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14th Session: Open-ended Working Group on Ageing

20 May 2024

The Open-Ended Working Group on Ageing was established by the UN General Assembly by resolution 65/182 on 21 December 2010. The working group will consider the existing international framework of the human rights of older persons and identify possible gaps and how best to address them, including by considering, as appropriate, the feasibility of further instruments and measures. More

Online event – Promoting political participation of older persons: an international exchange

18 April 2024

Learn how older people exercise their right to civil and political participation and how they participate in public decision-making processes in their immediate living environment. More

Launch in the Region of the Americas of the 2023 progress report of the Decade of Healthy Aging (2021-2030)

2 April 2024

Within the framework of the UN Decade of Healthy Aging (2021-2030) and in accordance with the request made by the States to the United Nations and the WHO to report the progress achieved in the years 2023, 2026, 2029 and 2030, and as a continuation of the Reference Report published in 2020, the following event is proposed that will mark the launch of the 2023 Progress Report for the Region. More

Peaceful societies for all ages: preventing and addressing violence against older persons

14 March 2024

A violation of fundamental human rights, violence against and abuse and neglect of older persons represents a barrier to achieving the 2030 Agenda in the UNECE region. Effective training—of professionals, carers, and volunteers—is therefore an important intervention in addressing violence against and abuse and neglect of older persons. This online event, organized by the UNECE Standing Working Group on Ageing in collaboration with the Joint Programme on Ageing for Eastern Europe and Central Asia, will showcase the diversity of approaches in the region to training individuals who interact with older persons. More

White paper: The Future of the Care Economy

27 March 2024 / Other

This paper contributes to the evolution and acceleration of the global care agenda by taking stock of the state of the care economy at the beginning of 2024 and surfacing new perspectives to release its economic potential. It is unique in its global approach and its emphasis on public-private collaboration. It details the ways in which care is critical to addressing longstanding inequities as well as to fuelling growth. The paper subsequently lays out the interlinkages between the public sector, private sector and civil society that stakeholders can use to strengthen care economies. It advances a set of design principles and highlights key success factors observed in existing models. Finally, it surfaces promising practices implemented by a range of stakeholders that can support the exploration of meaningful investments and the striking of key partnerships. It argues that a well designed care economy will achieve: higher levels of productivity and growth; higher levels of gender parity; higher levels of workforce participation; higher levels of educational attainment; higher business profitability and efficiency; lower levels of inequality; lower long-term social expenditure. More

Violence against women 60 years and older: data availability, methodological issues and recommendations for good practice

27 March 2024 / Other

This briefing note, which focuses on the measurement of violence against women 60 years and older, is one in a series of methodological briefing notes for strengthening the measurement and data collection of violence against particular groups of women or specific aspects of violence against women. These briefing notes are meant for researchers, national statistics offices and others involved in data collection on violence against women. More

Making older persons visible in the sustainable development goals’ monitoring framework and indicators

4 March 2024 / Reports

In 2015, the world reaffirmed its commitment to sustainable development by endorsing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its 17 SDGs (2030 Agenda). To reach older people – an important, heterogeneous and growing population – and to create visibility in global and national policy and accountability mechanisms, a closer examination is needed of the kinds of data collection mechanisms and methods, and types of data collected to measure each SDG indicator relevant for older persons, including existing levels of disaggregation, analysis and dissemination. This WHO report is co-sponsored by the United Kingdom Office of National Statistics and the Ghana Statistical Service and reflects one of the major outputs for the Titchfield City Group on Ageing and Age-disaggregated Data Conceptual and Analytical Working Group. The report provides concrete examples of indicators and learnings from 20 National Statistics Offices (NSOs) on SDG indicators relevant for older people that are already being collected. Shared experiences from NSOs around the world demonstrate that disaggregation of data is possible, and that this information is useful to indicate the diverse experiences of older persons. More

The State of Ageing in Greater Manchester 2024

29 February 2024 / Reports

This report is a collation of the most relevant and contemporary data and evidence on ageing in Greater Manchester (GM) available in the second half of 2023. It is intended to inform those working in policy, service delivery, and communities across the city region on the challenges and opportunities experienced by people in mid and later life now and in the future. Wherever possible, we have used sources that relate specifically to GM residents, referencing sources only available for the North, England, or the UK where we are confident that the findings are relevant to our population. The State of Ageing in Greater Manchester provides the evidence base for the Combined Authority’s refreshed Age-friendly Strategy, which sets out what needs to happen over the next decade to make GM the best city region to grow old. While recognising the importance of all of the determinants of good ageing environments as set out in the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) age-friendly domains, we have collated the evidence under three of the GM Ageing Hub’s key themes – Economy, Work and Money; Places; Ageing Well; with the addition of a smaller section covering the cross-cutting theme of Digital Inclusion. The Strategy will have a further theme – Working Together – which articulates how we intend to grow the ageing ecosystem and how a collaboration between partners in the public, private, voluntary and community sectors can maximise the impact our work has on transforming people’s lives. More

