When we think about “human rights” we might not always think about how they apply to us in our own situations. Join us for a discussion about universal human rights, the International Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, and future work at the United Nations on a human rights treaty for older people.

We will cover some of the basic elements of our rights, including the right to participation and the right to live in the community, and upcoming opportunities to advocate for older people’s rights at the United Nations. 

Speaker Bethany Brown is the International Disability Alliance’s Human Rights Advisor, working to uphold the standards of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities across all human rights mechanisms in at the United Nations in New York, and ensuring participatory approaches representing the diversity of the disability movement and its constituencies. She is a lawyer, and has been an advocate at the United Nations since 2010.

Previously, she started Human Rights Watch’s program of work on older people’s human rights in its Disability Rights Division. Before Human Rights Watch, she was HelpAge USA’s Policy and Advocacy Director, where she carried out research, trainings and advocacy at the United Nations for the rights of older people in low- and middle-income countries.

Bethany received her bachelor’s degree from Barnard College of Columbia University, and her Juris Doctor from American University Washington College of Law.