Live From New York: the IFA at the UN in June

IFA – Live from New York

Post by Dr. Sandra Timmermann, IFA UN Representative and Editor of Live From New York.

Please e-mail Dr. Timmermann with any questions or comments.

IFA in Spotlight by Sponsoring UN Briefing on Global Ageing

“Society is being transformed by population ageing, but there are both challenges and opportunities that lie ahead,” said Greg Shaw, the IFA’s Director of International and Corporate Relations, the opening speaker at an NGO-Led Briefing on Global Ageing: Impact and Implementation of Agenda 2030. The Briefing, held on June 1, 2017, was organized and sponsored by the IFA under the auspices of the UN Department of Public Information (DPI). It was the first time IFA has been invited to present such a briefing, attended by a wide audience including UN officials, academia, NGOs and the general public.

“Older people have much to contribute,” Mr. Shaw noted, “but ageism and discrimination is one of the major challenges we face.” He added that because the rights of older people are not being adequately protected, there is a need for a Convention to address the issue and affect change and IFA through its activities is a global point of connection for those engaged in this work.

Mr. Shaw was joined on the panel by Dr. Ursula Staudinger, Director of the Columbia University Aging Center, who spoke from a human development perspective about being in the midst of a “longevity revolution.” She noted the great potential of long life but pointed to the need for societies to catch up in such areas as public health, education and the work environment. Dr. Ruth Finkelstein, Director of the International Longevity Center-USA, focused her remarks on what can be done on a community and environmental level to enable older people to fully participate. Dr. Janet Sigal, Chair of the NGO Committee on Ageing/New York, and Rosemary Lane, Senior Social Affairs Officer of the Focal Point on Ageing spoke on what is being done to further the ageing agenda by NGOs and by the United Nations. Dr. Cynthia Stuen moderated the panel. The Columbia Aging Center, the International Longevity Center and the NGO Committee on Ageing/NY co-sponsored the event.

The Briefing was attended by over 300 people and was streamed live via a UN webcast, so was viewed by a large global audience. The webcast is available for viewing by clicking here.

Other News From the IFA UN Team

• A panel presentation will take place at the UN on June 16, 2017, to recognize World Elder Abuse Awareness Day. IFA UN Representatives have been assisting with the program.
• The UN Open-Ended Working Group on Ageing (OEGWA) is meeting July 5-7. 2017. Frances Zainoeddin, IFA UN Representative, is on point for OEWGA and is developing strategy, organizing Mission visits and involving NGOs in the process.
• Valerie Levy was named a Fellow of the Gerontological Society of America and will be inducted at the International Association of Gerontology and Geriatrics Conference in San Francisco in July. She joins two other IFA UN Representatives Cynthia Stuen and Sandra Timmermann, who are also Fellows of GSA.
• Cynthia Stuen was elected Vice Chair of the NGO Committee on Ageing/NY. Sandra Timmermann was elected Recording Secretary and Frances Zainoeddin a Member at Large.