June 2024

Visa Requirements Information 

Planning your trip to the 17th Global Conference on Ageing in Cape Town? ✈️

The IFA is thrilled to announce that delegates can now access information on visa requirements and essential travel tips directly through the conference website. This initiative aims to facilitate a seamless experience for our international attendees, ensuring smooth entry into the vibrant South Africa.

Whether you're looking for detailed instructions on visa applications or need advice on travel arrangements, our updated resources are designed to provide all the support you need.

Highlights:

• Visa Requirements: Step-by-step guidance on the necessary documents and contact information for assistance and obtaining your visa.
• Safety Travel Tips: Essential advice to ensure a safe and enjoyable at Cape Town.

Visit the Conference website to explore these new resources and prepare for the Conference!

Join the IFA Virtual Workshop: Strengthening National Adult Immunization Strategies in Germany and France

Immunization throughout the life course is an effective public health intervention that not only contributes to maintaining and improving population health across all ages but reduces the burden on healthcare professionals and systems. Vaccine-preventable respiratory diseases (VPRDs), including influenza, COVID-19, pneumococcal pneumonia, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) pose an ever-increasing threat around the world, particularly in the context of declining immunization rates, increased burden of disease and strained health care systems.

Recognizing the opportunities and challenges associated with population ageing, there is a need to maximize the impact of effective national public health interventions, including immunization, which can contribute to living healthier lives and trajectories.

Considering this, the International Federation on Ageing (IFA) is hosting a virtual workshop Informing National Adult Immunization Strategies and Action in Germany and France. 

Date:               20 June 2024

Time:               14:00- 15:30 CEST

The overarching purpose of the workshop is to leverage the work of experts, organizations, and government at a national level to develop a targeted approach to immunization policy, in consideration of country-specific context, policies, programs and attitudes towards immunization. Workshop participants will collaborate in discussion to create a roadmap for policy action to be shared with civil society organizations and other stakeholders to ultimately improve the uptake rate of vaccines for older adults, with a focus on France and Germany.

Call for input! Have you had RSV?

To capture the impact of Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) on people at risk, their families, and communities the IFA is looking for individuals aged 60 years and above who have had RSV or live with an underlying health condition that puts them at risk of the debilitating symptoms of RSV and who may be interested in being interviewed. 

Interested in learning more? Contact Ms. Anna Sangster with your expression of interest:

 Time to take action! Join the Fostering CSO Engagement in the LAC Subregion Initiative today!

The IFA, under the framework of The UN Decade of Healthy Ageing and supporting the work in the Americas of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO/WHO), is conscious that increased representation from the Latin American and Caribbean (LAC) subregion is needed to ensure that the meaningful voices and contributions from these countries are appropriately represented and reflected across the Decade.

With this in mind the IFA together with PAHO have established the Fostering CSO Engagement in the LAC Subregion Initiative, with the aim of identifying and bringing together organizations across a wide range of sectors and disciplines who have an interest and a responsibility to create an environment that enables older people to do what they have reason to value and to better understand the resources that may be helpful in supporting these efforts. 

We encourage and invite you to ensure your voice is heard by completing the short survey below.

The First French Edition of the Age-friendly Environments ECHO (ECHO VADA) Programme was a Resounding Success! 

To support stakeholders in understanding and implementing the WHO age-friendly framework, the Age-friendly Environments ECHO programme (AFE-ECHO) was co-developed by the International Federation on Ageing (IFA) and WHO. Following two English editions of the programme reaching over 500 learners, the first French edition of the programme was held from April to May 2024 with the significant support and contributions of colleagues from the Centre de recherche sur le vieillissement de Sherbrooke.  

 The ECHO VADA programme welcomed 253 participants from over 20 countries, all committed to making our world more age-friendly. We look forward to future French editions of the AFE ECHO programme, and in the interim invite you to stay tuned regarding details for the third English edition of the programme which will be held from October to December 2024!

In Memoriam, Judith Wahl, Elder Law Pioneer

The International Federation on Ageing joins individuals, organisations and governments across Canada and around the world to express our sadness on the recent passing of Judith Wahl Founder and Executive Director at the Advocacy Centre for the Elderly (ACE), a specialty legal clinic for older persons. Judith was a formidable, passionate advocate for individuals and the rights of older persons collectively. She did not suffer fools gladly and gave her all to those in need, and those who were aligned with the change we must have to protect the rights of older persons.

