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.

UNITAR celebrates the outcome of this series as a multi-stakeholder effort together with 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, the INPEA, ILC; and GIA.

The recognition of this series as one of the achievements, under the pillar of partnerships linked to the Decade in the framework of the UN Inter-Agency Group on Ageing (IAGA) in 2022, represents a motivation to keep complimenting forces towards strengthening the capacity building.