On June 25th, the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) continues its 2026 “Mainstreaming Knowledge on Ageing” virtual roundtable series with a webinar focused on older persons’ economic and employment security. This annual event series by UNITAR, co-sponsored by HPOD as part of a broad coalition of prominent civil society and intergovernmental organizations, aims to raise awareness of how existing policies and systems may be strengthened to better protect the human rights of older persons, and hopefully, to add to the global momentum towards adoption of a new human rights treaty for older persons.
As populations age and life expectancy increases, many individuals continue to contribute to their families, communities, and economies well beyond traditional retirement ages. Yet too many face age-based discrimination in hiring, retention, training, and career advancement. Others lack adequate social protection, decent working conditions, or opportunities to adapt their skills to changing labor markets. These barriers not only undermine individual well-being but also deprive societies of the valuable experience, knowledge, and contributions that older persons can contribute.
Building inclusive and resilient societies requires a life-course approach that recognizes the right of every person to economic security and decent work at all ages. Promoting fair employment conditions, lifelong learning, and access to sustainable livelihoods is essential to ensuring that older persons remain economically secure, socially connected, and empowered to make choices about their lives. At a time of profound demographic, technological, and economic transformation, strengthening financial resilience in later life is both a human rights imperative and a development necessity.
By identifying effective strategies and sharing promising practices, this discussion seeks to advance policies and actions that enable people to age with security, opportunity, and dignity, while fostering more equitable and age-inclusive labor markets.
Moderator
- Ms. Analucía Jácome, Senior Project Leader and Human Rights Expert, SDP, UNITAR
Panelists
- Dr. Alejandro Bonilla García, Chair, NGO Committee on Ageing (Geneva) & Representative to the United Nations in Geneva of the International Federation on Ageing
- Ms. Youngjae Na, Human Rights Officer, International Human Rights Division, National Human Rights Commission of Korea (NHRCK)
- Dr. Dorothea Schmidt-Klau, Chief, Employment, Labour Markets and Youth Branch, Employment Policy Department, International Labour Organization (ILO)
- Dr. Loly Gaitan, Programme Officer, International Telecommunication Union
- Mr. Daniel Uribe, Lead Project Officer, the South Centre
- Ms. Aleta Sprague, Cofounder and Principal of Legal Analysis, Equal Futures
