Older persons and new technologies: a smart mix

A session at WSIS Forum 2019, Geneva

Monday, April 8 2019, from 4:30pm to 6:15pm, Room M, ITU

Information and communication technologies (ICT) have extraordinary potential to help with the response to the demands of a major demographic shift, including meeting the challenges of a shrinking workforce and improving healthcare and caregiving for older persons. Yet key challenges exist that need to be addressed, including accessibility of these technologies and digital skills for older persons. This panel will explore how older persons are using ICTs to ensure positive change for themselves and others, manage age-related challenges, and overcome risks, barriers and stereotypes. It will include speakers from a variety of stakeholder groups.

Programme

Agenda

Human Rights and Older People (Raymond Saner & Lichia Yiu, 2018, CSEND)

No international convention exists so far that would offer protection of older people. However, different initiatives have been launched to bring to the public’s attention that older people often experience severe discrimination (Ageism) and appalling situation in elderly care institutions and even at home in the context of family. The following institutions are contributing to the international efforts to create policies and international agreements that could lead to an international convention for the protection of older persons.

Article

9th Open-Ended Working Group on Aging (OEWGA), UN Headquarters, New York

Statements prepared by CSEND and presented during the 9th Open-Ended Working Group on Aging (OEWGA). held in New York on 23-27 July 2018 at UN Headquarters in New York City

Lifelong learning and gainful participation in the labour market and in enterprise development during different stages of the life course

Intergenerational cooperative housing for sustainable ageing and inclusive communities

World Health Organization, Department of Ageing and Life Course

The Department of Ageing and Life Course organises its work according to the 5 strategic priority areas identified in the Global strategy and action plan on ageing and health 2016-202 such as commitment to action, age-friendly environments, health systems that meet the needs of older people, long-term-care systems and data and research. http://www.who.int/ageing/en/

NGO Committee on Ageing, GENEVA

The overall goals and objectives of the NGO Committee are to further the United Nations’ mission of building a society for all ages; to raise awareness of ageing and intergenerational issues and ensure that they are adequately addressed by the UN System; to advocate for a new convention on the rights of older persons; and to influence global policy and monitor the implementation of existing commitments; http://ageingcommitteegeneva.org/events/

Seminar on “Basics on Aging”, joint event by NGO Committee on Ageing, ILO and WHO

UNECE Working Group on Aging

The Working Group on Ageing is an intergovernmental body which was first convened in 2008. It is made up of national focal points on ageing representing the member States of the UNECE region, along with representatives from international organizations, NGOs and academia. https://www.unece.org/population/wga.html

10th meeting of the Working Group on Ageing, 23rd November 2017, Geneva

Official meeting at the United Nations in Geneva, 23-24 November 2017 in the presence of government delegates of the UNECE region as well as different Civil Society Organisations.

Working Group metting on Ageing

MIPPA Meets SDG1 Responses to Old-Age Poverty in the Unece Region

The side event provided an overview of old-age poverty in UNECE member countries and its determinants. Inclusive policies reducing the risk of old-age poverty and promoting active ageing were shared by Austria, France and Norway and the important role of civil society in addressing old-age poverty in the region were illustrated.

MIPAA Meeting

National Interdisciplinary Institute of Ageing. (NIIA), Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu, People’s Republic of China

NIIA organized the first China (Sichuan) Senior Welfare and Wellness Industry Development Summit Programme, on 26-28 October 2017, Chengu- China.

Presentation by Raymond Saner titled “ Silver Tsunami or Silver Opportunities? Platforms for Engagement.

Presentation

UN Library Event: “How to Ensure Ageing with Dignity?” (2017)

CSEND is an independent, project-financed, non-profit research & development organization founded in 1993 in Geneva and accredited by ECOSOC with special consultative status to the United Nations. CSEND’s goal is to enhance collaboration between social, economic and political actors and to strengthen global governance through multi-stakeholder negotiations and inter-generational dialogue.

UN Library Talk: Roundtable on “How to Ensure Ageing with Dignity?”, 23 May 2017 – A Contribution to the Implementation of SDG3 of the “2030 Sustainable Development Goals”

Announcement

Programme

Summative Report

Presentation Notes by Hans Peter Graf

The First China (Sichuan) Senior Welfare and Wellness Industry Development Summit Programme

The First China (Sichuan) Senior Welfare and Wellness Industry Development Summit Programme, Chengdu, 26th October 2017

Presentation given by Raymond Saner titled “Silver Tsunami or Silver Opportunities? Platforms for Engagement”

Presentation

Swiss Executives as Business Diplomats in the New Europe: Evidence from Swiss Pharmaceutical and Agro-Industrial Global Companies

Swiss Executives as Business Diplomats in the New Europe: Evidence from Swiss Pharmaceutical and Agro-Industrial Global Companies. 2005. Organisational Dynamics, Vol 34(3): 298-312.

This paper discusses the situation facing Switzerland for being in the middle of the European continent surrounded by EU member countries but at the same time being isolated due to its status as a non-EU member state. Switzerland’s relations with the EU have oscillated between confrontation and mutual accommodation thus requiring many rounds of bilateral negotiations and the creation of an alternative alliance.

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