UN International Day of Older Persons 2021: Digital Equity for All Ages

International Day of Older Persons 2021: Digital Equity for All Ages All the knowledge you need to learn more about and take action on digital equity for all ages.

Learn more about the UN International Day of Older Persons 2021

What is #UNIDOP?

On 14 December 1990, the United Nations General Assembly (by resolution 45/106) designated 1 October the International Day of Older Persons (#UNIDOP). On UNIDOP, stakeholders around the world come together to highlight the important contributions that older people make to society and raise awareness of the joys and challenges of ageing in today’s world.

Over the next decade, the number of older persons worldwide is projected to increase to 1.4 billion persons. All regions will see an increase in the size of the older population between 2019 and 2050, but this change will be the greatest and most rapid in low- and middle-income countries. UNIDOP is an important opportunity to:

bring attention to this social transformation;
highlight knowledge that has been generated linked to this year's UNIDOP theme; and
spark action that can contribute to achieving the vision of the UN Decade of Healthy Ageing: a world where all people can live long, healthy lives.

Why digital equity?

The United Nations International Day of Older Persons 2021 theme was “Digital Equity for All Ages”, which highlights the need to ensure that older people can meaningfully and safely participate in the digital world.

Societies across the globe have undergone an unprecedented digital transformation over the last few decades, with the COVID-19 pandemic further strengthening this trend. The increasing role that information and communication technologies such as computers, smartphones, and the Internet play in daily lives have the potential to benefit our lives and accelerate progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

However, to harness the opportunities this transformation offers, we need to ensure that no one is left behind. For example, one-half of the global population still do not have access to the Internet, with the starkest differences reflected between high- and low-income countries. Moreover, women and older people experience digital inequity to a greater extent than other groups in society. Digital technologies often do not fully consider the needs of marginalised and minority groups, and their ability to access and safely use such technologies are not yet fully protected in practice, policies, and governance.

This year’s UNIDOP is an opportunity to emphasise that ensuring the digital inclusion and rights of older people is key to foster healthy ageing.

Find out more about digital equity

How can I get involved?

You can get involved with the UN International Day of Older Persons by:

Sharing what you know or have experienced about digital equity with the global community through the Decade Platform;
Learning more about digital equity for healthy ageing by exploring resources produced across the United Nations and around the world; and
Watching the recordings of the various online events organised by the United Nations and civil society to mark the day.

Share your knowledge Learn more about digital equity Register for the UNIDOP events

Contact us

For more information about a specific event, please contact the organisers directly by going to the event's Platform page linked below.

For information about the UN Decade of Healthy Ageing and its knowledge exchange Platform, please contact:

Email: [email protected]
Twitter:

Events

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WHO/PAHO/ITU Webinar: The Role of Digital Technologies on Aging and Health

7 December 2021

There were 737 million people, approximately 9.3% of the world population, aged 65 or over in 2020. Digital technologies are poised to lead the transformation in the healthcare sector and play a significant role in meeting the healthcare needs of an aging population. This webinar will explore the opportunities and challenges digital technologies are bringing to the healthcare field. It will bring together experts to discuss the importance of digital health, innovation, and inclusion.More

UNECE Policy Seminar on Ageing in the Digital Era

24 November 2021

Digitalisation holds important promises for ageing populations. These include innovations, efficiency gains and cost-savings, including in the health and care sectors, the labour market, lifelong learning and social participation, as well as assistance and gains in autonomy and independence for older persons, whose physical and cognitive abilities are impaired. The 4th UNECE Policy Seminar on Ageing will focus on three policy challenges associated with ageing in the digital era: the need to enhance digital skills and literacy, the need to ensure access to services that increasingly move online, and the protection of human rights. The policy seminar will provide space for the exchange of experience between policy makers, civil society and the research community across UNECE member States.More

UN International Day of Older Persons 2021 (Vienna Event) - Digital Equity for All Ages: Connect, Respect and Protect Older People in Digital Technologies

1 October 2021

This year, the International Day of Older Persons (#UNIDOP) will provide a platform for multistakeholder dialogue and serve as a call to action....More

UN International Day of Older Persons 2021 (New York Event) - Digital Equity for All Ages

1 October 2021

The United Nations International Day of Older Persons 2021 theme “Digital Equity for All Ages” predicates the need for access and meaningful...More