Deservedly Judith received many formal recognitions of her work being a recipient of the Osgoode Hall Law School Gold Key Award for Public Service (2006); the Ontario Bar Association Award for Distinguished Service (2008); and of the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal (2013). She was also a Distinguished Fellow at the Canadian Centre for Elder Law at the British Columbia Law Institute [BCLI]. 

Judith Wahl laughed loudly, hugged hard, yet listened intently and spoke softly in those times when lives were at risk. people in grave danger and government needed to hear the consequences of their policies. She was a ‘doer’ of the best kind and for the short time IFA collaborated with Judith and ACE it was an honour. Her voice and passion are missed but the legacy she leaves behind remains a testament to her career as an advocate and an inspiration and call to action for those who share her passion for advancing the health, wellbeing and dignity of older people.

OHE Report: “Socio-Economic Value of Adult Immunisation Programmes”

The Office of Health Economics (OHE) report “Socio-Economic Value of Adult Immunisation Programmes” highlights the substantial socio-economic benefits of adult immunisation programs. These programs can yield up to 19 times the investment by improving health outcomes, reducing healthcare costs, and enhancing societal productivity. The study underscores the importance of prioritizing adult vaccination to foster healthier communities and a more efficient healthcare system.

Read the full report below!

OEWGA14

As a non-governmental organization (NGO) in attendance at the 14th session of the United Nations Open-Ended Working Group on Ageing (OEWGA), the International Federation on Ageing (IFA) is pleased that a substantive decision on the human rights of older persons was adopted by Member States.

Aligning with the IFA’s call to action, which was delivered during opening remarks at the OEWGA, this important decision illustrates a continued commitment to address gaps in the international human rights system regarding the protection of older persons, including highlighting key recommendations such the establishment of a UN convention on the rights of older persons.

Show Member States that a convention is a political priority by signing the Global Alliance on the Rights of Older People’s (GAROP) Age with Rights petition here. Much work is still needed to secure a UN convention but this decision at the OEWGA paves a positive way forward!

See the IFA’s full press release on the substantive decision   here..

World Elder Abuse Awareness Day

15 June marks World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD). Established in 2006, WEAAD supports the United Nations International Plan of Action that acknowledges the significance of elder abuse as a public health and human rights issue. Since its inception, communities around the world use 15 June as an opportunity to raise awareness of elder abuse and neglect of older persons by sharing information about the facts of elder abuse, the rights of older persons and promote resources and services to support older persons’ safety and well-being.

Resources for responding to the abuse of older persons include the report Tackling abuse of older people: five priorities for the UN Decade of Healthy Ageing 2021–2030, produced by the World Health Organization in partnership with the Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA), Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), UN WOMEN and with support from the International Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse (INPEA).

Want to learn more about actions that have occurred since the publication of the report in 2022? Join the UN Decade of Healthy Ageing Secretariat on 17 June from 8.30 – 10.00am for a multi-stakeholder expert panel discussion on  Progress and priorities for ending abuse of older people. The event will also mark the publication of an online interactive database of 'promising interventions' to reduce and address the abuse of older people, which is the first product of the UN Decade of Healthy Ageing's intervention accelerator to prevent abuse of older people project.

This month on the Global Café

June proves to be yet another exciting month for the IFA Global Café. With topics ranging from social and behavioral interventions to improve vaccination uptake to winning a landmark climate case at the European Court of Human Rights along with a special edition of Café in recognition of Pride Month, the Café offers learning opportunities for everyone!

Sign up here to receive weekly invitations to join the IFA’s Global Café, hosted every Friday at 7.00am EDT. Have a guest or topic that you’d like covered? Contact Senior Policy and Project Coordinator Cera Cruise (ccruise@ifa.ngo) with your request!

IFA Global Café Archive

If you were unable to attend any of the IFA Global Café sessions, we have great news for you! All past sessions, along with valuable resources and materials, are now accessible on our website. Whether you're interested in exploring specific topics or simply want to catch up on the insightful discussions, you can conveniently view the recorded sessions at your leisure.

We invite you to visit our website to experience the wealth of knowledge and expertise shared by our distinguished speakers and panelists. Don't miss this opportunity to engage with the thought-provoking content from the IFA Global Café series.

Stay up-to-date: Follow the IFA on Twitter today!