The International Day of Older Persons is an annual observance day celebrated on October 1st to recognize the contributions of older persons and to raise awareness about the issues and challenges they face. The United Nations General Assembly designated this day on December 14, 1990, through resolution 45/106. Since then, the day has been observed globally to promote the rights and well-being of older persons.
Theme
Each year, the United Nations selects a theme for the International Day of Older Persons to focus attention on a specific issue affecting older persons. Some of the recent themes include:
- 2021: Digital Equity for All Ages
- 2020: Pandemics: Do They Change How We Address Age and Ageing?
- 2019: The Journey to Age Equality
- 2018: Celebrating Older Human Rights Champions
- 2017: Stepping into the Future: Tapping the Talents, Contributions and Participation of Older Persons in Society
The themes reflect the changing needs and concerns of older persons and help guide policy discussions and action plans.