Promoting civil and political participation of older persons
An international exchange
18 April 2024, online
Today, it is largely taken for granted that citizens have a say in public decisions, have access to public goods and services and can exercise their right to vote. At the same time, older people in many countries face obstacles when they want to exercise their civil and political rights. Age discrimination also plays a role here.
With the adoption of the Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing (MIPAA) by the United Nations (UN) in 2002, governments committed to ensuring that older people can fully enjoy their civil and political rights. In 2022, the states of the UN Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) reaffirmed this commitment in a ministerial declaration.
But how are the guaranteed rights of older people implemented at national and local level? The online event presented examples of how older people are exercising their right to civil and political participation and taking part in public decision-making processes in their immediate living environment.
The online event was part of the series "An engaged civil society as engine for an age-friendly society: an international exchange". The kick-off conference focussed on the voice of older people at the United Nations. The series comprises a total of six online events until the end of 2026 and gives representatives of civil society the opportunity to engage in a dialogue with non-governmental organisations from countries in the UNECE region and to learn about the international frameworks.