“As this year’s theme reminds us, older persons are powerful agents of change. Their voices must be heard in shaping policies, ending age-discrimination, and building inclusive societies”.
António Guterres, UN Secretary General
The 2025 United Nations International Day of Older Persons emphasizes the important role older people play as agents of change in society.
The theme, “Older Persons Driving Local and Global Action: our Aspirations, our Well-Being and our Rights,” underlines their contributions to health equity, financial security, community resilience, and human rights.
Key global policies, such as the Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing, support these principles. In April 2025, progress continued as the Human Rights Council adopted a resolution to develop a legally binding instrument to protect the rights of older persons, recognizing them as active rights-holders and leaders of positive change.