What is the UN Decade of Healthy Ageing?
The United Nations Decade of Healthy Ageing (2021-2030) is a global collaboration aligned with the last ten years of the Sustainable Development Goals. It brings together governments, civil society, international agencies, professionals, academia, the media, and the private sector to improve older people's lives, families, and communities.
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Populations worldwide are aging faster than before, and this demographic transition will impact almost all aspects of society. More than 1 billion people are 60 or older, most living in low—and middle-income countries.
Many cannot access even the essential resources necessary for a life of meaning and dignity, and many others confront multiple barriers that prevent their full participation in society.
The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted gaps in policies, systems, and services. A decade of concerted global action on healthy aging is urgently needed to ensure that older people can fulfill their potential in dignity, equality, and a healthy environment.
Combatting Ageism
Ageism affects how we think, feel, and act toward others and ourselves based on age. It imposes powerful barriers to developing sound policies and programs for older and younger people and has profound negative consequences on older adults’ health and well-being.
WHO is working with key partners on a Global Campaign to Combat Ageism, an initiative supported by the WHO's 194 Member States. The Campaign aims to change the narrative around age and aging and help create a world for all ages.
The Global Campaign to Combat Ageism is running a sustained theme on ageism between 1 October (International Day of Older Persons) and 20 November 2021 (World Children’s Day). The title of this sustained theme is Ageism through the ages.
During this month and a half, content related to ageism will be released on the Platform for the Decade of Healthy Ageing and on various social media platforms using a life-course lens. At the beginning of October, the focus will be on ageism as it affects older people, followed gradually by ageism as it affects younger people and children.