WSIS TalkX: UN International Day of Older Persons 2021 - Digital Equity for All Ages

30 September 2021

On October 1, 2021, the United Nations International Day of Older Persons (IDOP) will be celebrated with the theme, “Digital Equity for All...More

Kicking off a conversation about ageism in Europe & Central Asia

27 September 2021

Join us for the regional launch of the first UN Global Report on Ageism. This online event will be broadcast live from Belgrade, Serbia on 27...More

Human Rights in Older Age: Towards the Elimination of Ageism and Age Discrimination

21 September 2021

Ageism is a global phenomenon, which has serious consequences for individuals and society at large. According to the UN Global report on...More

Enabling Knowledge for Healthy Ageing: Launching the UN Decade of Healthy Ageing Platform

7 September 2021

What do we need to know to improve the lives of older people, their families, and their communities? Through an interactive and engaging discussion,...More

Publications

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Ageing in a digital world - from vulnerable to valuable

17 May 2021 / Reports

By 2050, the number of people aged 65 years or older is projected to reach 1.5 billion. "Ageing in a digital world - from vulnerable to valuable" is the first- ever report to be produced by ITU to raise awareness in the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) sector on the importance of being prepared to respond to the needs and requirements of ageing populations. This report addresses the two global megatrends that reinforce each other: the emergence of digital technologies and ageing populations, both of which are predicted to bring about important socio-economic changes worldwide. The report aims to help ITU members and other stakeholders to understand digital opportunities and take advantage of new possibilities for economic, social and political growth from increased digital inclusion and age-friendly digital environments. It highlights trends, identifies good practices and possible solutions, and presents guidelines that can leverage the contributions of older generations, reduce their age-related vulnerability and foster their socio-economic development to achieve healthier and wealthier inclusive societies. It focuses on the role that ICTs can play in ensuring digitally inclusive communities in which older persons are active participants and valuable contributors. More

Ageing in the Digital Era - UNECE Policy Brief on Ageing No. 26

7 July 2021 / Policy Brief

The 21st Century is characterized by increasing digitalisation. As more and more everyday services move online, ‘offliners’ risk being excluded in an era that embraces fast-changing innovation in digital technology. This predominantly concerns older persons who are less digitally connected than youth who were born into the digital age. The accelerated digitalization during the COVID-19 pandemic has further emphasized these inequalities, as many older persons struggled to access essential goods and services - from online vaccination appointment registrations, to pensions, food and medication during lockdowns - if they could not access them online. Our dependence on digital technologies during the pandemic has therefore focused policy attention on the importance of digital inclusion. This UNECE Policy Brief on Ageing in the Digital Era examines this ‘digital divide’ between generations and highlights policy priorities for digital inclusion of older persons. More

Ageism in artificial intelligence for health

9 February 2022 / Policy Brief

The WHO policy brief Ageism in Artificial Intelligence for Health examines the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in medicine and public health for older people, including the conditions in which AI can exacerbate or introduce new forms of ageism. The brief presents legal, non-legal and technical measures that can be used to minimize the risk of ageism in AI and maximize AI’s benefits for older people as these technologies become more commonly used across the world. More

Leveraging digital technologies for social inclusion - UN/DESA Policy Brief #92

17 February 2021 / Policy Brief

COVID-19 is accelerating the pace of digital transformation. In so doing, it is opening the opportunities for advancing social progress and fostering social inclusion, while simultaneously exacerbating the risk of increased inequalities and exclusion of those who are not digitally connected. Leaving no one behind also means leaving no one offline. Enabling affordable access to the Internet for everyone and investing in their digital skills is critical. Of the $428 billion estimated cost to get everyone online by 2030, around $40 billion should be addressed to developing Information and Communications Technology (ICT) skills and content. Governments should design targeted measures to address the barriers that vulnerable groups face in overcoming the digital divide. Governments, in cooperation with relevant stakeholders, need to develop a commonly agreed framework for closing the digital divide and support efforts towards the digital inclusion of disadvantaged and marginalized groups. The four key dimensions of such a framework are: access, affordability, skills, and awareness / relevance of online content. A holistic approach, drawing on multi-stakeholder partner-ships, is needed in the design of inclusive ICTs, Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) policy, and regulatory environments that facilitate digital inclusion. More

