The Ageing with a Smile Initiative (ASI) in Gambia has urged the government and citizens to create an age-friendly society as the world marks the International Day of Older Persons on October 1. The day's global theme, "The Age of Longevity: Rethinking Systems for Longer Lives," encourages societies to think beyond simply adding years to life and consider whether those additional years can be lived with health, dignity, security, purpose, and participation.
According to ASI, an age-friendly society is one in which older people can continue to live with dignity, remain connected to their families and communities, participate in decisions that affect their lives, and contribute their knowledge and experience. This goes beyond healthcare to include social protection, income security, housing, transport, access to information and services, opportunities to work, community life, and protection of rights.
ASI notes that there is reason for encouragement in Gambia, citing the National Assembly's ratification of the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights on the Rights of Older Persons in Africa in June 2024. The remaining step is the deposit of the instrument of ratification with the African Union Commission, followed by domestication.
The Gambia government has also launched the National Social Protection Policy 2026-2035, providing a framework for strengthening social protection and identifying older persons among vulnerable groups requiring attention. At the international level, Gambia is contributing to discourse on older people's rights through its membership of the UN Human Rights Council.
However, ASI emphasizes that the government cannot achieve this alone and calls for the involvement of civil society, national institutions, communities, and older people's organizations. It welcomes the work of the University of Senior Citizens (USC), with support from the National Human Rights Commission, to engage older persons directly through home visits in the Greater Banjul Area and raise awareness of their rights.
ASI urges Gambians to listen to older people about what it is like to grow old in Gambia today, what makes ageing difficult, what gives them joy and purpose, and what would make Gambia a better place in which to grow old. The organization emphasizes that older people should not simply be the subjects of policies and programs but participants in shaping them.
ASI concludes that ageing is not somebody else's issue, but a collective responsibility, as every individual will grow older. Creating an age-friendly society is about building a society in which people of all ages can live and grow older with dignity, and ASI calls on all Gambians to take part in this effort.
Key points
- Ageing with a Smile Initiative calls for an age-friendly Gambia
- Gambia ratifies protocol on rights of older persons
- National Social Protection Policy launched to support vulnerable groups
