On 16 December 2020, the UN General Assembly adopted without a vote the resolution on “Rights of indigenous peoples” (document A/75/475).

Among other issues, the resolution includes:

The World Youth Report (WYR) is a flagship publication of the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA), Division for Inclusive Social Development (DISD). The Report addresses youth development issues around the world.

“These rights touch on every aspect of life: the right to go to school, to live in one’s community, to access health care, to start a family, to engage in political participation, to be able to play sport, to travel – and to have decent work,” UN Secretary-General António Guterres said in a 

In the run-up to the 11th session of the GA open-ended Working Group in 2021, the International Federation on Ageing, in partnership with the Permanent Missions of Argentina and Portugal, and in collaboration with DESA and OHCHR, organized a virtual town hall with Chair-elect H.E. Ms. María del Carmen Squeff and H.E. Mr. Francisco Duarte Lopes, Ambassador of Portugal, serving as Vice-Chair of the Bureau of the Working Group, to place a spotlight on advancing the human rights of older persons in conversation with experts. The event took place on 11 December 2020 from 8:00 am to 9:30 am.

The International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD) is annually observed on 3 December to promote the full and equal participation of persons with disabilities and to take action for the inclusion of persons with disabilities in all aspects of society and development.

This year, the International Day of Persons with Disabilities will be commemorated on 4 December 2020 in conjunction with the 13th session of the Conference of States Parties to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) was adopted by the General Assembly by its resolution 61/106 of 13 December 2006. It came into force on 3 May 2008 upon its 20th ratification.

Every year, the Indigenous Peoples in Development Branch within the Division of Inclusive Social Development of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs organizes an international expert group meeting (EGM) on a theme recommended by the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues and endorsed by the Economic and Social Council.

For more information on this year’s International Expert Group Meeting, please click here.

On 19 November,  the Social, Humanitarian and Cultural Committee (Third Committee), of the 75^th session of the General Assembly discussed Rights of Indigenous Peoples [item 67(a)].

The Committee took up the draft resolution “Rights of indigenous peoples” (document A/C.3/75/L.20/Rev.1).

The resolution among other issues includes:

International Federation on Ageing (IFA) hosted a virtual event in collaboration with the NGO Committee on Ageing Vienna and the Austrian Federal Ministry of Social Affairs, Health, Care and Consumer Protection on 12 November 2020. The event aimed at reflecting on experiences and achievements as they relate to the Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing, with particular emphasis on the UNECE regional implementation strategy.

The global outbreak of COVID‐19 has heavily impacted the world of sport and access to physical activity, resulting in closure of gyms, stadiums, pools, dance and fitness studios, physiotherapy centers, parks and playgrounds. It has also led to the unprecedented postponement of the Olympic and Paralympic games and the cancellation of sporting events at all levels.