Manila, July 15 -- The Philippines has stepped up its campaign for stronger international protection of senior citizens by backing negotiations for a legally binding United Nations treaty that would recognize older persons as rights holders, not merely beneficiaries of social services.

National Commission of Senior Citizens (NCSC) Chairperson and Chief Executive Officer Ma. Merceditas Gutierrez represented the country during the inaugural session of the UN Intergovernmental Working Group (IGWG) on Older Persons in Geneva, Switzerland, where she urged the crafting of a comprehensive global framework to safeguard the rights and dignity of older persons, according to a news release Tuesday.

"The Philippines envisions an instrument that un...