Welcome to the end-of-year

Age-friendly World Newsletter!

2018 has been an eventful year for the Global Network for Age-friendly Cities and Communities. At the beginning of the year, the Network had 541 member cities and communities covering 179 million people. Over the months, however, we have now welcomed 267 more members for a total of 808 member cities and communities from 40 countries, covering 217 million people.

The growth that the Network continues to see year after year shows that worldwide interest in the global age-friendly movement continues to rise. As populations age and the voices of older people grow stronger, the Network continues to be committed to supporting communities, cities and regions on their journeys to become more age-friendly. Thank you for your part in making an Age-friendly World!

In this Newsletter:

• 800 members, and holiday website maintenance

• New Publication: Report on the Global Network, and case studies from around the world

• New data on elder abuse among older women

• IFA/WHO Webinars: now all available in one place!

800 Members

and Holiday Website Maintenance

The Global Network has reached 800 members! In order to optimize the site for further growth, agefriendlyworld.org will be locked for maintenance from 21 December 2018 (Fri). No changes to member pages can be made and no new members will be accepted during the maintenance period. The site will re-open for submissions on 8 February 2019 (Fri).

Explore the Network map

Browse the Network

New Publication:

Report on the Global Network, and case studies from around the world

A new report on the WHO Global Network for Age-friendly Cities and Communities reviews achievements since the founding of the Network in 2007, challenges and how to overcome them, and together with its Affiliate programs, outlines steps to guide action over the next decade. Eleven accompanying case studies from members of the Network around the world examine local age-friendly programmes in depth.

The Network aims to stimulate and enable cities and communities around the world to become increasingly age-friendly. It seeks to do this by inspiring change by showing what can be done and how it can be done; connecting cities and communities worldwide to facilitate the exchange of information, knowledge and experience; and supporting cities and communities to find appropriate innovative and evidence-based solutions.

This was made possible through the generous financial contribution of the Public Health Agency of Canada. Case studies were developed in partnership with a research team from the University of Manchester.

Read the report

Browse the case studies

Learn more about the Network

New data on elder abuse

among older women

The World Health Organization highlighted new data on elder abuse among older women during the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence. The latest evidence suggests that 1 in 7 women aged 60 years and older experienced some form of abuse in the past year. Violence can happen to women, no matter their age - we must stop violence against all women!

The 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence ran from 25 November 2018, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, to 10 December 2018, Human Rights Day. The Days aimed to galvanize action to end violence against women and girls around the world.

Download the WHO infographic

Read about the new data on elder abuse among older women

Find out more about the 16 Days of Activism

Learn more about elder abuse

IFA/WHO Webinars now all available

in one place!

Missed one of the IFA/WHO Webinars? Recordings and resources from past sessions are now available in one place at the IFA/WHO Webinar Series page. From ageism to age-friendly environments, this is a valuable repository of expert perspectives on age-friendliness from around the world. Explore the webinars and spread the word!

The IFA/WHO Webinar Series features experts from around the world exploring a number of critical and emerging topics on Healthy Ageing. These webinars are regularly scheduled, and are announced through our Network Calendar as well as through this newsletter.

Though recordings will be made available after webinar sessions, live attendance is an opportunity to participate in the conversation and ask questions in real time. All attendees are welcome – older adults, local, regional and national government policymakers, NGOs, clinicians, urban planners, and all those with an interest in building age-friendly environments.

Watch the webinars

Explore the Network Calendar

About us

Age-friendly World is a World Health Organization website dedicated to promoting age-friendliness around the world. The World Health Organization Global Network for Age-friendly Cities and Communities (GNAFCC) is a global coalition of cities and communities committed to becoming more age-friendly. We currently consist of 808 member cities and communities in 40 countries, covering a population of over 217 million people.

Submit your news on Age-friendly World or get in touch with us at gnafcc@who.int.

Disclaimer: The World Health Organization does not necessarily endorse the opinions presented in this newsletter which are external content or externally-linked.