GENEVA (27 March 2020) – Society has a duty to exercise solidarity and better protect older persons who are bearing the lion's share of the COVID-19 pandemic, a UN human rights expert said.

"Reports of abandoned older persons in care homes or of dead corpses found in nursing homes are alarming. This is unacceptable," said Rosa Kornfeld-Matte, UN Independent Expert on the enjoyment of all human rights by older persons. "We all have the obligation to exercise solidarity and protect older persons from such harm."

Persons with disabilities generally have more health-care needs than others – both standard needs and needs linked to impairments – and are therefore more vulnerable to the impact of low quality or inaccessible health-care services than others. Compared to persons without disabilities, persons with disabilities are more likely to have poor health: among 43 countries, 42 per cent of persons with disabilities versus 6 per cent of persons without disabilities perceive their health as poor.

The estimated incidence of Down syndrome is between 1 in 1,000 to 1 in 1,100 live births worldwide. Each year, approximately 3,000 to 5,000 children are born with this chromosome disorder.

ATTENTION: In light of the global coronavirus disease (COVID-19) situation and its implications for intergovernmental meetings held at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, a decision was made to postpone the eleventh session of the Open-ended Working Group on Ageing, scheduled for 6 April 2020.

The Members of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues have decided to postpone its forthcoming 19th session, originally scheduled to take place on 13-24 April 2020, until a later date to be determined. Registration for participants is closed until further notice. All side event registrations are also closed.

UNITED NATIONS HEADQUARTERS, NEW YORK –During the 58th session of the Commission for Social Development, the United Nations 75^th anniversary under the theme “Shaping Our Future Together” and the 25th anniversary of the Global Social Summit, AARP hosted the 13^th annual briefing series entitled “Living, Learning and Earning Longer: A Business Case for An Age Diversified Workforce” In a world marked by rapid population ageing, where older persons now outnumber children under five years of age, the event aimed at highlighting the imperative  to develop new na

As the United Nations celebrates its 75th anniversary, this discussion forum aims at commemorating the 25th anniversary of the World Summit for Social Development and contributing to the theme of the 58th session of the Commission for Social Development (CSocD58) from a disability perspective.

The Panel discussion: Affordable housing and inclusive urban development for All, organized by UNDESA with collaboration and support from UN HABITAT, was held on 10 February 2020, at the UNHQ New York, during the 58th session of the Commission for Social Development (CSocD58).