UNITAR and its CIFAL Global Network, UNDESA, UNFPA, IOM, UNWOMEN, UNHCR, WHO, OHCHR, ITU and ILO, together with 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 Abuses, the International Longevity Centre; the NGO Committee on Ageing Geneva, and the Harvard Law School Project on Disability, have joined efforts to put together these initiatives as a contribution to inclusive learning in the framework of the UN Decade of Healthy Ageing.

After having successfully taken stock of the current scenario of ageing and the human rights of older persons through the first round of this Series in 2022, we will keep fostering knowledge, empowerment, and partnerships by focusing this year on accessibility and its impact on the individual and collective levels.

In this regard, accessibility should not only be associated to persons with disabilities but to a wide spectrum of barriers that can affect different generations while ageing. Human dignity as the cornerstone for better societies is grounded on fair parameters for all, including, access to justice, labour markets, political participation, health, and social care services, as well as cultural and leisure activities.

In our series, we view national, regional, and international standards, as well as public policies, programs, and other initiatives as key learning elements. In the same vein, we consider that heightening awareness of ICT/digital accessibility implementation from design is relevant to better understand how older persons can benefit from digital products and services as means to actively participate in political, cultural, and socioeconomic activities. By involving diverse stakeholders as co-sponsors, experts, speakers, and attendees, we aim to enhance discussions and build stronger synergies towards achieving our common goal.

The human rights of older persons and frontier issues, such as the demographic worldwide scenario, gender, human mobility, digital divide, and climate change, will continue as the heart of our discussions.

UNITAR and its CIFAL Global Network, UNDESA, UNFPA, IOM, UNWOMEN, UNHCR, WHO, OHCHR, ITU and ILO, together with 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 Abuses, the International Longevity Centre, the NGO Committee on Ageing Geneva; and the Harvard Law School Project on Disability, have joined efforts to put together these initiatives as a contribution to inclusive learning in the framework of the UN Decade of Healthy Ageing.

• Only those participants who join us via Zoom, at least 75% of the time of the event, could have access to a certificate of participation by UNITAR. The system will automatically be measuring connection time per session.
• You can send questions or suggestions in advance to sdp@unitar.org.
• After the celebration of each event, those participants who joined them will be receiving the respective video recording together with takeaway messages. 

UNITAR and its CIFAL Global Network, UNDESA, UNFPA, IOM, UNWOMEN, UNHCR, WHO, ITU and OHCHR, together with the Groups of States Friends of Older Persons in New York and Geneva, respectively, INPEA, ILC; and GIA, have joined efforts to put together these Virtual Roundtable Series as a contribution to inclusive learning through enriching dialogues with different stakeholders

Throughout the years, different stakeholders have struggled for the effective promotion and protection of the human rights of older persons. As a result, landmark steps have been taken at the international level to strengthen the protection of this group, including the UN Principles for older persons (1991), the adoption of the Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing in 2002, the creation of the Open-Ended Working Group to strengthen the protection of the human rights of older persons (2010), the creation of the mandate for the UN Independent Expert on the enjoyment of all human rights by older persons (2013,) and the UN Decade of Healthy Ageing (2021-2030), as well as the adoption of specific Resolutions in the framework of the UN General Assembly and the UN Human Rights Council.

While remarkable progresses in particular mechanisms, programmes, projects, plans and campaigns have been developed to implement and follow up the commitments undertaken at a local, national, regional, and international level, several challenges remain towards the full enjoyment of the rights of older persons. Problems of ageism, together with gender and other causes of discrimination, as well as the intergenerational gap, have increased due to different frontier issues, in particular new technologies, human mobility, and climate change. In addition, there are still pending tasks to ensure the dignity and human rights of this group, particularly in accessing health and long-term care, life-long learning, the labour market as well as the prevention of abuse and violence. In this regard, an integral approach is needed to maximize synergies and identify interlinkages across existing and future initiatives. A better understanding of missing elements can be useful to provide the necessary attention, resources, information, options for integration, and services for older persons, including those who are migrants or refugees. The experience coming from ageing places elderly people in a strategic position for supporting this endeavour.

1. Better understanding the current scenario on the thematic.
2. Learning from some good practices and challenges, including policies and strategies, from different stakeholders.
3. Identifying the linkages between the rights of older persons and frontier issues.
4. Recognizing possible synergies for strengthening the protection as well as promoting the free, active, and meaningful participation of older persons.