Nature Ageing: It takes knowledge to transform the world to be a better place to grow older

8 September 2021 / General Articles

In this Nature Ageing World View by World Health Organization Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, learn more about how the Platform enables the collaborative knowledge sharing crucial to achieving the UN Decade of Healthy Ageing's vision: a world in which all people can live long, healthy lives. The ultimate decisions about how to foster healthy aging rest with national governments and civil society. Being able to access the wealth of diverse knowledge in different languages and relevant to different disciplines and contexts can facilitate that process. Knowledge needs will evolve, and the Platform will evolve in response. The Decade Platform works to bring together diverse knowledge to improve the lives of older people, their families and communities, now and in the future. Transforming our world to improve the quality of life for aging populations is a moral, social and economic imperative for current and future generations. The Sustainable Development Goals provide the vision, the UN Decade of Healthy Aging the framework and the Decade Platform the vehicle for ensuring that none of us are left behind as we age. More

UN Decade of Healthy Ageing advocacy brief: social isolation and loneliness among older people

30 July 2021 / Policy Brief

This advocacy brief on social isolation and loneliness among older people highlights the growing public health and policy concern about these issues, which have been made more salient by the COVID-19 pandemic. Jointly published by the World Health Organization, the International Telecommunications Union, the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs, and UN Women, the brief summarizes the scale, impact, and harms of social isolation and loneliness among older people, and outlines what can be done to reduce them. This brief also describes several policy windows that offer opportunities for addressing social isolation and loneliness among older people and proposes a three-point global strategy for tackling these issues. More

UN Global report on ageism

18 March 2021 / Reports

The Global report on ageism outlines a framework for action to reduce ageism including specific recommendations for different actors (e.g. government, UN agencies, civil society organizations, private sector). It brings together the best available evidence on the nature and magnitude of ageism, its determinants and its impact. It outlines what strategies work to prevent and counter ageism, identifies gaps and proposes future lines of research to improve our understanding of ageism. More

Understanding the Role of Internet Access on Health and Health Equity toward Healthy Ageing in the Western Pacific Region

2 September 2021 / Reports

Digital technology is gaining great importance as a health tool in today’s world, especially in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. The lockdowns during the pandemic have highlighted how important access to online services is for vulnerable populations, especially older people. Thus, it is crucial to examine the level of digital access enjoyed by older people from different socio-economic groups and provide robust evidence on the issue. Using cross-sectional and longitudinal data from 40 municipalities in nationwide Japan and two local regions in Myanmar, this report finds evidence of a strong association between frequent Internet use and good health and well-being, mainly low depression risk, high self-rated health, greater capability for activities of daily living (ADL), and well-connected social relationships. These associations were not affected by income, educational attainment, or other socio-economic factors. The report also provides clear evidence of the digital divide among older people belonging to different socio-economic groups and residential regions in both countries. Bridging this divide should be a priority of policymakers. As Internet use becomes more and more essential in our day-to-day lives, people left behind in the digital wave are likely to face many disadvantages, physically, mentally, and socially. The evidence this report provides of the divide in digital technologies and health among older people is a stepping-stone for future work to investigate public health problems emerging from the aftermath of the current pandemic at local, national, and global levels. More

United Nations Secretary-General's Roadmap for Digital Cooperation

11 June 2020 / Reports

The world is shifting from analog to digital faster than ever before, further exposing us to the vast promise and peril of new technologies. While the digital era has brought society many incredible benefits, we also face many challenges such as growing digital divides, cyber threats, and human rights violations online. This report lays out a roadmap in which all stakeholders play a role in advancing a safer, more equitable digital world, one which will lead to a brighter and more prosperous future for all. The implementation of the Secretary-General’s Roadmap is led by the United Nations Office of the Envoy on Technology. More

WHO Baseline Report for the Decade of Healthy Ageing

17 December 2020 / Reports

The Baseline Report for the Decade of Healthy Ageing 2021−2030 addresses five issues: 1) Introduces Healthy Ageing, the Decade’s actions and enablers, and a pathway to accelerate impact by 2030; 2) Where are we in 2020? The report provides a first-time baseline for healthy ageing worldwide; 3) What improvements could we expect by 2030? It documents progress and scenarios for improvement; 4) How can we accelerate impact on the lives of older people? It shows how older people and stakeholders can together optimize functional ability; 5) The next steps including opportunities to boost collaboration and impact by 2023, the next reporting period. More

Working Together to Promote Digital Inclusion for Older People

27 October 2021 / General Articles

Digital inclusion has become a social determinant of health, reshaping the way we access opportunities, information, products and services. Leveraging technology to invest in the health system and create age-friendly digital environments can yield benefits for older people, the economy and society at large. This research article hosted and authored by the WHO Collaborating Centre for Digital Health outlines how the promotion of digital inclusion for older people requires multisectoral and intersectoral collaborations to overcome the barriers of digital inclusion, such as psychosocial, physical, health and financial barriers, ensuring that older people can meaningfully and safely engage in the digital world. Such efforts can contribute to achieving the vision of healthy ageing “Turn Silver into Gold.” More

Multimedia

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Ageism in artificial intelligence for health

9 February 2022 / Infographics

These infographics made for social media summarise the key points of the WHO Policy Brief Ageism in Artificial Intelligence for Health. Over 3 social media tiles, the graphics outline 1) what ageism in artificial intelligence (AI) is, 2) what the risks of ageism in AI for older people are, and 3) 8 ways to maximize the benefits of AI for older people. More

Online Global Dialogue on Digital Inclusion for All: Shaping our Digital Future

16 February 2021 / Videos

By adopting the 2030 UN Agenda for Sustainable Development, Member States committed to achieving sustainable development for all nations and peoples and for all segments of society. The Agenda is based on the ideals of inclusiveness and shared prosperity and Member States pledged to leave no one behind and to endeavor to reach the furthest behind first. Digital technologies – the internet, mobile phones, and all the other tools to collect, store, analyze, and share information digitally – have spread rapidly in much of the world. Many of us depend on them to work, to educate the young, and reach out to our friends and family. These technologies have enabled digital public services, digital payments, online learning, telehealth, online shopping and more. However, about half the world’s people access and use the Internet, the other half do not. Millions of people cannot work or go to school remotely or access technology and its benefits. Many of the unconnected live in least developed countries, landlocked developing countries and small island developing states, and within countries in rural and remote areas or urban impoverished areas. Digital divide still persists between more and less connected countries, communities, and people. Enabling all the world’s people to access and use digital technologies (the Internet including mobile technologies) – and closing digital divides – remains a challenge that needs to be addressed if the world community is to achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030. UNDESA’s Division for Inclusive Social Development, in partnership with ITU, organized an online global dialogue on “Digital Inclusion for All”. The event gathered high-level technical experts, as well as representatives of Governments, civil society, academic institutions, and the private sector to discuss the urgency of addressing digital inclusion for all. More

Video: Ageing in a digital world – from vulnerable to valuable

11 May 2021 / Videos

This video presents the key messages from the ITU report 'Ageing in a digital world - from vulnerable to valuable'. The report aims to help ITU members and other stakeholders to understand the digital opportunities and take advantage of new possibilities of economic, social and political growth for societies as a result of increasing digital inclusion and the creation of age-friendly digital environments. It highlights trends, identifies good practices and possible solutions, and presents concrete guidelines that can leverage the contributions of older generations, reduce their vulnerability and foster socio-economic development to achieve healthier and wealthier inclusive societies. It focuses on the role that Information and Communications Technologies (ICTs) can play in ensuring digitally inclusive communities where older persons are active participants. More

What is the UN Decade of Healthy Ageing Platform?

30 October 2020 / Videos

The UN Decade of Healthy Ageing envisions a world in which all people can live long, healthy lives. To make this vision a reality, stakeholders need access to a wide range of knowledge produced across disciplines, sectors, stakeholders, and regions. The Platform for the UN Decade of Healthy Ageing is a collaborative digital space that supports the Decade by making diverse experiences, expertise, and knowledge on ageing available for everyone, all in one place. To find out more about the Platform, watch this animated video. More

WHO Regional Directors on the UN Decade of Healthy Ageing Platform

15 September 2021 / Videos

Listen to the WHO Regional Directors for Africa, the Americas, the Eastern Mediterranean, Europe, South-East Asia, and the Western Pacific as they reflect on the importance of knowledge sharing and collaboration to foster healthy ageing, and invite stakeholders to join the UN Decade of Healthy Ageing through the Platform. More

