UNITAR through its Division for People and its CIFAL Global Network, UNDESA, UNFPA, IOM, UNWOMEN, UNHCR, OHCHR, ITU, ILO, and WHO with its Global Network for Age-friendly Cities and Communities, together with the Group of Friends of the Human Rights of Older Persons -conformed by States, represented by their Permanent Missions to the United Nations in 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 this initiative as a contribution to inclusive learning in the framework of the UN Decade of Healthy Ageing and the implementation of the Madrid Action Plan.

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 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 for the purpose of strengthening 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, programs, projects, plans and campaigns have been developed to implement and follow up the commitments undertaken at 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 place elderly people in a strategic position for supporting this endeavour. 

The event is open to different actors interested in Ageing and the rights of older persons, including: 

• Public sector officials, policy makers and practitioners
• International Organizations
• Civil Society
• National Human Rights Institutions
• Academia
• Private sector

Video recordings of the series are available at UNITAR’s SDP youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/UNITARDivisionforPeopleandSocialInclusion/ featured as well as on the Decade of Ageing platform: https://www.decadeofhealthyageing.org. After the celebration of the events, those participants who joined them will be receiving the respective video recording together with takeaway messages. This information will serve as a basis to keep mainstreaming knowledge towards strengthening the protection of older persons.

Participants who want to receive a certificate of participation need to fulfil two criteria: 

a) Having participated at least 75% of the time per event. (To be measured by the system)

These series are open and free to All. For the 5 virtual roundtables that constitute the series, just one registration on Zoom is needed. Participants will receive the link for each virtual roundtable one day before the event. Additional and specific information on each event will also be shared!

Find below the concept notes, takeaways documents, video-recording of events, and the annual reports clustered of the Series. 

• 1st Event - The Right to Work for Older Migrants, Refugees, and Stateless Persons. Wednesday 14.05.2025, 15:30-17:00. Register here! Webinar Registration - Zoom
• 2nd Event - Access to health systems for older persons in conflict areas. Thursday, 19.06.2025, 15:30-17:00. Register here! https://zoom.us/j/98348527009
• 3rd Event - The Right to Science and Access to Technologies for Older Persons. Thursday, 11.09.2025, 15:30-17:00. Register here! https://zoom.us/j/99450547883
• 4th Event - Accountability and Redress in Cases of Intersectional Discrimination Against Older Persons. Thursday, 16.10.2025, 15:30-17:00. Register here! https://zoom.us/j/98109947777
• 5th Event - Increased Demographics, Urbanism and the Right to Food for Older Persons. Thursday, 13.11.2025, 15:30-17:00. Register here! https://zoom.us/j/92492093819

Are you interested in exploring possible synergies to develop learning initiatives on Ageing and Older Persons? Contact us! 

Mme. Analucía Jácome, Senior Project Leader and Human Rights Expert, SDP, Division for People and Social Inclusion, UNITAR, at analucia.jacome@unitar.org