Delegates in the Third Committee (Social, Humanitarian and Cultural) shared the floor with youth representatives this week, grappling with issues of inequality, unemployment and xenophobia that hampered young people’s advancement, as they concluded their two-day debate on social development.

The President of the 71st Session of the General Assembly has issued the below letter to invite participants to join the Informal Launch Briefing on the next steps of the consultation on the participation of Indigenous Peoples’ representatives and institutions in relevant United Nations meetings on issues affecting them.

Upcoming Events

26th United Nations International Day of Older Persons: Take a Stand Against Ageism (6 October 2016, UNHQ, 10:00am - 1:00pm)

Central African Republic ratified the Convention on 11 October 2016, bringing the total number of States Parties to the CRPD to 168.

Working towards universal ratification and implementation of the CRPD:

The 2016 Social Forum will take place from 3 to 5 October 2016 in Room XX, Palais des Nations, Geneva, Switzerland, in accordance with paragraph 6 of Human Rights Council resolution 29/19 entitled “The Social Forum.”

VOLUNTARY FUND FOR INDIGENOUS PEOPLES

Call for Applications

All too often, older persons face negative perceptions of older workers; age limits, penalties and denials of service imposed by insurance service providers and financial institutions; preconceived notions and negative attitudes on the part of medical staff; and age-based rationing of health care services or procedures.

With increasing age and longevity, the risk of chronic disease rises along with that of age-related disabilities from chronic diseases such as pulmonary disease and diabetes to age-related loss of hearing, sight and movement (arthritis), cognitive illnesses such as dementia and Alzheimer’s to injuries from falls. The incidence rate of disability from each of these varies considerably by country based on longevity and access to appropriate healthcare and rehabilitation services.

In the present report, the Independent Expert on the enjoyment of all human rights by older persons, Rosa Kornfeld-Matte, assesses the implementation of existing international instruments with regard to older persons while identifying best and good practices and gaps in the implementation of existing laws related to the promotion and protection of the rights of older persons.

The 71st Session of the General Assembly opened on 13 September 2016.

During this session, the Assembly will have before it the following Reports directly related to disability: