The Executive Bureau of the Council of Ministers of Labor and Social Affairs in GCC countries organized a specialized training workshop titled “Dignity, Empowerment, and Participation of Older Persons: Integrating a Human Rights–Based Approach into Policies.” The workshop was held in partnership with the National Planning Council and the Permanent Population Committee of the State of Qatar, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), and the GCC-Statistical Center.

The program aimed to strengthen the capacities of government officials and practitioners across the GCC in incorporating human rights principles into ageing-related policymaking. It emphasized the importance of safeguarding the dignity, independence, and active participation of older persons as core elements of modern social policies.

The workshop sessions addressed key themes such as active ageing, demographic resilience, data requirements for evidence-based policies, and regional and international best practices in supporting and empowering older persons. Participants also engaged in discussions on demographic transitions in the region and the need for integrated, rights-based frameworks to ensure better quality of life for older persons.

This initiative falls within the Executive Bureau’s ongoing efforts to enhance GCC coordination on social development priorities and expand partnerships with regional and international organizations to support national policies on ageing and vulnerable groups.