Upcoming Global Events

"Age-Friendly Cities and SDG 11 – A Template for Everyone", 13 July 2023

SDG11 calls for cities and human settlements to become inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable ensuring equal access for all. The Age-Friendly Cities approach offers a framework to provide adequate and affordable housing, basic services as well as to upgrade slums. Spearheaded by the World Health Organization, approximately 1500 cities and communities already use these principles. The right to live in safety and dignity is at the heart of Age-Friendly Cities. A decent home and a healthy urban environment are fundamental human rights. As reiterated by the United Nations’ Independent Expert on the enjoyment of all human rights by older persons, States have the responsibility to promote inclusive, age-friendly environments and provide support services promoting dignity, autonomy and independence. These enable older adults to remain in their home, taking into account their will and preferences. Innovation and infrastructure for an age-friendly city is essential. This may include: integrated human settlement planning, accessible transport systems for all, road safety measures, green and public spaces, climate change mitigation and adaptation, disaster risk reduction, as well as community support and health services, communication and information. Older persons must not be ignored nor neglected as Governments implement SDG11. Our goal is to secure enthusiasm and resources to ensure implementation of SDG11 so that older persons will not be left behind.

Commission on the Status of Women, 6-17 March 2023

Priority theme: Innovation and technological change, and education in the digital age for achieving gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls.

https://www.unwomen.org/en/csw/csw67-2023

Open-ended Working Group on Ageing, 3-6 April 2023

Priority theme: Right to health and access to health services and social inclusion. This Open-ended Working Group is tasked with determining whether or not there should be an international legal instrument to protect the rights of older persons.

https://social.un.org/ageing-working-group/

The Stakeholder Group on Ageing (SGA), of which GPNYC is a member

Will start preparing for SGA's participation in all the processes leading up to and including the High Level Political Forum that will take place 10-19 July 2023 - the theme will be "Accelerating the recovery from the coronavirus disease and the full implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development at all levels." The Sustainable Development Goals to be reviewed in-depth are: Goal 6 on clean water and sanitation, 7 on affordable and clean energy, 9 on industry, innovation and infrastructure, 11 on sustainable cities and communities, and 17 on partnerships for the Goals. https://hlpf.un.org/2023

The SGA is likely to focus on goals 11 (where older persons are specifically mentioned) and goal 17 in its annual discussion paper to be submitted to the HLPF. All of these hearings will be on live UN WebTV. https://media.un.org/en/webtv/