By Haddy Touray
The Ageing with a Smile Initiative (ASI), a Gambian community-based organisation advocating the rights and wellbeing of older persons, has joined the rest of the world in commemorating the International Day of Older Persons.
The day, observed annually on 1 October, provides an opportunity to recognise the contributions of older people and reflect on the opportunities and challenges associated with longer lives.
Speaking ahead of the commemoration, Sola Mahoney, Interim National Coordinator of ASI, said this year’s theme, “The Age of Longevity: Rethinking Systems for Longer Lives,” calls on societies to adapt to increasing longevity and ensure that older people can live with health, dignity, security, purpose and participation.
Mahoney said the theme goes beyond healthcare, covering areas such as social protection, income security, housing, transport, access to information and services, employment opportunities, community participation and protection of the rights of older persons.
According to ASI, an age-friendly society should enable older people to remain connected to their families and communities, participate in decisions affecting their lives and contribute their knowledge, experience and skills.
The organisation noted that The Gambia has taken steps towards strengthening the protection of older persons, including the National Assembly’s ratification in June 2024 of the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Rights of Older Persons in Africa.
ASI said the next formal step is the deposit of the instrument of ratification with the African Union Commission, followed by efforts to domesticate the provisions of the Protocol.
The organisation also welcomed the launch of the National Social Protection Policy 2026–2035, describing it as an important framework for strengthening social protection and addressing the needs of vulnerable groups, including older persons.
ASI further welcomed initiatives by the University of Senior Citizens (USC), with support from the National Human Rights Commission, to engage older persons through home visits in the Greater Banjul Area and raise awareness of their rights.
The initiative said such efforts could help generate information on the circumstances and concerns of older people and contribute to evidence-based interventions.
“Older people should not simply be the subjects of policies and programmes. They should be participants in shaping them,” ASI said.
The organisation called for greater involvement of government institutions, civil society organisations, communities, families, faith-based organisations, the private sector, development partners, the media and older persons themselves in efforts to create a more age-friendly society.
ASI said ageing should be viewed as a concern for people of all generations, noting that decisions taken today on healthcare, social protection, communities, employment and the physical environment would influence how future generations experience old age.
“The younger person of today is the older person of tomorrow,” the organisation said, adding that creating an age-friendly society was not simply about doing something for older people, but about creating a society in which people of all ages could live, participate and grow older with dignity.
ASI said making The Gambia more age-friendly required the contribution of all stakeholders, including government, civil society, communities, families, faith organisations, the private sector, development partners, the media and older people themselves.
The organisation said its role included listening to older people, amplifying their voices, sharing information, promoting their rights and helping connect individuals and organisations working to ensure that ageing is valued and not overlooked.
ASI urged stakeholders to build on existing progress and ensure that longer lives are accompanied by greater dignity, security, participation and wellbeing.
It also called for continued engagement with older Gambians and greater attention to their experiences and concerns beyond the annual observance of International Day of Older Persons.