, the session is designed to establish a solid foundation for the next steps and sessions ahead.
AARP: What will actually happen during a typical day of the July session in Geneva?
KH: Each day is structured around plenary discussions chaired by the Chair-Rapporteur, with Member States leading the deliberations. The programme combines thematic discussions with interactive exchanges that allow Member States to engage with the expertise and perspectives of United Nations entities, independent experts, older persons and other stakeholders, helping to inform their consideration of the issues before the Working Group. Throughout the week, the Secretariat supports these proceedings and serves as the prime conduit for all information on the session. While each day focuses on different aspects of the mandate, the overall objective is to provide Member States with a well-informed basis for guiding the future work of the Working Group.
AARP: The process involves inputs from governments, UN entities, and civil society—how does the secretariat support this diverse engagement?
KH: One of the Secretariat’s key responsibilities is to ensure that stakeholders understand the opportunities and many pathways to contribute to this process as opportunities for engagement extend well beyond the conference room. Building coalitions, sustaining political momentum, and ensuring that the human rights of older persons remain visible on national and regional agendas between sessions are critical contributions. Equally important is any initiative that enriches the evidence base, whether through research, litigation, treaty body engagement, or structured dialogue with older persons themselves. It is through that accumulated evidence that States are able to articulate, with precision and legal authority, what is specific and essential about the human rights situation of older persons. While the deliberations and negotiations are led by Member States, the perspectives of United Nations entities, national human rights institutions, civil society, older persons and other stakeholders are critical to help informing those discussions.
AARP: Looking ahead, what do you hope this process will ultimately achieve for older persons and their human rights?
KH: The outcome of the Working Group’s deliberations will ultimately be determined by Member States. From the Secretariat’s perspective, a successful process is one that enables Member States to engage in constructive discussions, drawing on the expertise, evidence and lived experiences shared by older persons and other stakeholders. If the Working Group succeeds in providing that foundation for informed deliberations throughout its mandate, it will have made an important contribution to the international human rights system in its own right.