Databases & Repositories

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WHO Ageing Data Portal

21 April 2021

The WHO Ageing Data Portal, part of the UN Decade of Healthy Ageing Platform, brings together data on available global indicators relevant to monitoring the health and well-being of people aged 60 years and over. Through maps, charts and tables, the portal offers tailored options for visualization and analysis of the data. This information will strengthen the visibility of older people, help inform action to improve health and well-being in countries in line with global, regional and national commitments. The Data Portal also offers detailed country profiles to help provide more information at the national level. More

WHO Global Database of Age-friendly Practices

20 April 2021

This database provides a searchable list of age-friendly practices implemented by members of the WHO Global Network for Age-friendly Cities and Communities, and beyond. In practical terms, age-friendly environments are free from physical and social barriers and supported by policies, systems, services, products and technologies that promote health and build and maintain physical and mental capacity across the life course; and enable people, even when experiencing capacity loss, to continue to do the things they value. More

WHO Global Dementia Observatory Knowledge Exchange Platform

5 May 2021

The Global Dementia Observatory (GDO) Knowledge Exchange Platform contains key resources to support the implementation of the Global action plan on the public heath response to dementia 2017-2025 and its seven action areas. The GDO KE Platform enhances countries’ and communities’ response to dementia. It provides a space for stakeholders to share resources (e.g. policies, guidelines, case studies and examples of good practice) available at no-cost, to facilitate mutual learning and promote the exchange of knowledge in the area of dementia. More

Toolkits & Training Programmes

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Be Healthy, Be Mobile: A handbook on how to implement mAgeing

1 January 2018

Health information, advice, and reminders delivered through mobile phones can encourage healthy behaviors and help older people to improve and maintain their intrinsic capacity. The WHO mobile health for Ageing (mAgeing) programme has been developed as one of the tools to support the implementation of WHO guidelines on community-level interventions to manage declines in intrinsic capacity – also known as the ICOPE Guidelines. The mAgeing programme can support routine care offered by health care professionals by supporting self-care and self-management. The newly published Handbook helps countries develop, run, monitor, and evaluate the mAgeing programme within their own contexts, using basic technology common to most mobile phones. Messages within the handbook are based on the latest WHO guidelines on community-level interventions to manage declines in intrinsic capacity (ICOPE guidelines), and built on behavioral change theory. The handbook was developed by the Be He@lthy, Be Mobile initiative, a partnership led by WHO and the International Telecommunications Union (ITU), and developed in consultation with a wide range of external stakeholders.More

Global Campaign to Combat Ageism Toolkit

18 March 2021

This toolkit was designed for the Global Campaign to Combat Ageism, an initiative part of the UN Decade of Healthy Ageing (2021-2030). The toolkit will equip you with the necessary resources to learn about ageism, initiate your own conversations about this important topic in your community, organize events to raise awareness, and spread the word through social media to create #AWorld4AllAges.More

Healthy Ageing for Impact in the 21st Century: Global Online Leaders Training

20 April 2021

In the 21st century, demographic shifts are making a significant impact on the structure of populations, bringing forth the phenomenon of an ageing population. Healthy Ageing for Impact in the 21st Century gives participants the building blocks to become future leaders in this critical area. This course will provide participants with the competencies needed to work on this agenda as part of the UN Decade of Healthy Ageing (2021-2030), showcasing that societal change for Healthy Ageing can be achieved at scale in an impactful manner. More

ITU Academy Course: Information and communication technologies (ICTs) for better ageing and livelihood in the digital landscape

29 October 2021

This training course provides valuable information on how to address the digital inclusion of older persons in the context of two global megatrends: an ageing population and the exponential rise in digital technologies. It also provides guidelines, tools and resources that aim to achieve healthier and wealthier inclusive digital societies globally. Through its three modules, the course includes holistic information on a range of key topics such as the challenges and opportunities arising from these megatrends; key elements to be considered in the process of digital inclusion; the importance of building inclusive and age-friendly environments; accessibility requirements and standards involved in developing accessible and inclusive ICTs; as well as relevant policy and strategy recommendations.More