Happy Holidays from the IFA!
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With the holiday season nearing, and the new year just around the corner, it is a wonderful time to give thanks to colleagues, partners and members of the IFA for your support and engagement throughout 2018.
Reflecting on this past year, the IFA hosted five international expert meetings, two UN side events and represented the voice of older people around the world with projects like the EyeSeeYou Campaign, DR Barometer Advocacy Workshops, Age-Friendly Environments Webinars, Older LGBTQI Call to Action and Vaccines4Life. In addition, the IFA welcomed over 1200 delegates to Toronto for the 14th Global Conference on Ageing.
With your greatly appreciated support the IFA will continue to promote older people’s right for a healthy, dignified and happy life. On behalf of the IFA Secretariat and the Board of Directors, we thank you for your support throughout the year and wish you a holiday season filled with joy.
Sincerely,
Dr Jane Barratt
Secretary General
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Updates from United Nations Representatives
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Advocate for the rights of older persons at the United Nations in Geneva
With general consultative status at the United Nations and its agencies, and formal relations with the World Health Organization, the IFA has maintained a strong voice in the dialogue on how to best protect the rights and health of older people globally. To enhance this role as a leading advocate, the IFA is recruiting an additional UN representative in Geneva, Switzerland for 2019.
Click here for the position description and how to apply. Applications are due 17 December, 2018. Please note that this is a volunteer, unpaid role.
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11th Meeting of the UN Economic Commission of Europe (ECE) Working Group on Ageing (WGA)
The WGA holds annual intergovernmental meetings to review achievements and set future directions. These meetings are attended by national focal points on ageing from UN ECE member States, international organizations, and civil society. At the annual WGA in Geneva on 19-20 November, IFA UN Representative Dr. Kelly Fitzgerald participated alongside colleagues from ILC Global Alliance and ILC Canada. The meeting included discussions of whether the WGA should be transformed to a standing intergovernmental body, as well as policy focuses for 2019 such as older persons in emergencies, age-friendly digitalization, and informal caregiving.
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57th Commission for Social Development (CSocD57)
In 2019, the CSocD57 (the advisory body for social policy within global development) will take place on 11-21 February at the UN Headquarters in New York. This year’s theme is ‘Addressing inequalities and challenges to social inclusion through fiscal, wage, and social protection policies’. The IFA will be in attendance to advocate for the social inclusion of older persons and policies that promote healthy ageing – register before 28 January!
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#EyeSeeYou2018 Holiday Photo Campaign
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From 10-31 December 2018, share a photo on social media of what matters most to you this holiday season and use the hashtag #EyeSeeYou2018 to promote vision health.
Vision changes can have important implications for the everyday lives of older people, such as impacting their functional ability. These implications are most often felt during the holiday season.
Sign-up for the EyeSeeYou newsletter to stay up to date on the latest vision health news and for the latest contest details.
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Use of medicines by the elderly – The role of pharmacy in promoting adherence
27 November (today) and
29 November, 2018
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This webinar is jointly organized by the International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP) and the IFA. It will showcase the important role that pharmacy can play and will present the recent FIP report after which the webinar is named. International best practices around improving adherence and providing care to older adults will be highlighted, especially in polymedicated elderly patients.
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Upcoming Events
in the New Year
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Adult Vaccination in the Asia Pacific: Mobilising Policy and Practice Knowledge
22-23 January, 2019
Singapore
The Adult Vaccination in the Asia Pacific meeting is a learning forum where knowledge about vaccination policies and practices from countries in the region will be shared and discussed with the aim of improving country specific vaccination programs.
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Fighting the Flu through Targeted Awareness Campaigns
30-31 January, 2019
Berlin, Germany
The meeting will gather experts in multimodal awareness raising efforts such as social media, digital marketing, knowledge mobilization and behavioural science to expand and improve current approaches to raising vaccination public awareness, build public will, and further public understanding of the risks associated with influenza.
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Open-Ended Working Group on Ageing
Tentative: 15-18 April, 2019
United Nations
The GA73 resolution on ageing was adopted by consensus. The Open-Ended Working Group on Ageing is now on the official UN calendar with tentative dates in April. Stay tuned for more information.
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Global Silver Economy Forum
9-10 July, 2019
Helsinki, Finland
The Forum will address how government and business work together to leverage the related mega-trends of longevity and global aging.
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