This year's theme, 'Fulfilling the Promises of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) for Older Persons: Across Generations', reminds us that actions which support older people now benefit future generations, too.

There's no better example of this than our Global Network for Age-friendly Cities and Communities members. Their work shows that building age-friendly environments creates better places to live – with meaning, dignity, and rights – for people of all ages.

Whether it's upholding the principles of the UDHR, driving progress on the Sustainable Development Goals, or realising the vision of the UN Decade of Healthy Ageing, age-friendly cities and communities are also where global commitments are translated into local actions that improve people's lives.

In this issue, find out more about the diverse activities of our Global Network members and get inspired to contribute to the creation of an age-friendly world – for all ages!

Member in Focus: Vienna, Austria

Age-friendly Practice in Focus: A book on Strategies for Creating an Age-friendly City (Hong Kong)

One of the benefits of coming together as a Global Network is the opportunity to share good practices and lessons learned with each other. In doing so, Global Network members inspire and support each other to become more age-friendly.

This book comprehensively documents how Hong Kong advanced the age-friendly movement in all 18 of its districts through the Jockey Club Age-friendly City Project. The book also reflects on how Hong Kong's work to become more age-friendly has contributed to the implementation of the UN Decade of Healthy Ageing.

This UN International Day of Older Persons, follow Hong Kong's age-friendly journey through their extensive documentation of how they think global, act local in their efforts to improve the lives of people of all ages.

Affiliates' Space

Join the 2023 round of the Age-friendly Environments ECHO Programme (International Federation on Ageing)

Register for the AARP Global Conference: The Power of Global Aging in an Interdependent World

AARP, a Global Network Affiliate, invites you to their 2023 AARP Global Conference which will focus on the global megatrend of population ageing in low- and middle-income countries.

The gathering will convene global thought leaders from sectors spanning private industry, finance, philanthropy, policy, and nongovernmental organizations, to drive collaboration in achieving sustainable economic prosperity for all around the world.

The UN International Day of Older Persons reminds us that fostering healthy ageing is a global effort – by 2050, the majority of the world's older people will live in low- and middle-income countries. Join the conversations online to track how we can make sure we leave no older person behind – no matter where they live.

Celebrating the importance of place for healthy ageing on #UNIDOP (Centre for Ageing Better, UK)

The Centre for Ageing Better, our Global Network affiliate in the United Kingdom, is marking the UN International Day of Older Persons by bringing attention to the importance of place for older people.

Older people both make significant contributions to the places and communities they live, and benefit from places that enable them to fulfil their potential. Join the Centre for Ageing Better in marking UNIDOP by highlighting the importance of shaping our environments to improve the lives of current and future generations of older people.

Updates from the Network Secretariat

Strengthening the Global Network in the Americas – an upcoming congress and technical meeting in Mexico 

The local governments of the Mexican state of Jalisco and the city of Guadalajara, together with the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), WHO Headquarters, and with AARP's collaboration, are hosting an international congress and technical meeting on 13-15 November 2023 in Guadalajara. The meeting and congress will focus on developing national and subnational programmes for age-friendly cities and communities.  

The meeting will help strengthen the Global Network in the Americas and support knowledge sharing among Global Network members, government representatives, and affiliate programmes. Key resources and takeaways from the event will also be added to WHO's living toolkit on developing national age-friendly cities and communities programmes – so watch out for updates!

Creating age-friendly environments in the European Region

Members and affiliates of the Global Network from Spain, the United Kingdom, Norway and Poland will actively contribute to the next Summit for policy innovation for healthy ageing in the WHO European Region (10–11 October 2023 in Lisbon, Portugal).

By showcasing concrete local, national, and international examples of how age-friendly environments support healthy ageing for people of all generations, our Global Network members are illustrating that joining the age-friendly movement is an effective way to think global, act local.

Portugal, as the host of this Summit, will also be using the opportunity to discuss the development of their national programme for age-friendly cities and communities. Stay subscribed to learn more about the Summit's achievements!

Age-friendly Environments and Assistive Technologies: knowledge and action at INAGE (Aichi, Japan)

WHO and Aichi Prefecture in Japan will join forces at the next Independent Ageing Convention to highlight the role assistive technologies play in creating more age-friendly environments.

Through an interactive workshop, WHO and Aichi will highlight how age-friendly cities and communities have worked to improve access to assistive technology. The workshop will also discuss how age-friendly environments and assistive technologies are an essential combination to improve the lives of current and future generations of older people, including those living with disabilities and dementia.

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. 

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