World Population Ageing 2023: Challenges and opportunities of population ageing in the least developed countries

17 January 2024 / Reports

World Population Ageing 2023 examines the potential of Least Developed Countries (LDCs) to benefit from a demographic dividend as they are transiting from higher to lower levels of fertility and mortality that yields a period of rapid population increase, and, eventually, an increasingly older population. Through an analysis of demographic, social, economic and health-related indicators, as well as associated policies and investments, the report assesses the challenges and opportunities of translating favourable demographic trends into economic and developmental gains. A comparative study of LDCs in the Asia-Pacific region and in Africa, with a focus on Angola, Bangladesh and Rwanda, provides insights into the challenges and opportunities that arise at various stages of the demographic transition. The report concludes with a summary of key findings and policy guidance to help countries maximize the potential benefits of the demographic dividend to support their efforts to prepare for population ageing. More

Final Report: UNITAR's Mainstreaming Knowledge on Ageing virtual roundtable series 2023

15 January 2024 / Reports

This report sums up the learning outcomes of UNITAR's Mainstreaming Knowledge on Ageing virtual roundtable series, run in 2023 as the second round. This round took the theme of 'Bridging paths towards strengthening protection and participation', with an emphasis on the notion that accessibility should not only be associated to persons with disabilities but with a wide spectrum of barriers that can affect different generations while ageing. The virtual roundtable series is a contribution to the UN Decade of Healthy Ageing, and was developed in collaboration with the International Training Centers -CIFAL Global Network-, UNDESA, UNFPA, IOM, UN Women, UNHCR, WHO, OHCHR, ITU, ILO, the Group of Friends of the Human Rights of Older Persons UN Geneva; the Global Initiative on Ageing Foundation, GIA; the International Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse; the International Longevity Centre; the NGO Committee on Ageing Geneva; and the Harvard Law School Project on Disability. More

Longevity Economy Principles: The Foundation for a Financially Resilient Future

15 January 2024 / Reports

This report, developed by a consortium of leaders from finance, health, academia and government, offers a strategic approach to the challenges and opportunities of an ageing global population. It proposes principles aimed at ensuring the financial resilience of all generations amid diverse national systems and goals like financial security and healthy living. By 2050, the global population aged above 60 is projected to more than double from 1 billion in 2020 to 2.1 billion, underscoring the urgent need for strategic approaches to ageing. The report tackles sensitive issues such as ageism, gender pension gaps and socioeconomic disparities in retirement savings. Emphasizing the need for difficult discussions about mortality and finance, it calls for a unified language and clear direction. The report also advocates for a holistic approach that balances health, financial stability and social considerations, and underscores the importance of collaborative, multistakeholder engagement focused on individual needs. The aim is to build sustainable, resilient solutions for the rapidly ageing global demographic. More

Voice and meaningful engagement in the UN Decade of Healthy Ageing: A discussion paper

10 December 2023 / Other

This discussion paper aims to operationalise the concept of 'voice and meaningful engagement' in the context of the UN Decade of Healthy Ageing, as well as outline some possible opportunities for integrating such an approach across all of the action areas of the UN Decade. Voice and meaningful engagement is one of the enablers of the UN Decade and key towards ensuring that older people are at the centre of all that we do to transform the world to be a better place to grow older. This paper is a starting point rather than a definitive document, and all feedback to improve it is welcome. More

Video: Promoting community support and health services for all ages

15 June 2023 / Videos

This feature video story shows how local community and hospital promote health and prevent diseases by creating an age-friendly environment in Saitama, Japan. By expanding preventative health services, organizing group activities, and emphasizing the importance of health-conscious choices, local residents are empowered to take control of their own health and well-being. Through effective service coordination, multidisciplinary care, and strong community support, it demonstrates how age-friendly environments can contribute to fostering a sense of community and promoting positive lifestyle choices for individuals of all ages. More

Video: Fostering multistakeholder collaboration for age-friendly communities

15 June 2023 / Videos

This video highlights the effective measures taken in Nabari, Japan, to promote collaboration among various stakeholders to create age-friendly communities. The initiatives showcased include the establishment of an “area welfare education total support system,” the empowerment of self-organized groups, and the introduction of social prescribing. Through the active involvement of local government, healthcare professionals, and residents, these initiatives utilize resources, exchange knowledge, and implement tangible steps, resulting in the creation of an inclusive and age-friendly environment. More

