Change of Name and Revised Terms of Reference of the Working Group on Ageing of the Economic Commission for Europe

E/RES/2020/19View PDF

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A Resolution of the Economic and Social Council, under agenda item 15 Regional cooperation, published in 2020.

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1 entity

Entity	(Sub-)Programme	Title	Total mandates cited	Expenditure
	Subprogramme 8	Housing, land management and population	16

Historical expenditure covers the complete programme or subprogramme, not this mandate. For an overview of all UN entities and programmes, see UN entities and programmes.

Who cites this mandate in the budget?

1 entity

Entity	(Sub-)Programme	Title	Total mandates cited	Expenditure
	Subprogramme 8	Housing, land management and population	16	—

Historical expenditure covers the complete programme or subprogramme, not this mandate. For an overview of all UN entities and programmes, see UN entities and programmes.

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16 operative paragraphs

Endorses the change of name and the revised terms of reference of the Standing Working Group on Ageing of the Economic Commission for Europe, as set out in the annex to the present resolution.

22 July 2020

Revised terms of reference of the Standing Working Group on Ageing of the Economic Commission for Europe

Mandate

The Standing Working Group on Ageing is an intergovernmental body which is subsidiary to the Executive Committee and reports regularly to the Executive Committee on its work programme and achievements. The Standing Working Group builds on the 10-year effective and fruitful experience of the Working Group on Ageing instituted in December 2008.

The mandate of the Standing Working Group emanates from the following recent resolutions and global agendas: General Assembly resolution 72/144 of 19 December 2017 on the follow-up to the Second World Assembly on Ageing, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development,¹ the World Health Organization global strategy and action plan on ageing and health 2016–2020² and the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development³ beyond 2014.

¹General Assembly resolution 70/1.

²See World Health organization, document WHA69/2016/REC/1.

³Report of the International Conference on Population and Development, Cairo, 5–13 September 1994 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.95.XIII.18), chap. I, resolution 1, annex.

Objectives

The Standing Working Group aims to help all countries in the region of the Economic Commission for Europe to mainstream population ageing into their policy and regulatory framework in order to adjust to demographic changes and create an environment conducive to the full realization of the individual and societal potential of living longer. The Working Group supports the realization of the policy principles set out in the Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing, 2002⁴ and its Regional Implementation Strategy and the subsequent ministerial declarations on ageing among the Commission member States. It strives for synergies in the activities related to the implementation and monitoring of the Madrid Plan of Action/Regional Implementation Strategy and those related to the regional/national follow-up of the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and other population-related international frameworks such as the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development beyond 2014 and the World Health Organization global strategy and action plan on ageing and health 2016–2020.

⁴Report of the Second World Assembly on Ageing, Madrid, 8–12 April 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.02.IV.4), chap. I, resolution 1, annex II.

Membership

The membership of the Standing Working Group consists of national focal points on ageing representing the member States of the Commission region. National focal points are expected to be appointed for a longer period, if possible, and be able to inform all related ministries and agencies about initiatives and activities of the Working Group. In addition, representatives of relevant international organizations, non-governmental organizations, the private sector and academia can also be invited as observers, in compliance with the rules and practices of the United Nations in this respect.

Activities

The Standing Working Group, acting within the framework of the policies of the United Nations, is entrusted with the implementation of the population component of the Housing, land management and population subprogramme of the Commission. The work of the Working Group is demand-driven, focuses on issues of population ageing and intergenerational relations, and aims to contribute to the effective implementation of commitments made by member States at international summits on population issues, in particular the commitments of the Madrid Plan of Action/Regional Implementation Strategy and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, by:

Promoting international cooperation, exchange of experience and policy discussion on ageing and intergenerational relations taking into account the situation and different needs of individual countries;

Developing guidelines and policy recommendations for Governments on population ageing issues;

Supporting monitoring activities and coordinating the five-year review and appraisal exercises of implementation of the Madrid Plan of Action/Regional Implementation Strategy;

Providing demand-driven policy advisory services and other capacity-building activities;

Raising awareness of population ageing and its implications throughout the Commission region;

Creating synergies with related policy agendas and collaboration within and outside the Commission.

The Standing Working Group operates in accordance with a multi-year programme of work anchored in the periodic review and appraisal of implementation of the Madrid Plan of Action/Regional Implementation Strategy as well as the implementation of and follow-up to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

The Standing Working Group cooperates and determines its activities in close contact with other United Nations agencies and international governmental and non-governmental organizations active in the field of ageing to avoid duplication and to focus on challenges of specific interest to Commission member States. It promotes cooperation with international organizations and encourages partnership among the public and private sectors in addressing the implications of population ageing.

Officers

The Standing Working Group elects a Bureau and a Chair in accordance with section V of the guidelines on procedures and practices for Commission bodies.⁵

⁵Resolution 2013/1, appendix III.

Meetings

The Standing Working Group meets annually. In between sessions, its work is guided by the Bureau as provided in section VI of the guidelines on procedures and practices for Commission bodies. The Working Group and its Bureau are serviced by the Commission secretariat.

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