General Scenario for the whole series

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, we will keep fostering knowledge, empowerment, and partnerships by focusing this year on accessibility and its impact at the individual and collective levels. In this regard, accessibility should not only be associated to persons with disabilities but with 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 socio-economic 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. In this endeavor, UNITAR and its International Training Centers for Authorities and Leaders -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; and 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.

Background of the fifth event

Cultural rights are means to express the diversity of humanity through inter alia, values, beliefs, convictions, languages, knowledge and the arts, institutions, and ways of life; likewise, these rights also protect access to heritage and resources that allow such identification and development processes to take place.1

In the same vein, leisure activities can contribute to economic development, international understanding, peace, prosperity, and universal respect for, and observance of, human rights and fundamental freedoms.2

In this framework, access to cultural and leisure activities for older persons pursues social cohesion, which includes intergenerational dialogue, while fostering harmony and the promotion of mental and physical health, dignity, as well as prosper societies for all.

Therefore, targeted norms, mechanisms, public policies, as well as other initiatives in this regard should in a systematic manner encompass a structural transformation of those institutions and attitudes that reflect and entrench ageism.

Learning about the benefits and challenges coming from access to cultural and leisure activities of older persons is key to raising awareness and explore ways to move forward to better protect and promote their human rights.

This fifth event, will take place on Thursday, at 09:30 NY/ 15:30 CET, on the 23rd of November, 2023.