WHO Science in 5: Older adults and COVID-19 vaccines

14 October 2022 / Videos

What do we know so far about older adults and COVID-19 vaccines? How long does the effect of the vaccine last and how successful have countries been in vaccinating older adults? Learn more about these topics and more in this episode of WHO's Science in 5: a video and audio series where WHO experts explain the science related to COVID-19. More

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres on the UN International Day of Older Persons 2022

1 October 2022 / Videos

In this video statement marking the UN International Day of Older Persons 2022, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres speaks on the need to address the challenges of longevity, as well as unleash its potential. “The past years have witnessed dramatic upheavals – and older people often found themselves at the epicenter of crises [...] Yet in the face of these threats, older people have inspired us with their remarkable resilience". More

A Thai version of healthy ageing

23 September 2022 / Videos

The Healthy Ageing Club of award-winning older persons in Bangkok, celebrated the International Day of Older Persons 2022 by promoting among older people physical and psychological health as well as active engagement in social activities. This video is a visual summary of the day's celebrations by the club. More

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres on intergenerational solidarity

12 August 2022 / Videos

In this video statement marking International Youth Day 2022: Intergenerational Solidarity - Creating a World for All Ages, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres speaks about the power of partnerships across generations. "We need people of all ages, young and old alike, to join forces to build a better world for all. Too often, ageism, bias and discrimination prevent this essential collaboration. When young people are shut out of the decisions being made about their lives, or when older people are denied a chance to be heard, we all lose." More

Webinar - International Youth Day 2022 - Intergenerational Solidarity: Creating A World for All Ages

12 August 2022 / Videos

To achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the world needs to leverage the full potential of all generations. Solidarity across generations is key for sustainable development. We must collaborate to foster successful and equitable intergenerational relations and partnerships to ensure “no one is left behind.” While intergenerational solidarity and concern for future generations is being called for in tackling global issues – with the UN Secretary-General recently putting forward new recommendations on renewed intergenerational solidarity, including in Our Common Agenda – many challenges remain. Ageism continues to present a significant – yet, not sufficiently discussed – challenge to fostering collaboration and solidarity across age groups. The World Health Organization defines ageism as “the stereotypes (how we think), prejudice (how we feel) and discrimination (how we act) directed towards others or oneself, based on age”. Ageism is an insidious and often an unaddressed issue in health, human rights and development, and has bearings on both older and younger populations around the world. In addition, ageism regularly intersects with other forms of bias (such as racism and sexism) and impacts people in ways that prevent them to reach their full potential and comprehensively contribute to their community. For International Youth Day 2022, UN DESA worked with the Major Group on Children and Youth (MGCY) to organize a global webinar for its official commemoration. The webinar features an exchange of views on the topic of intergenerational solidarity, intergenerational equity, future generations, and ageism. More

Video: Creating an age-friendly, enabling environment for social participation

14 July 2022 / Videos

This feature video story shows how this urban community in Wakabadai, Japan promotes social participation in older people. More

U.S. Surgeon General Resource Library on Combating Loneliness and Advancing Social Connection

2 May 2023

In a new Surgeon General’s Advisory, U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy warns about the public health crisis that loneliness, isolation, and disconnection pose to the American public. This Resource Library supports the Advisory by outlining recommendations and useful resources to support different stakeholder groups in the United States implement the Framework for a National Strategy to Advance Social Connection. Individuals and organizations can use this framework to address the public health problem of social disconnection and strengthen social connection. The recommendations and resources outlined in this Resource Library can also help stakeholders around the world combat loneliness and promote social connection in their own contexts. More

Database on Older Persons in Collective Living Quarters 2022

7 September 2022

The Database on Older Persons in Collective Living Quarters 2022 is a unique dataset that provides harmonized and comparable data on patterns and trends of older persons aged 65 or over residing in collective living quarters (also called as “group quarters”). Data on collective living quarters (or non-household living arrangements) are still limited. The main source for non-household living arrangement data are population and housing censuses. The estimates are based on 347 unique data sources from 135 countries or areas, representing approximately 77 per cent of persons aged 65 or over globally (circa 2010), with reference dates ranging from 1960 to 2018. More

