New Participation Charter Launched to Empower Older Voices in Public Policy and Public Life

We are happy to circulate a groundbreaking Participation Charter (below), published by The Irish Senior Citizens Parliament and Age Action Ireland, setting out ten practical principles to ensure that older people in the Republic have a meaningful, active voice in the decisions that shape their lives and communities.

It’s foreword highlights the United Nations’ decision twenty months ago, on the 3rd April 2025, to establish an Intergovernmental Working Group to draft a Convention on the Rights of Older Persons. This was done in the face of what Ms Nada Al-Nashif, the UN’s then Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights, described as:

“The experience of the COVID-19 pandemic (which) laid bare how, in the absence of explicit standards and focused attention, the rights and realities of older persons can remain invisible in law, policy and practice.”

In February 2026, the Irish government’s representative at the Organizational Meeting of the Intergovernmental Working Group stated:

“It is incumbent on us all to ensure that the human rights of older persons are protected and respected on an equal basis with those of younger persons… the COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the urgent need for a legally
binding instrument to ensure that older persons’ rights are promoted, recognized and realized.” *

Supported by Community Foundation Ireland, the new Irish charter is part of the Strengthening the Voice of Older People in Ireland project. It’s the result of extensive research and a major National Consultation that gathered insights from 764 individuals aged 60 and over. (also below).

The fruits of the republic-wide consultation sets out 10 Principles for Meaningful Participation.

Core Principles of the Participation Charter

1 Participation Should Be Meaningful

2 Participation Should Be Inclusive and Accessible

3 Participation Should Begin Early

4 Lived Experience Should Be Valued as Evidence

5 Participation Should Influence Decisions

6 Participation Should Lead to Feedback and Visible Outcomes

7 Participation Should Strengthen Collaboration and Collective Voice

8 Representation Should Be Transparent and Accountable

9 Participation Should Be Sustained

10 Participation Should Promote Civic Engagement, Rights and Dignity

Speaking on the publication, Irish Senior Citizens Parliament CEO Pat Mellon said:

“Older people want to know that their contribution matters and that their voices lead to visible outcomes. We invite and encourage decision-makers, public bodies and organizations across Ireland to apply these ten principles in their everyday practice.”

The Irish Senior Citizens Parliament says it’s noteworthy that, while the charter was developed for the participation of the aged sector, the principles apply to all sectors suffering from lack of a voice.

* Statement of Ireland, Intergovernmental Working Group on Older Persons, pursuant to Human Rights Council Resolution 58/13, Organizational Meeting, 18 February 2026.

For additional research data, see seniors.ie

Participation Charter

Participation-Charter

Research & Evidence Base

Research-and-Evidence-Base

Participation Charter Summary

Participation-Charter-Summary