Welcome to the United Nations
As the global population ages at an accelerating pace, the need to prioritize healthy ageing has become increasingly urgent. On 7 April 2025, the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA) and the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (UN ESCWA), in collaboration with the Global Coalition on Aging (GCoA), will host a high-level side event at the margins of the 58th Session of the Commission on Population and Development (CPD58). The event, titled “Ensuring Healthy Ageing for All: Challenges and Opportunities in an Ageing World” will bring together global experts, policymakers, and advocates to explore inclusive solutions for ageing with dignity, health, and security.
The event will take place from 13:15 to 14:30 (EDT) in Conference Room 9 at UN Headquarters in New York, and will be streamed live via UN Web TV.
Why Healthy Ageing Matters
By 2025, one in six people globally will be aged 60 or older. Ensuring healthy ageing for all is no longer a niche issue—it is a global imperative. Healthy ageing is a lifelong process, requiring sustained attention to physical, mental, and social well-being across the life course. Yet, significant challenges persist: unequal access to healthcare, rising financial insecurity, digital exclusion, and pervasive ageism continue to hinder the ability of many older persons to live healthy, fulfilling lives.
The event will highlight these realities while offering a platform to exchange experiences and strategies that can help societies better support their ageing populations. The side event will feature welcome and opening remarks by:
Amal Abou Rafeh, Chief, Programme on Ageing, UN DESA
Mike Hodin, CEO, Global Coalition on Aging
Michael Gort, Ambassador and Deputy Permanent Representative of Canada to the UN
Ana Jiménez de la Hoz, Deputy Permanent Representative of Spain to the UN
A moderated panel discussion will follow, led by Robin Fenley, Vice-Chair of the NGO Committee on Ageing. The panel will include:
Manuel Veguín Garcia, IMSERSO, Spain and Standing Working Group on Ageing
Dr. John Beard, Irene Diamond Professor of Productive Ageing, CUMC
Margaret Gillis, Founding President, International Longevity Centre Canada
Simone Cecchini, Chief, CELADE – Population Division, ECLAC
The event will aim to:
- Raise awareness of the critical challenges and opportunities in achieving healthy ageing for all.
- Discuss policy recommendations to improve access to healthcare, social protection, and inclusion for older persons.
- Contribute to ongoing efforts to implement global frameworks such as the Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing and the UN Decade of Healthy Ageing (2021–2030).
The side event is open to representatives of UN Member States, civil society, experts, and other stakeholders. It is co-sponsored by the Permanent Missions of Canada and Spain, with support from IMERSO, UNFPA, WHO, UN ECLAC, the Standing Working Group on Ageing, and the International Longevity Centre Canada.
By placing healthy ageing at the center of the global development agenda, this event will help ensure that all people, at all ages, are empowered to thrive.