Database on Households and Living Arrangements of Older Persons 2022

7 September 2022

The Database on Households and Living Arrangements of Older Persons 2022 is a global compilation of indicators on the household composition and living arrangements of persons aged 60 or over. The indicators have been estimated using both tabulated data and household roster micro-data from censuses and household surveys. The 2022 database includes estimates from 209 Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys (MICS), representing 98 countries or areas, which were not available in the previous versions. The estimates are based on 982 unique data sources from 180 countries or areas, representing approximately 98 per cent of persons aged 60 or over globally, with reference dates ranging from 1960 to 2020. More

Age, Sex and You

25 October 2021

A programme of work at the University of Sheffield supports and promotes the sexual rights of older adults, part of which involves providing reliable information about sexual health and sexual well-being as we get older. Through research, older adults consistently highlight the lack of available information on sexual issues for the over 50s. The website Age, Sex and You has been designed to meet these needs. It provides general information, all in one place, about the sexual changes that can occur with older age. It can be difficult to talk about sex because it is a private topic, and sexual health campaigns rarely include older adults. As a result, there is a silence around the sexual issues as we get older and a need to improve sexual health awareness in this area. Age, Sex and You is a public health website that is free to use. It aims to support healthy sexual ageing for the millions of older adults to whom sex and intimacy are important. More

The Old School Anti-Ageism Clearing House

1 October 2021

Old School is a clearinghouse of free and carefully vetted resources to educate people about ageism and help dismantle it. The site contains blogs, books, articles, videos, speakers, and other tools (workshops, handouts, curricula etc.) that are accessible to the general public. The goal of the Old School Clearinghouse is to inform and help catalyze a movement to make ageism as unacceptable as any other kind of prejudice. We created it because movements need tools, best practices, and ways to share them. To that end, and because this work can be hard and lonely, in 2021 we began hosting quarterly, virtual Movement-Builders Convenings for people who identify as pro-aging/ anti-ageism advocates. A related Google Group enables participants to learn more about and support each other's work. More

UNECE Active Ageing Index

7 September 2021

Active ageing is a multidimensional concept referring to a situation where people continue to participate in the formal labour market, engage in unpaid productive activities (such as care provision to family members and volunteering), and live healthy, independent and secure lives as they age. Active ageing policies thus need to address this variety of dimensions: enable possibilities for longer working life, ensure social involvement, encourage healthy lifestyles, and provide opportunities for independent living for both men and women. Monitoring such policy implementation requires a comprehensive tool that encompasses the multitude of aspects of active ageing. The Active Ageing Index (AAI) is such a tool. It captures various facets of active ageing: it measures how much of older men and women’s potential to contribute to the economy and society is used and to what extent their living environment enables them. They contribute by working, volunteering, providing informal care, living independently, and staying healthy. AAI offers a flexible framework that can be applied to different countries and at national as well as subnational (regional and local) levels. It depicts the current situation and highlights the areas where future gains can be made. A country might have high results in one domain, for example employment, with relatively low results in another one, such as independent living. This signals that matters enabling independent living need particular attention. More

Presenting the first ever Healthy Ageing 50: Leaders transforming the world to be a better place to grow older

22 September 2022

Fifty individuals from around the world have been recognised as part of the first ever Healthy Ageing 50: leaders transforming the world to be a better place to grow older. The individuals were evaluated by an expert panel of reviewers from across international organizations with over 500 nominations received across all Sustainable Development Goal regions. More

Launch of the Healthy Ageing Collaborative: Working together to improve the lives of older people, their families, and communities

22 September 2022

Today, we are proud to announce the Healthy Ageing Collaborative, a multisectoral and multistakeholder network to advance implementation of the United Nations Decade of Healthy Ageing (2021-2030). More

The Healthy Ageing 50: A call for leaders transforming the world to be a better place in which to grow older

27 April 2022

A new United Nations (UN) Decade of Healthy Ageing initiative has been announced seeking to name and honour 50 leaders who are working to transform the world to be a better place in which to grow older. Nominations are now open for the Healthy Ageing 50: an initiative supported by the World Health Organization (WHO), the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA), and the World Economic Forum (the Forum). More

WHO establishes a Technical Advisory Group on Measurement, Monitoring and Evaluation of the UN Decade of Healthy Ageing

26 January 2022

The World Health Organization has established a new technical advisory group (TAG) on the measurement, monitoring and evaluation of the United Nations Decade of Healthy Ageing (2021-2030). This multidisciplinary group of 20 experts will review and assess evidence and provide recommendations to advance the measurement work related to the UN Decade of Healthy Ageing and its four action areas: a) change how we think, feel and act towards age and ageing, b) ensure that communities foster the abilities of older people, c) deliver person-centered integrated care and primary health services that are responsive to older people; and d) provide access to long-term care for older people who need it. More