Cyprus Calls for Enhanced Global Commitment to Elderly Rights at UN Assembly

Cyprus reaffirmed its commitment to protecting the rights and wellbeing of older persons, calling for stronger international frameworks to support active and inclusive aging during a high-level meeting at the United Nations in May 2025.

The statement was delivered by Ambassador Maria Michail, Cyprus’s Permanent Representative to the UN, during her address to the General Assembly in New York. Her intervention highlighted both national progress and global responsibility amid rapid demographic changes that are reshaping aging populations worldwide.

“We must work together, across borders, to guarantee that no one is left behind as our societies age,” said Ambassador Michail, urging UN member states to collaborate on policies and legal frameworks that promote the dignity, independence, and inclusion of older individuals.

During her address, the ambassador emphasized the National Strategy for Active Ageing (2025–2030) and the Action Plan for Active Ageing (2025–2027) recently adopted by the Cypriot government. These initiatives aim to integrate older adults more fully into society through improved access to healthcare, digital literacy, lifelong learning, and community participation.

“Aging should not be seen as a burden,” Michail told the Assembly. “It is a phase of life filled with potential and contribution.”

The intervention aligns with global efforts under the UN Decade of Healthy Ageing (2021–2030), a coordinated campaign to improve the lives of older people and their communities. Cyprus also reiterated its support for a potential international convention on the rights of older persons, a subject gaining traction among several member states.

For more details on Cyprus’s initiatives and the full statement, please refer to the official document released by the Government of Cyprus.