Access to Justice

Violence, abuse and neglect of older persons are the most hidden and underreported violations of human rights.

Not only are older persons at high risk of serious illness and mortality, but they continue to face disproportionate cases of age based  discrimination, stigmatization and subjected to multiple violations of human rights. In particular, the COVID-19 pandemic has shed light on reports of abuse and neglect of older persons, particularly in long term care institutions and the community.

Whether we realize it or not, all of us participate in the social contract every day through mutual obligations among our family, community, place of work, and fellow citizens. Caring for others, paying taxes, and benefiting from public services define the social contract that supports and binds us together as a society. Today, however, our social contract has been broken by changing gender roles, technology, new models of work, ageing, and the perils of climate change.

Given the situation on COVID-19, after careful consideration, The 14th session of the Conference of States Parties to the CRPD (COSP14) will be held largely online. 

20th Session of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNPFII)

Date:  19-30 April 2021

Location: United Nations Headquarters, New York (online)

Theme: “Peace, justice and strong institutions: the role of indigenous peoples in implementing Sustainable Development Goal 16”

To mark the official launch of The State of the World’s Indigenous Peoples (SOWIP), Volume V, the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN-DESA) will hold two launch events with SOWIP V authors and Indigenous experts on 15 and 16 March 2021.

In preparation for the 2021 session, the Permanent Forum will conduct informal virtual dialogues with Indigenous Peoples and Member State representatives.

For more information on the regional dialogue on Africa, please click here.

En préparation de la session de 2021, l’Instance permanente mène des dialogues virtuels informels avec les représentants des Peuples Autochtones et des États membres.

The Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) Youth Forum will be held on 7 and 8 April 2021. The modalities of participation will depend on the evolving spread of COVID-19 and its impact on travel restrictions as well as considerations on the safety, health and wellbeing of participants.

The 59th session of the Commission for Social Development (CSocD59) will take place from 8 to 17 February in 2021.

The priority theme will be “Socially just transition towards sustainable development: the role of digital technologies on social development and well-being of all.”

Megatrends, including new technologies, rapid urbanization and migration, as well as demographic and climate change, have been dramatically shaping our world. In preparation for the Thirtieth Anniversary of the International Year of the Family, 2024 (IYF+30) the Division for Inclusive Social Development of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs aims to raise awareness of the above megatrends, their impact on families and responsive family-oriented policies to tackle their effects.