Manila, April 4 -- The Philippine government, through the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), conveyed support to the United Nations Human Rights Council's (UNHRC) move to draft an international treaty that would protect the rights of older people.

"I welcome the consensus decision of the UN Human Rights Council to pursue a global instrument on rights of older persons. This is multilateralism in action, working for human rights, & for a future without age discrimination," Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo said in a statement posted on his X (Twitter) account Friday.

Manalo said the Philippines, partner-states and civil society organizations have advocated for this instrument for years.

The Philippine government, he said, "will ...