DATE: 6 May 2022 (Friday)
TIME: 15:00 - 16:00 CEST
In response to the two global megatrends of population ageing and increasing digitalisation, there are now multiple political commitments and frameworks that emphasise the importance of ICTs and digital technologies in enabling present and future generations of older people to continue to be and do what they value for as long as possible. For example, equal and equitable use of ICTs and digital technologies, if developed with universal design and accessibility principles in mind, can be valuable enablers to accelerate progress across all action areas of the UN Decade of Healthy Ageing (2021-2030): combatting ageism, age-friendly environments, integrated care, and long-term care.
Building on the outcomes of the UN International Day of Older Persons 2021 and the theme of this year’s World Telecommunication and Information Society Day 2022, this second year of the UN Decade of Healthy Ageing now presents an opportunity to move together from identifying why urgent action is required to ensure older people benefit from the rise of digital technologies, to how we can take action together in alignment with the Decade’s call for cross-sectoral collaboration to improve the lives of older people, their families, and their communities.
This high-level panel will bring together representatives from governments, international agencies, civil society organizations, academia, and the private sector to connect existing global commitments, frameworks, and resources with work already being done on the ground to leverage digital technologies to foster healthy ageing.
The primary objectives of this panel are to share experiences, lessons learned and strengthen collaboration and cooperation among all Parties and stakeholders involved to inspire further actions that could move the agenda of the Decade from ‘why’
to 'what' and 'how'. The session will also try to respond to questions including:
- Why should all stakeholders address the two global megatrends of population ageing and increasing digitalisation in their respective areas of work?
- What work is already being done, and are yet to be done, across diverse sectors to leverage digital technologies for healthy ageing?
- What tools and support are available or should be developed to accelerate implementation further and strengthen synergies between both new and existing initiatives?
- How can we all contribute to implementing the related global frameworks and commitments in this area?
Panellists
- Mr Malcolm Johnson - Deputy Secretary-General, International Telecommunication Union (ITU)
- Ms Roxana Widmer-Iliescu (Moderator) - Senior Coordinator for Digital Inclusion, ITU
- Ms Daniela Bas - Director, Division for Inclusive Social Development, United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA)
- Ms Camila Varela - General Director of the Age-friendly City initiative, Government of the City of Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Mr Alan Gancberg - Age-friendly City Operational Manager, Government of the City of Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Dr Michael W. Hodin - CEO, Global Coalition on Aging
- Ms Silvia Perel-Levin - Chair, NGO Committee on Ageing - Geneva
- Dr Anthony Giannoumis - Associate Professor, Oslo Metropolitan University