On the International Day of Older Persons, October 1st, 2024, Geneva will host a significant event titled “Geneva Calls: A Pivotal Moment for Older Persons’ Rights,” at the Palais des Nations. This session, organized by the NGO Committee on Ageing in Geneva, in collaboration with Member States and the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), coincides with the 57th session of the Human Rights Council (HRC). It is a crucial forum for examining and discussing the progress and actionable strategies that Member States and stakeholders can employ to enhance the human rights of older persons.
This event not only aims to reflect on the transformative discussions of the 14th session of the Open-Ended Working Group on Ageing (OEWGA) but also to explore ways to sustain the momentum towards robust legal protections and the inclusion of older persons in all human rights frameworks. Furthermore, this occasion will underscore the ongoing global effort to recognize and safeguard the rights of older individuals, spotlighting the urgent need to combat ageism and promote an inclusive approach that respects and values the diversity of older persons. This event promises to be a vital step in advancing the discourse on older persons’ rights, emphasizing the necessity of an international legally binding instrument dedicated to their protection.
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OPENING
Alejandro BONILLA GARCIA, Chair of the NGO Committee on Ageing, Geneva.
Representative to UNOG of the International Federation on Ageing. President of
Greycells.
Mr. Volker Türk, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights.
Ms. Claudia Mahler, Independent Expert on the enjoyment of all human rights by older persons.
Elisa, year 7, international school of Geneva (Ecolint).
PANEL DISCUSSION
H.E. Ms. Anita PIPAN, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary. Permanent Representative of Slovenia to the United Nations Office at Geneva
H.E. Carlos Mario FORADORI. Representative of Argentina to the United Nations Office at Geneva
H.E. Francisca Elizabeth MÉNDEZ ESCOBAR, Permanent Representative of Mexico to the United Nations Office at Geneva.
Ms. Alana Margaret OFFICER. Unit Head for Demographic Change & Healthy Aging, World Health Organization
Mr. Kari TAPIOLA, Former Deputy Director General of the ILO.
MS PERNILLE FENGER, Director of The UNFPA Geneva Office.
Ms. Silvia PEREL-LEVIN, Vice-Chair of the NGO Committee on Ageing (Geneva), representative of the International Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse (INPEA).
H.E. Mr. Héctor Virgilio ALCÁNTARA. Permanent Representative of the Dominican Republic to the United Nations office at Geneva.
PHOTO GALLERY
